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Kwaleyela Mukelabai, Chief Investigations Officer at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), delivered detailed testimony on Tuesday in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court regarding former Foreign Affairs Minister, Joseph Malanji’s alleged involvement in corrupt activities.
Mukelabai accused Malanji of submitting falsified business documents concerning his operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during his tenure as Member of Parliament from 2016 to 2021.
These documents, intended to account for Malanji’s income—comprising allowances, salaries and gratuities—were allegedly fraudulent.
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According to Mukelabai, Malanji legally earned a total of K5.1 million from 2016 to 2021, which included K749,000 in allowances, K1.4 million in salaries and K2 million in gratuities.
However, Mukelabai claimed that Malanji’s financial records were misrepresented.
The investigation also reportedly uncovered discrepancies in Malanji’s property transactions, notably a US$50,000 payment to Silverest Gardens on December 31, 2020.
This transaction was linked to deposits Malanji made at Stanbic Bank following his return from Turkey.
Mukelabai focused on three specific properties—houses No. 033, No. 269, and No. 270—highlighting staggered payments of US$18,000, US$16,000, and US$14,000, all made under Malanji’s name.
Further investigation is said to have revealed that Malanji provided documents claiming the source of funds for a helicopter purchase was a contract with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in the DRC.
These documents, including subcontract agreements, withdrawal slips, and receipts, were purportedly fraudulent.
Mukelabai sought verification from the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and DRC authorities, who confirmed that the withdrawal slips and bank statements provided by Malanji were not authentic. The account numbers did not match those of Row Bank in the DRC.
In 2021, Mukelabai reportedly traveled to the DRC for further investigation, where he discovered that the addresses and entities Malanji mentioned, including China Civil Engineering and Mass Investment, were either non-existent or inaccurate.
Upon returning to Zambia, Mukelabai is said to have found further discrepancies in Malanji’s documents, including a letter to Stanbic Bank requesting the bank inform the Bank of Zambia about a future deposit of $100,000. The accompanying documents were later found to be fraudulent.
Malanji initially claimed that his funds for the helicopter purchases came from contracts with Mass Investment and Gibson Power Systems but later shifted his statements, attributing the funds to a hedge fund.
Mukelabai’s investigation led to the seizure of two helicopters, valued at $2.1 million, repatriated from South Africa and Zimbabwe following a legal preservation order granted by the Pretoria High Court.
In South Africa, Mukelabai reportedly interviewed Garry Philips from NAC, who confirmed that the BELL 430 helicopter had been sold to Malanji.
The helicopter was returned to NAC for maintenance and rental purposes, an unusual arrangement.
The legal process for retrieving the helicopters involved obtaining a preservation order from the South African court. A curator was appointed to manage the assets, and the helicopters were eventually repatriated to Zambia.
Mukelabai also investigated the Gibson Royal Hotel in Kitwe, reportedly purchased by Malanji for K2 million in 2013.
The hotel was seized as part of the investigation into Malanji’s alleged financial misconduct.
Despite resistance and delays, Mukelabai succeeded in repatriating the helicopters and securing the hotel. The seized assets are now held at Lusaka’s KKIA airport.
The case against Joseph Malanji continues, with court proceedings adjourned to August 28.
In this matter, former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba is charged with two counts of willful failure to comply with the law, while Malanji is charged with three counts of possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
In count one, Yamba is alleged to have, between January 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021, allocated and authorised the transfer of K108,401,197.00 to the Zambian Mission Account in Turkey for the procurement of real estate without following the law.
In the second count, Yamba is alleged to have, during the same period, allocated and authorised the transfer of K45,800,000.00 to the Zambian Mission Account in Turkey for the procurement of real estate without following the law.
In the third count, Malanji is alleged to have, during the same period, possessed a BELL 430 helicopter, property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
In the fourth count, Malanji is alleged to have possessed a BELL 206 JET RANGER helicopter, property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
In the final count, Malanji is alleged to have possessed the Gibson Royal Hotel, property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
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