ACB senior legal and prosecution officer, Ngwambula Nundwe, told Zodiak Online that Kathumba was arrested on suspicion that he sold the council's land to two individuals without advertising the property to the public at K10 million each.

"We have two counts, the first one is abuse of public office and the second one is also the same because there are two different people who bought the land from the district council. According to the investigation, he sold the land at K10 million each," Nundwe said.

In the afternoon, the former Thyolo (DC) Kathumba appeared before a Thyolo Magistrate court to take plea.

Kathumba has since pleaded not guilty, on two counts of abuse of public office contrary to Section 25B (1) as read with Section 34 of Corrupt Practices Act.

He is being accused of selling the pieces of plots at Bvumbwe old market in the district in around 2017 and 2018.

Court documents indicate that Kathumba allegedly sold the land to Yankho Thomson Mchacha and Chimwemwe Kajawo.

Meanwhile, Senior Resident Magistrate Assunta Maxwell has granted the DC bail and adjourned the matter to December 1, 2022 when the ACB will be ready with witnesses.

Kathumba comes from Mbelenga village, Traditional Authority Kapichi in Thyolo District.