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Former Lusaka Province Minister and Kabushi Member of Parliament, Bowman Lusambo, was sentenced to four years in prison with hard labor on Friday after being convicted on multiple corruption-related charges.
His wife, Nancy Manase, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence proving her involvement or control over disputed properties at Silverest Gardens.
Lusambo, a former key figure in the Patriotic Front (PF) government, appeared visibly distressed as his lawyer, Charles Changano, appealed for leniency.
Lusambo expressed regret over the conviction, citing personal and financial hardships, including potential forfeiture of several properties to the state.
In addition to the prison term, Magistrate Faides Hamaundu fined Lusambo K9,000 for each of three counts of tax evasion, with an alternative nine-month sentence for each count if unpaid.
Read more: ‘It’s all politics, I’m not shaken,’ Lusambo says as he receives two years prison sentence for assault
The charges against Lusambo included unlawful acquisition of public property, tax evasion, and possession of suspected proceeds of crime.
The court found that Lusambo acquired properties without proper approvals or resolutions from Frontier Management Services Limited, later transferring them to third parties.
Among these, he was convicted of unlawfully obtaining property L/39876/M, which he later sold for K880,000.
In a related charge, Lusambo was found guilty of holding K880,000 in a third-party account, funds suspected to stem from illicit activities.
Additionally, he was convicted of failing to remit property transfer tax on two properties transferred to Mbachi Nkwazi for USD 150,000 and USD 85,000, respectively.
Magistrate Hamaundu noted that the decision to register properties in Nancy’s name was likely an attempt to obscure Lusambo’s ownership.
Nancy testified she was unaware of the properties and did not contribute financially, with evidence showing that Lusambo directed all registrations and payments.
The court also reviewed charges linked to additional Silverest Gardens properties, valued at US$60,000 and US$128,000, alleged to have been acquired with proceeds of crime.
However, Nancy was cleared, with the court finding insufficient evidence to establish her knowledge or participation in her husband’s activities.
Lusambo’s lawyer, Changano, confirmed that they would appeal the conviction.
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