ON September 4, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Court sentenced former Foreign Affairs minister Joe Malanji to four years in prison for possessing property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, while former secretary to the treasury, Fredson Yamba, received three years for irregularly moving K108 million intended for Zambia’s chancery in Turkey.
Evidence during the trial revealed that Malanji, once known for his extravagant lifestyle as PF’s “Bonanza” lawmaker, had diverted millions of dollars meant for Zambia’s diplomatic mission in Turkey into his personal accounts, even reportedly returning from Istanbul aboard a presidential jet with US$4.6 million in two travel bags, which ended up in his living room.
Further investigations uncovered that Malanji had stashed expensive helicopters, a Bell 430 and a Bell 206 Jet Ranger and three luxury mansions in Lusaka’s Silverest area, in South Africa and Zimbabwe, until authorities recovered them under court orders.
Magistrate Irene Wishimanga noted during sentencing that Malanji had failed to provide any legitimate proof of income for the properties, relying instead on forged documents and false claims of a Congo-based business.
The State quickly moved to seize his mansions, helicopters and other ill-gotten assets, signaling that the era of impunity for the misappropriation of public funds had no place in Zambia.
By George Musonda
Kalemba December 31, 2025
