DEC SAYS IT WILL NOT APPEAL MALANJI’S 4-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR A LONGER TERM.
By: Thomas Afroman Mwale
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has disclosed that further investigations into the case of former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji have revealed that more money linked to the matter remains unaccounted for, with high chances of capturing other high-profile individuals involved in related financial crimes.
The Commission says more details will be released as investigations progress.
Speaking during a press briefing, DEC Director General Nason Banda announced that the Commission will not appeal the four-year jail sentence handed to the former Kwacha Constituency lawmaker, who was convicted for possession of tainted property worth 11 million US dollars.
Mr. Banda explained that the Commission’s mandate ends at securing convictions, while the courts independently determine sentences.
He emphasized that the verdict against Malanji and his co-accused, former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, reflects Zambia’s commitment to the rule of law and the recovery of stolen assets.
He described the case as a demonstration of how far-reaching transnational crimes can be, recalling how Malanji allegedly used the presidential jet to haul millions of dollars from Turkey, deposited large sums in a short period, and went on to purchase two helicopters.
Mr. Banda stressed that the outcome represents the fruits of diligent local, regional, and international collaboration in intelligence and law enforcement.
Meanwhile, on the three-year sentence given to Fredson Yamba, Mr. Banda said the conviction shows abuse of authority, as Mr Yamba was found guilty on two counts for deliberately bypassing financial accountability mechanisms, thereby enabling the misappropriation of funds.
He noted that the convictions signal a new era in tackling organized transnational crimes, warning that public officers engaging in such offenses will face tougher investigative and prosecutorial measures.
Mr Banda has further announced that DEC has since applied for the forfeiture of properties linked to the case, with the courts expected to make a ruling on 15th September 2025.
This is really strange, ba DEC. Where you just following instructions to target this man? Your herd is crying for a much longer sentence. Clearly yours is not an interest of justice, but persecution on behalf of he that sent you. Next, we will start hearing praise singers saying that he that sent you is simply showing leniency, that he has a big heart. And they will kwenyu. They kwenyu every nonsense that their kachema does.
I urge you, DEC, to appeal and ask for a 30-year sentence. The crime, if true, merits such a sentence. But we know that in this age of imingalato, it is all “make believe”.
REJECT TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION AND OPPRESSION.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
It is the DPP who should push for a stiffer sentence, not DEC
@Haaindigo it is not the job of DEC to appeal
Let’s start a petition to petition the DPP to appeal the jail term. No one understands why DEC is coming here with it’s story. Your job is to investigate and the DPP’s job is to prosecute. Please stop this interference!!!
Very interesting comment from the Drug Enforcement Commission. The DEC did it’s investigations, and submitted the Case to the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP) who then prosecuted the case.
It’s not for them to appeal against the Sentence. This is the responsibility of National Prosecutions Authority to appeal if they feel the sentence is too lenient..or are they scared of the soft under belly of this case which can’t stand serious scrutiny?
The issue I have with this case is where the USD 11 Million is coming from.
At first I had thought Hon Joe Malanji withdrew USD$11 Million from the Zambian Embassy Account at a Bank in Turkey, loaded the cargo in the Presidential Jet , and brought it in Zambia as ‘seed capital ‘ for his Bonanza Activities, and the purchase of 2 Helicopters.
I later learnt from the judgement that the Man actually withdrew $4.6 Million, gave $1.1 + Million for procurement of property at the Zambian Embassy, and remained with $3.5 Million which the DEC ‘s investigations stated he used to purchase property worth $11 Million!
How can $3.5 Million birth Properties worth $11 Million??? It’s like creating matter, or Energy!! Things are not adding up.
So again I ask where is this $11 Million coming from?
This is were the State and it’s Investigating officers moved from Professionalism to Propaganda, and became political…
Exaggerate the value of Assets to $11 Million so as to inflame resentment and public hatred against the Accused, and by extension the Patriotic Front which looks to be the motivating factor.
It’s the same strategy used in Tasila Lungu ‘s case where a Fish pond is valued as a facility worth Millions of Dollars.
And if the NPA appeals, or Malanji appeals, the DEC will be under the spot to show us where Joev Malanji withdrew the $11 Million from!
The total amount of funds released illegally by Yamba amounted
to US$ 11 million. The money was sent to Turkey and Malanji
drove a Presidential jet to go and collect it from Ankara. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUhHHHHH , that was ukupama, stiff neck
courage. Money counted and put on the plane back to Zambia, Malanji
then deposited into his personnal accounts and bought whatever he did.
But malanji only expended about US $4 million. Where did the other
part of the money he collected from Turkey go to?
What was the cut for Yamba for facilitating?
And the big Boss who gave authority to travel and released the
national Presidential Jet, the person without whose blessing, nothing would have taken off for Malanji and his mission to Turkey, what did he say or do after finding out about what Malanji had gone to do? ,