By 
A human resources officer at ZDA Lodge in Silverest Gardens, has testified that former Foreign Affairs minister, Joseph Malanji, purchased his three properties in installments between 2013 and 2020.
Francis Chipeta testified in the case where Malanji and former Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba, are charged with willful failure to comply with procedures relating to procurement, and being in possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Chipeta stated that in October 2021, officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) came to their offices seeking information about three properties.
The officer retrieved the information and printed out statements, including receipts, which showed that the properties were purchased by Joseph Malanji in installments between 2013 and 2020.
“Property number 269, the payments were made in four installment: June 5, 2018, cash payment of K200,000, June 28, 2018 cash payment of K200,000, September 19, 2018, a transfer payment of K100,000, May 14, 2019, cash payment of K46,000. The fifth payment was on December 1, 2019 of USD16,733.63 translating to K354,000,” he said.
In relation to house no. 270, he testified that the payments were made in five installments of K200,000 cash on June 5, 2018, K200,000 on June 13, 2018, K100,000 transfer in June 19, 2018, May 14, 2019 cash payment of K46,000
December 31, 2019, a cash payment of US$14,311, which translated into K302,750.
During cross-examination, Chipeta confirmed that they were not involved in the transactions and only retrieved the records from the company’s system.
The defense lawyer, Makebi Zulu, pointed out discrepancies in the receipts and statements, including duplicated receipts and incorrect dates.
The witness acknowledged that the printout was wrong and that the original receipts were not available.
The state had served summons to 20 witnesses, but only two were scheduled to testify that day.
However, they informed the court that they were unable to appear and the state was unable to substitute them with other witnesses.
Magistrate, Irene Wishimanga, denied the state’s request for an adjournment, ordering them to find other witnesses to testify instead of wasting the court’s time.
The hearing was adjourned until 13:00 hours to allow the state to find alternative witnesses.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments