“The value of properties bought in Turkey were inflated”

By Hannock Kasama

The LUSAKA Magistrate Court has heard that there was allegedly a 10.3 million dollars inflation of the purchase price of 12 buildings and ZAMBIA’s Chancery in Turkey.

This was between 2020 and 2021 when JOSEPH MALANJI was Foreign Affairs minister.

Drugs Enforcement Commission -DEC- Director Anti-Money Laundering and Investigations Unit KWALEYELA MUKELABAI has testified that according to investigations the properties were valued at 9.2 million dollars.

Mr. MUKELABAI has further testified that there were no budgetary allocations in 2020 and 2021 for the purchase of ZAMBIA’s real estate in TURKEY.

Meanwhile Mr . MUKELABAI has testified that former Secretary to the Treasury FREDSON YAMBA allegedly breached the law and procedure in the process of approving over 108 million Kwacha for the purchase of real estate for ZAMBIA’s mission in TURKEY.

He has alleged that Mr .YAMBA breached articles 203 of the Constitution , Public Procurement Act and Section 34 of the Anti-corruption Act Number three of 2012.

Mr. MUKELABAI was testifying in a matter where Mr. MALANJI is charged with possession of properties deemed to be proceeds of crime.

Mr. MALANJI is jointly charged with Former Secretary to the Treasury FREDSON YAMBA.

Mr.YAMBA allegedly wilfully failed to follow law and procedure when he  authorized the transfer of over 108 million KWACHA  to the ZAMBIA Mission in Turkey for the purchase of real estate.

Proceedings in the matter have been adjourned to September 23, 2024.