The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Member of Parliament (MP) for Mangochi East Francesca Masamba for corruptly soliciting money in her capacity as member of the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament.

ACB’s Principal Public Relations Officer Egrita Ndala said on August 24, 2020, the bureau received a claim that Masamba received a bribe from one of the candidates who was to be interviewed by the Public Appointments Committee.

Ndala said the interviews were for the position of Director of the Office of the Directorate of Public Officers Declarations (ODPOD).

“The ACB investigations established that Hon. Francesca Masamba solicited sums of money ranging from K1 million to K2 million in order to influence the decision of the Committee,” she said in a statement released on November 5, 2020.

Masamba is likely to be charged with corrupt use of official powers and misuse of public office contrary to Section 25 (1) and 25 B (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act respectively.