Four former directors of Nchalo Greenbelt Limited (NGBL) have been arrested by fiscal police on allegations of misappropriating public funds which were meant for the commercial production of cotton.

The arrests follow an audit conducted by the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC), which revealed fraudulent transactions.

According to National police deputy spokesperson, Harry Namwaza, between 2018 and 2021, ADMARC pre-financed the NGBL with MK2, 536, 584, 699 to produce the crop. However, only K92, 247, 650 worth of cotton was delivered to ADMARC, indicating a misappropriation of public funds.

The four former directors, identified as Richard Nkhwazi, Imran Malidadi, Toza Khonje, and Alec Lungu, will answer charges of abuse of office, fraud other than false pretences, fraudulent false accounting, and money laundering.