Police have arrested a Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development accounts assistant at Mwanza District Council, Hanna Gonani, for allegedly embezzling K5 million of public funds.

The Ministry alleges that Gonani connived with a hospital administrator at Zomba Mental Hospital to forge signatures on council cheques.

Mwanza Police has confirmed the arrest.

According to a statement released by the Ministry this is part of a crackdown on corruption in councils.