Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The suspected owners of the 51 controversial houses have been identified and charged-Kampyongo

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Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo
Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo

The suspected owners of the 51 controversial houses in Lusaka’s Chalala area have been identified and named. The suspects are Charles Loyana, a Senior Accountant in the Ministry of Finance, and his wife, Susan Sinkala, a civil servant, as well as a Copperbelt-based lawyer, Chali Chitala.

The suspects have since been warned and cautioned, and the matter has been handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further action and guidance.

Home Affairs Minister, Stephen Kampyongo disclosed this in a ministerial statement issued in Parliament today, saying this follows joint investigations by the law enforcement wings.

Mr. Kampyongo explained that the investigations were done by the Drug Enforcement Commission -DEC-, Anti-Corruption Commission -ACC- and the Zambia Police.

He further explained that contrary to speculations and false hoods that surrounded the matter were even the names of the first family were mentioned, the development reaffirms Government’s commitment to the fight against Corruption and that the issue will be expedited.

Mr. Kampyongo stressed that the matter must not be politicised.

And responding to a question from Kantanshi Member of Parliament, Anthony Mumba, Mr. Kampyongo said civil servants can own property, but it must be accounted for. Mr. Mumba had asked whether civil servants are entitled to own property.

68 COMMENTS

  1. This is good precedence. We didn’t need the clarification on the first family. President Lungu being the president is the first person we shall blame even when he is not at fault. It is our right as citizens. Especially when matters of Taxpayers and national funds are tied to a case. It is common sense. The president understands this, but 8 PF ministers that are non performing just cannot fathom.

    • It is a nolle prosecue case.
      An accountant should know how to make money from nothing, and books pass audits.
      I have no issue with that accountant. I have issue with land and property management in Zambia. How could it be that hard to identify property owners?

    • I honestly do not know what to say when ministers warn civil servants about corruption.

      “Do as I say, not as I do” comes to mind.

      The ACC “failed” to find out who the owners are. Are they fit for purpose?

      Anyway, I do not buy this cooked up story. This would have made headlines if true as soon as the owners were found.

    • SHAME ON ALL THOSE LUNGU AND PF HATERS.
      NOW YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO HIDE YOUR FACES AND TAILS.
      NOW JUST SWALLOW YOUR INSULTS

    • SHAME ON ALL THOSE LUNGU AND PF HATERS.
      NOW YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO HIDE YOUR FACES AND TAILS.
      NOW JUST SWALLOW YOUR INSULTS

    • President Lungu also should be investigated and impeached from office…too much stealing and wasting tax payers money and begging bowl funds…..

    • Can you imagine that out of the first 10 comments, there is only one ***** who seems to agree with Kampyongo’s waffling? May be this is an indicator of how many *****s are willing to vote for the masquerades in 2021.

    • Please whom are we fooling here? Those people are not true owners. They are being used so that shortsighted Zambians forget about this case. It is a lie. No ways would someone build such houses without permits? We all know how Corrupt Council Officials are. They would have pounced on them a long time ago. Big Boss is the Owner.

    • @ ZAMBIA FIRST: You are very Dull. Can’t you see this is a cover-up? What did Lungu give you? Lungu and his people are so corrupt. That they want every piece of Zambia. No one hates him he has made himself so cheap because of his associates.

  2. Why then did the ACC close the case if they knew who the owners are? How about the moron from Tanzania who is claiming to own the houses. You cannot hide the truth forever, it will eventually come out. Nonsense.

    • Destined to fail would be believing this inconsistent story of an explanation without asking intelligent questions. Governance is not, and should not be equated to, a grade 1 classroom environment, let alone the Zambian one where children are encouraged to memorize without reasoning. That form of governance is what has made development unattainable under our current constitution and leadership. It is not what “you have been told”, but rather what it actually is and how it reflects on their leadership. Thieves spinning to hide the extent of their incompetence is not a 1+1 = 2 type issue. It is an issue of accountability, transparency, separation of powers, empowerment of our abused investigative wings, to mention but a few. Let’s give it the attention it deserves.

    • 360 degrees turn
      Malcolm Chabala, currently working for Standard Chartered Bank located in Lusaka is the registered property owner of the 48 houses on property LUS/56561.
      During the investigations Malcolm told the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that the actual owner is Tasila Lungu. He gave the ACC copies of the agreement he has with Tasila Lungu.
      It has since came to our attention that there is plan to link the plots to the late Willie Nsanda and auction them to a company registered in the Bahamas whose beneficial owner is Tasila Lungu.
      Whathappened is that Chabala sold the plot to Tasila Lungu but they never changed ownership on the details.
      Tasila Lungu and Chabala only signed a sales agreement without changing titles.
      When Chabala was about to be arrested and summoned by the…

  3. At age 25, I built a house in Ndola Lubuto in 1 year. I sold it 5 times the cost that time after 3 years of fighting with tenants.
    Yes people can build. But why hide and bring so much contravecy in country?
    An accountant at ministry of finance can manage to build those houses. Yes. From loans, stock trading and offshore accounts, yes, just 1 click and offload dollars.
    But 50 homes in 5 years is abit too much. It is questionable.

    • @Zambia, do we have to even teach you how to think??
      Using resources I had: at 25 building 1 house in a year, if consistent can have 10 houses at age of 35, and 15 houses at 40 and 25 houses at 50 years old.
      So 50 houses can take atleast 20 years to complete, not just 5 years. Becomes questionable.
      Anyway, ni mu Zambia.

  4. Like I commented earlier in the day in response to Anthony Bwalya who has become the voice of UPND

    Corruption as a whole is happening in Zambia from those who support (1)PF, (2)UPND, (3) MMD.. etc, still working as civil servants or Senior Civil Servants in Zambia. And of course in government and those who have No Political Party Affiliation whatsoever.

    We must not think that everyone who is of UPND Faction is all a Clean Faction. We need to address corruption as National Problem from all people, which has become the norm or a way of life.

    • On the other hand it is possible for anyone to own 200 houses in Zambia, if you work and think smart, you can do it. Its actually achievable within 5 years

      Lets not create fear of stopping people from reaching their aspirations, goals and ambitions.

  5. If the the money they used is all accountable, or from ” Compound Property Investment” then leave this couple alone. Because the capital is basically compounding itself to keep building more and more houses.

    In that case, they have become an example that if you are determined in life, you achieve any form of success.

    • The way the narrative is changing, it’s clear that many people are disappointed that it is not a of politician who isns the houses.

    • PF OBSERVER.

      If someone tried to confiscate my houses, I would come out in the open as soon as I am aware of their motives. I would even go on social media to publicise my case.

      I would not keep quiet.

      I would show them the source of the funds I used to build those houses.

      And I would certainly not own those houses jointly with a black mountain lawyer.

      Can you OBSERVE my logic?

    • 5.2 IndigoTyrol

      Here is my advice to you. We live in a world of enviousness, jealousy, where people aim to destroy those who do good and achieve success.

      If both LUNGU and HH answered all the lies that are said about them every day, they would end suffering from depression or even suffer from heart attacks.

      However, both HH and Lungu DO NOT have to answer to all the lies because its a waste of energy, which can be directed on something worthwhile. That’s the best way of having peace in life.

    • cont…

      As it is assumed the couple owns the houses. They don’t need to come out and answer to the media because they have nothing to prove. Theirs is to stay content and focus on their lives. They just need to prove they own the houses.

      AND NO ONE HAS THREATENED TO GRAB THEIR HOUSES !!

      Now can you imagine the lies & accusations that have been said to the world to which none of these people had not bothered to respond. This such people as the following.

      1.Oprah Winfrey
      2.Bill Gates
      3.Barack Obama
      4.Late (Michael Jackson)

      The above have not bothered to respond to lies, because it would deprive their PEACE.

    • IndigoTyrol @ 5.2

      You are a dandruff who has no brains. Zambia has a lot of rich people that don’t come out advertising their hard earned wealth. its their prerogative to remain silent. Who the f*ck are you to be asking them to come out and advertise their properties. INDEPENDENT OBSERVER… Well said my man

  6. There is more to come……

    I bet those suspects will be state secreates , never to be scrutinissed by anyone….

    You can foo.l the people some of time but can’t foo.l the people all the time….

  7. The way the narrative is changing, it’s clear that many people are disappointed that it is not a of politician who isns the houses.

  8. That’s the problem with most Zambians… Their minds seem to shrink daily… Just months ago people where crying to know the owner of the houses…now its known they are busy defending a thief, who stole from them ati its something that can be done…gullible minds indeed…the tendency of ignoring issues for the sake of been Zambian is what persons with small minds keep taking advantage of stealing and stealing knowing Zambians are sheepish…they will make noise after some days it will be water under the bridge…..Pathetic thinkers!

  9. Why didn’t the couple and lawyer come out in the first place?. How has this problem been solved when the same authorities failed the last time? Since when did kampyongo become a spokesperson for the law enforcement agencies? These people are scapegoats for the real culprits, they have invented a way to hide the real owners during the time they were accorded, am sure now documents of ownership that couldn’t be found earlier are now available. The truth is not out yet.

    • Read the story: Kampyongo was making a Ministerial Statement in Parliament. A Ministerial Statement is made by a Minister.

  10. Uko, the findings are finally out. I don’t see Tasila Lungu’s name?? An American band sang a song in 2004 called “American 1d!ot” which basically rudiculed how the American public were easily swayed by media most of it fake. The great Witch should regroup and redub it “Zambian Id!ot” – a nation controlled by fake media….

    • More like fake politicians…. If a bell rang each time someone lied, our politicians would be competing with ambulances’ sirens.

  11. The suspects have been warned and cautioned ? Not arrested ? How ? This story is half baked ? Why not the police or ACC announcing ? This is police matter not political. Crime is suspected to have committed, serious crime not a misdemenor.

    • The DPP will take it further, that’s her constitutional obligation. Read again. The investigators have done their part and will arrest upon the directive of the DPP. There’s procedure to be followed.

  12. Can law enforcement agents then arrest that guy ,Shimaila..something who claimed those property were his a few weeks ago for impersonification or even false alarm whatever appropriate charge! So how many owners will be found for this flats? We are bound to doubt these are the right owners because it has taken so long in this computer era just to locate two simple owners.

  13. With ZP , OP, ACC and other investigative wings , can the whole apparatus take 6 months to uncover who built and owns 56 mansions ?????????

    Common kaponyngo , we are not that gullible……

    The length of time taken to do a simple investigation leaves more questions than answers ……..

  14. tali they said ati a PEP owned these houses? is this couple that? kikikikikikiki what a joke. or am i missing out something????

  15. Property ownership like ownership of a company can be set up under a corporate veil, where identities of owners is hidden or held by proxies. Unless there’s a leak as in the case of the Panama papers Tax evaders can be invisible in millions from state revenue enforcers. Lifting the Corporate Veil actually has to be done in court and it’s not an easy process to unseal what has legally been sealed. So it’s not as easy as going to the ministry of lands or city council registry as done may assume.

    • Those were newly constructed or still being constructed properties naimwee…….

      the builders are known,

      the people who made payments are known….

      Unless you tell us instructions and payments were being sent anonymously …..by ghost telegrams

  16. Those were newly constructed or still being constructed properties naimwee…….

    the builders are known,

    the people who made payments are known….

    Unless you tell us instructions and payments were being sent anonymously …..by ghost telegrams

  17. The FIC report said the owners of the properties are Politically Exposed Persons(PEPS) and not just mere civil servants.
    This is the definition of a PEP
    Domestic PEPs: individuals who are or have been entrusted domestically with prominent public functions, for example Heads of State or of government, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials, senior executives of state owned corporations, important political party officials.
    YOU CAN CHEAT YOUR PF ZEALOTS BUT NOT EVERYONE ELSE

    • It appears these are not the properties alluded to in the FIC report. The FIC report says the PEP also owns four very expensive SUVs.

  18. The FIC report said the owners of the properties are Politically Exposed Persons(PEPS) and not just mere civil servants.
    This is the definition of a PEP
    Domestic PEPs: individuals who are or have been entrusted domestically with prominent public functions, for example Heads of State or of government, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials, senior executives of state owned corporations, important political party officials.
    YOU CAN CHEAT YOUR PF ZEALOTS BUT NOT EVERYONE ELSE

  19. The FIC report said the owners of the properties are Politically Exposed Persons(PEPS) and not just mere civil servants.
    This is the definition of a PEP
    Domestic PEPs: individuals who are or have been entrusted domestically with prominent public functions, for example Heads of State or of government, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials, senior executives of state owned corporations, important political party officials.
    YOU CAN CHEAT YOUR PF ZEALOTS BUT NOT EVERYONE ELSE

  20. This is fine. I just want to read something about the reason why ACC officials hid behind dustbins and under desks when a report on evidence of the then 48 houses was taken to them. Also, is this information the same as what is contained in that report that made people jump out of their offices like rats out of kitchen stovetop pots? See Zambian comedic politics need to be checked and normalized. It is just not making sense.

  21. ..@Sharon, please respect peoples views as they respect yours…am a Zambian not belonging to any political party coz I don’t succumb to stupidity…. If someone gives contrary views to what you expected doesn’t necessarily mean they are Tonga and UPND…I don’t subscribe to such low life thinking and never will…..but the beauty is i will speak my mind so long neither PF nor UPND think and fend for me…

  22. The ACC said they have failed to know the owners of the controversial houses so the houses have been confiscated to the state. After an uproar by the citizens the President came in and directed ACC to look at the matter again.Now the owners have been identified. There are alot of loose ends to this matter. Firstly it is practically impossible that ACC can fail to identify the owner of any property in Zambia and that is what caused alot of suspicion. I dont know why LOYANA was being shielded but he doesn’t sound like he is a political heavy weight. This is a very interesting case and mark my words any other political party which will win elections in Zambia will reopen this case and the outcome will totally be different.

  23. Mwakale – Agreed. There is still more smoke to this issue. These guys have been caught pants down. This case will be reopened should be PF be out of power. Next you will hear how Sunday Chanda will start screaming. It is a matter of time. Even at the Lands registry there were no records. Reporters who went check, found no details. Data base was blank. How ? No ordinary person can do that.

    But let us wait and see. You can’t cheat more than 16 Million people.

  24. Can someone explain to me how difficult or easy it is to identify the owner of any property in Zambia? According to my understanding, records start from the time the plot is purchased, there are a few stages before one starts developing the land. At the water connection level or probably bore hole sinking level, paperwork is done. At power connection level, paperwork is done. Titles… paperwork is done.

    Why has it been so difficult and taken so long to identify the owners of these houses?? It is annoyingly unacceptable! It makes the whole thing suspicious and it is actually difficult to accept that the mentioned people actually own the property in question. Remember, there are other people who have openly claimed ownership of the same property not long ago.
    Incredible!!

  25. MMMMMM what about Hh’s evidence over the 48 houses? kikikiki politics at its best, politics is a dirty game indeed.Good that these houses are built in Zambia and not in south Africa like this donkey cow boy is doing kikikiki kikiiki.Thanx cadre ONE (1).

  26. @Ken, Mwakale and Independent. LT are not giving us the full story here! It is reported that Mr. Loyana is a nephew to a former Minister of Finance who is a current sitting MP. Your guess is as good as about which MP it is and which party they below to. So this is bound to get very interesting. Also the information submitted by HH did not contain any substance to help the ACC with investigations.

  27. Sorry, what was the crime committed again? The guilty are always afraid hence the many explanations and numerous people claiming the properties. The truth always expresses itself in such simplicity.

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