Malanji and Yamba Jailed

By
Lusaka Times Editor
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27
291

Malanji and Yamba Jailed in Landmark Corruption Verdict
The Lusaka Magistrate Court has sentenced two former senior government officials in a landmark corruption case that has captured the nation’s attention. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji has been jailed for four years with hard labour, while former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba has been handed a three-year sentence with hard labour. The judgment, delivered by Acting Chief Resident Magistrate Irene Wishimanga, marks one of the most consequential outcomes in Zambia’s fight against corruption in recent years.

The charges centred on the controversial K108 million transferred to Zambia’s mission in Turkey during Yamba’s tenure as Treasury Secretary. Prosecutors argued that the release of funds violated budgetary procedures, bypassed parliamentary oversight, and ignored established procurement frameworks. Malanji was accused of using his political influence to acquire luxury assets that included two Bell helicopters, a hotel in Kitwe, and residential houses in Silverest, all suspected to have been purchased with proceeds of crime. The prosecution maintained that these acquisitions amounted to clear abuse of office and deliberate concealment of ownership trails.

Magistrate Wishimanga dismissed defence arguments that sought leniency on the basis of the pair being first offenders who had served the public in senior roles. She ruled that the offences were grave, involved large sums of public money, and struck at the heart of public trust in governance. The court emphasised that custodial sentences were necessary both as punishment and as a deterrent to others in positions of power. Malanji’s direct involvement in property acquisition and concealment of wealth justified a longer sentence, while Yamba’s authorisation of the funds without lawful authority warranted a three-year term.

The verdict has been hailed as a milestone in Zambia’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign. Since assuming office, President Hakainde Hichilema has pledged to root out corruption, particularly cases linked to the previous Patriotic Front government. Civil society organisations and governance watchdogs have welcomed the judgment as proof that the state is willing to take action against senior political figures who misuse public resources. However, analysts have cautioned that for the fight against corruption to maintain credibility, it must be applied consistently and not appear targeted against political opponents.

For the Patriotic Front, the sentencing has fuelled claims of persecution. Acting president Given Lubinda has argued that the ruling demonstrates selective justice, warning that many PF members face the risk of prosecution under the current administration. His remarks were aimed at rallying party members to remain united and to interpret the convictions as politically motivated. On the other hand, government officials have seized the ruling as evidence that Zambia’s institutions are regaining strength and that the administration’s promises of accountability are being fulfilled. Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa praised the decision, arguing that it reinforced the rule of law and demonstrated that no individual, regardless of political status, is above the law.

Public reaction has been mixed. Many Zambians expressed satisfaction at seeing high-ranking figures convicted, a rare occurrence in the country’s history of high-profile corruption cases. Others, however, remain sceptical, warning that unless similar scrutiny is applied to current office holders, the anti-corruption drive risks being dismissed as partisan. On social media, citizens questioned whether the ruling marked a genuine turning point or whether it was a selective application of justice.

Attention is also turning to the issue of asset forfeiture. Malanji’s helicopters and luxury properties, already under seizure orders, are expected to be permanently forfeited to the state. The effectiveness of asset recovery will be an important test of whether courtroom victories translate into tangible restitution for the public. Observers argue that without the successful reclamation and reinvestment of misused funds, convictions alone may not deliver the systemic change citizens expect.

The sentencing of Joseph Malanji and Fredson Yamba is more than just the punishment of two individuals. It is a moment that speaks to Zambia’s political culture, the strength of its institutions, and the aspirations of citizens who demand clean governance. Whether it becomes a turning point in the nation’s anti-corruption fight will depend on consistency, impartiality, and the will to pursue accountability across all political divides. For now, the ruling sends a clear message: misuse of office and abuse of public resources will no longer be tolerated without consequence.

27 COMMENTS

  1. They became so brazen as to start buying helicopters………..

    With all the defence forces , intelligence agencies and GRZ officials, you tell me……..

    That the late ECL did not know that the presidential jet was being used to carry millions of dollars or that GRZ property was being sold in turkey ?????……….

    I find that hard to understand

    Jail more of them

    FWD2041

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  3. Does this not have a slight tinge of politics ? whilst a more severe sentence may have been approptiate why only politicans being brought to the fore ?
    Is the country not losing more by devious means by others outside of grz ??

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  4. GBM was sentenced to 5 years in Jail with hard labor in 2024….fast foward 2025 GBM is enjoying life in his house….Jail is for petty thieves and poor people…this is just to fool Zambians

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  5. These sentences are too short and if they still get to hold on to the assets they illegally took, then it will never end. Everyone that is supposed to “serve” Zambians is now being encouraged to do the same.
    When will Zambians realize that politics in Christian Zambia is for the pocket and not to serve?

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  6. Let’s thank God the rule of laws has been restored, equal accessibility and application. We all Zedian citizens got to follow the laws.

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    • Which rule of law are talking about? We currently have senior gov government officials who have been cited for corruption whose names are yet to be disclosed by the ACC, and has been over a year. Ba praise singer, you will die like lunshi comfortable pa chitumbi.

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  7. Zambia, restoring a system where laws are clear, accessible, and apply equally to all, ensuring that power is exercised within legal boundaries and independent of arbitrary. Let’s keep the all thing going on smoothly.

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    • Yes,I used to have pints with him at a sloppy joint in Nyumba Yanga.Little did I know I was getting a share of looted public funds.I feel very dirty

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  9. GBM was sentenced to 5 years with hard labor….kikikikiki where is he now….at home chilling…Jail is for petty thieves and poor people…soon Malanji and Yamba will be out….Just UPND government fooling gullible praise singers

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  10. GBM was sentenced to 5 years with hard labor…where is GBM…..kikikikiki Jail is for petty thieves and poor people…Malanji and Yamba will be out in less than a week

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  12. Meanwhile somewhere we expect closed casket burial because time waits for nobody. Did we even get proof of his true identity when he was walking around alive? NRC number of Edgar Lungu for example, if anyone has it, village. Chief. And death certificate

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  13. Poor people and petty thieves are in Jail serving their sentences quietly…now when rich people go to Jail that’s when drama starts…complaining about their health and begging to be released…why even arrest them and waste more tax payers money when you know that they will be released….

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  14. In the next 3 months all Politicians who are in Jail will be released….UPND is just doing things for show and to fool gullible praise singers….wasting more tax payers money…next week Malanji and Yamba will be home

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  15. I was watching the Chinese Military parade sophisticated weapons and yet in Africa we have problems with simple issues like Electricity…..corruption and theft is a cancer in our society….do we even have Emmergency numbers for Police or Hospitals…or its Just chipante pante

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  17. I am not concerned about Malanji and co. My concern is that ZESCO power here in Kabangwe in Lusaka was restored at 08hrs this Friday morning after loadshedding from yesterday but at 8 20hrs, it went again and this is after 15hrs it has not been restored, does it mean we will stay for 2 days without power, if there is a fault which we doubt, tell us

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  18. This ZESCO is just a nightmare, even here in Zanimuone, we should have power from 8 to afternoon today according to their own load shedding schedule, but there is nothing the whole day

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  19. Sydney Chileshe former ZEGA director was sentenced to 10 years in Jail for theft and corruption and he did his time…UPND just want to use these useless convictions for campaign promises…they just want to have something to talk about during campaigns as if they’re fighting corruption and sending bandits to jail…all these guys will be out very soon

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  20. This is the reason why corruption will never end in Zambia among government officials. The sentences are way too light (4 years and 3 years). The minimum sentence for a corruption case of this magnitude should be at least 10 or 15 years behind bars. STIFFEN the penalty for corruption if you want to eliminate corruption in government.

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  21. @The Patriot
    UPND is not even fighting corruption…they’re actually enabling corruption…yes corruption should carry 10 to 15 years…not 3 years…

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