Zambia President Michael Sata has fired his senior private secretary for alleged corruption in a move that could send strong warning signals to his own ministers.

President Sata, a gruffy populist who was elected on his campaign to fight corruption, has said in the past he was "allergic to corruption" and would do everything possible to fight it.

According to a private-owned daily The Post that quoted unnamed sources, Mr Alfred Chipoya was relieved of his duties after he tried to organise a meeting between President Sata and former operators of the Zambia Revenue Authority [ZRA] border scanners.

Last week the Zambian government terminated the contracts given to Bradwell International and Cargo Scan to manage border scanners.

This was after a report recommended action against other 12 government officials among them former president Rupiah Banda and his finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane.

“On Wednesday last week, Chipoya was sent a sealed envelope containing $2,000 [Kwacha 10million] from officials as a gratification for facilitating the meeting with the President," the paper said.

"The envelope instead found itself at President Sata’s desk who immediately relieved Chipoya of his duties.”

Mr Chipoya,the first government official to be fired for alleged corruption, refused to comment on the matter, the paper reported.

He also served in the late Levy Mwanawasa regime in a similar capacity