Nakacinda defends ex-Lusaka minister, Lusambo, says he had wealth before government role

Patriotic Front (PF) faction Secretary-General, Raphael Nakacinda, has testified that former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo had financial means even before joining the government.

Nakacinda appeared as a defense witness in a case where Lusambo is accused of possessing properties suspected to be proceeds of crime, including his Chamba Valley residence.

Testifying before Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili, Nakacinda described Lusambo as a disciplined individual who prioritized investments over extravagant spending, a trait he said was rare among some cadres and officials.

“In 2011, after the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) lost the elections, Mr. Lusambo moved from a large rented house in Lusaka to a modest two-bedroom house in Kafue,” Nakacinda stated.

“He knew access to resources would be limited, so he chose to complete the house he had been building in Chamba Valley.”

As Nakacinda began discussing political history, the magistrate intervened, instructing him to focus on relevant evidence.

Nakacinda insisted that Lusambo had significant earnings before entering Parliament. Recalling the 2011 MMD convention, he stated that he had persuaded Lusambo to support Dr. Nevers Mumba’s presidential bid.

“During the campaign, I received $80,000 from a well-wisher supporting Dr. Mumba. We allocated funds to different provinces, and Lusambo played a key role in mobilization,” Nakacinda testified, adding that political financial transactions often lacked formal receipts.

He further revealed that Lusambo had engagements with past political figures, including former presidents Levy Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda, which were not without financial benefits.

After Dr. Mumba won the MMD presidency, Lusambo was placed on a monthly allowance of between K30,000 and K40,000.

Nakacinda also recounted a 2012 incident when Copperbelt MMD Provincial Chairperson Edith Mataka sought intervention regarding mining dump sites allocated by President Mwanawasa. Lusambo became involved in resolving licensing issues and later acted as an agent, securing a lucrative deal that significantly improved his financial position.

“This marked a turning point in his ambitions, and he soon set his sights on becoming the Kabushi lawmaker,” Nakacinda explained.

During cross-examination, the prosecution challenged Nakacinda’s claims about Lusambo’s earnings, pointing out inconsistencies between figures of K30,000-K40,000 and another estimate of K60,000-K70,000.

The court also played a video showing Lusambo allegedly engaging in forceful conduct against Major Richard Kachingwe. The prosecution asked Nakacinda to confirm whether a man with gray hair was being pushed inappropriately.

Nakacinda acknowledged the incident but questioned its relevance to the case. The defense objected, arguing that the trial was about alleged acquisition of tainted property, not violence.

While the court noted the potential irrelevance of the footage, the proceedings continued.

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