They are accused of conducting the exercise in a fraudulent manner. It is said that they put up to 100 names of people they had employed, while in reality they had recruited a lesser number - probably 70.
At month end, the trio would distribute payment cheques to the real labourers and the 'ghost' workers. "These ghost employees would then share the money with the recruiting officers when they have never gone to work," a source said.
A senior police officer, Superintendent Nkwebi Chilisa said the three people are helping them with investigations into the scam.
The three were members of the Village Development Committee. He said they are yet to establish the amount of money involved but the three will appear in court as soon as police investigations are complete. He said that the suspects are not in custody.
The Ipelegeng programme commenced this year and assists the unemployed with a source of income for manual work. The labourers are engaged in government projects that do not require expertise such as sweeping of roads, clearing bushes along streets and roads, building small scale houses and removing debris from trenches.
An estimated 300,000 people are benefiting from the programme and government has indicated that it will expand it.
