FORMER MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE EMPLOYEE JAILED FOR FORGING ACADEMIC CERTIFICATE

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Posted by admin on August 22, 2025 at 7:59 AM

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The Lusaka Subordinate Court has sentenced Chefu Beauty Musonda, a former employee of the Ministry of Agriculture, to 18 months’ simple imprisonment for forging academic qualifications and fraudulently securing government employment.

Ms Musonda was convicted on two counts uttering a false document and obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretences, after she admitted guilt before Magistrate Trevor Kasanda. She was sentenced to 12 months on the first count and 18 months on the second, with the sentences to run concurrently2.

Investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) revealed that between January and December 2011, Musonda knowingly presented a forged Certificate in Secretarial and Office Management, purportedly issued by Evelyn Hone College, to secure employment.

Between October 2011 and March 2024, she drew salaries and allowances totaling K547,918.11 based on the fraudulent qualification.

In mitigation, Musonda’s lawyer pleaded for leniency, citing her status as a first offender and single mother.

However, Magistrate Kasanda emphasized that her actions undermined public service integrity and deprived deserving candidates of employment opportunities.

“This convict knowingly presented a certificate which she was fully aware was false. The Ministry relied on it to offer her employment and paid her salaries and allowances she was not entitled to,” said Magistrate Kasanda.

The ACC has since issued a warning to the public, stressing that forging academic and professional credentials is a serious criminal offence.

The Commission urged employers to thoroughly verify qualifications and reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting corruption-related offences.