KWACHA CONSTITUENCY RESIDENTS DESCRIBE JOE MALANJI’S JAIL SENTENCE UNFAIR.
By: Thomas Afroman Mwale
The sentencing of former foreign affairs minister joseph malanji to four years imprisonment with hard labour has stirred mixed reactions among residents of kwacha constituency, following his conviction for possessing tainted property.
in separate interviews, residents described the judgment as unjust, arguing that mr. malanji had built his business profile long before entering politics.
beatrice kafwamba said the constituency was “in tears” over the ruling, noting that many were struggling to accept the outcome given the former minister’s continued contributions even after leaving office.
justin nsonge highlighted mr. malanji’s role in supporting livelihoods through community development initiatives, describing his generosity as a defining trait of his leadership in kitwe.
meanwhile, alice banda called for unity among opposition political players, expressing concern over what she termed the ongoing prosecution of senior political figures.
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This why corruption in this country will be hard to eliminate, because it seems citizens don’t seem to find anything wrong with it as long they got something out of it. The case and resulting conviction of Mr. Joseph Malanji was not about whether he had businesses before going in to politics or not, but if the properties he possessed were genuinely aquired. Neither is it about whether he was helping a lot of people with his money, but it is about him failing to prove the money was genuinely his. Surely, what is so hard to understand about that?
Please wait if you believe that the 4 years given is heavy. An appeal may attract something heavier. Yes, he had businesses before being appointed minister. Why didn’t he buy the choppers and those luxurious houses before he was appointed.? Why is it that he never deposited u$100,000 everyday for 14 days before he became minister?
Those saying the sentencing was unfair must know that their former MP is in fact lucky.The court could have given him more jail term years but the lawyers could have done a good job in mitigation. The amount involved in that case could have paid for all retirement packages for retirees of the civil service for past years still waiting and currently waiting for pension.If it wasn’t enough for that it could have made a huge difference.To make matters worse is his choice of expenditure.Going to buy helicopters honestly? He appears to have had Presidential ambitions.What were the two helicopters for? The selfishness he exhibited is extraordinary and abnormal.If he really loved his constituency so much we could have seen a big project from the same amount.The sympathy and disappointment shown by some Kwacha residents is misplaced and unfortunate.The current MP who was rejected recently is far much better.He is not corrupt and may not have the money to throw lavishly.In fact the UPND must not fail to re adopt him.The noise makers just wanted to make unnecessary comparisons which is unfair.
It’s the very reason why Lungu didn’t want them to get an education, to make it easy to manipulate them with tantameni!
This is the disease that we Zambians suffer from. We love “free” things. We have no sense of dignity nor morality. Those interviewed show a very shallow understanding of the circumstances leading to the conviction of Mr. Malanji. What they donot realise is that it was their tax money he was stealing and giving them back a few crumbs. They don’t even realise that they pay tax on every item they buy including electricity tokens (vat).
I remember watching a clip of Mr. Malanji visiting a church in his former constituency and people were literally prostrating themselves before him (idolatry) like they would do before the Litunga. It was disgusting. But that is what poverty can do to a people. It destroys their dignity and warps their thinking.
This is why we need to deal with these thieves firmly and decisively so that we can free our people from this poverty of the mind and they can regain their dignity. Critical thinking is seriously lacking in our country even among the so called educated.
Am yet to get the details on Hon Joe Malanji ‘s case..There are a lot of grey areas, and disinformation in our media, be it state media or social media, it’s all propaganda. One needs to read the judgement, and the evidence presented in court to give an informed opinion. This government breathes and lives Propaganda…That is it’s Oxygen.
But what I know about Hon Joe Malanji is that his Philanthropist Activities started way back before the man even entered politics, a product of his business empire he has built over years.
The man was made before entering politics. He never got seed capital through proximity to State Resources… He was never involved in the Liquidation and appropriation of state Assets, such as those of Lima Bank, Hotels, Mines, Commercial and Industrial Properties. His businesses were away from these.
The man was a regular contributor to the Lunda- Lubanza Ceremony, indeed he was seen as a golden Child of the Lunda. He always associated himself with the less Privileged in Society , especially in Kitwe , and his works are there for all to see.
Others had to wait to become Presidents , and a year before elections for them to Start splashing Millions to Churches , Colleges and Universities, build bore holes, Donate Buses etc …and even so , from Undeclared Assets!
One is left to wonder as to where these Millions are suddenly coming from! No wonder the Catholic Church in Luapula Province refused to accept these Raining Monies.
We are seeing People who were Paupers before entering politics buying a Chicken at K100,000.00 today. Where can one get such amounts to spend on a chicken?These are the people we were struggling with to get on public Transport…Today they claim to be self made Millionaires with Houses, Farms , Lodges and Hotels all over.
Look at how the Kaputa Member of Parliament, a former Chisokone Market graduate, is splashing money wherever he goes..Where is he getting the money?
And so many of them are Splashing Cash to Churches, Choirs , Musicians , Chiefs , football teams ets…Where has this generosity come from, and involving huge amounts which they couldn’t give before 2021??
And like all Hopeless Hypocrites, they are seeing everything wrong in Hon Joe Malanji, when the man wasn’t in their league..The man was made before entering politics.
This money being splashed around by new Philanthropists to the SDA, UCZ, Reformed church, Baptist Church, and many others are Living Exhibits of money reasonably Suspected to be proceeds of Crime …and some day some Reverends ,Bishops or Pastor will stand in court, for receiving money, suspected to be proceeds of Crime, and ofcourse together with the giver.
Receipt of Stolen Property, or a Proceed of Crime is an Offence under our Penal code. It’s high time these men of the Collar started facing Consequences for being complicit in Crime.
Nipano tuli!
Your hate for HH has irreparably impaired you reasoning capacity boss. Like you said, read the judgement first before before firing missiles in all directions. You may not hit the target.
That doesn’t warrant turning himself into a Robinhood. Stop addressing him as honorable. He is a thief, period!
Only fellow thieves glorify thieves. The sentence is too lenient for crimes committed. I hope someone can appeal on behalf of the people. I have lived in Bulangililo/Kwacha all my life. I am yet to come across someone crying for this greatest thief. If one fellow thief cries, it doesn’t mean the whole Kwacha is morning. When thieves are jailed they cry perception, shrinking democratic space. No democratic space is only shrinking to thieves not ordinary people. Everyone is very free except thieves bapompwe munshibila nsala.
The point is that he failed to convince the court about the legitimacy of the sources of the wealth he owned. Whether he was generous or not is irrelevant. Even a thief can be generous.
These people are just crying because the free stolen money which malanji was dishing out to them will stop.
Even churches like the former free church of Scotland was on his corruption list. The chaps are addicted to lomba lomba church services