State turns pricey apartments of jailed PF Commander into boarding houses
WHILE the once-mighty PF commander Francis Muchemwa languishes in jail, the State has turned his dubiously-acquired apartments in the affluent Silverest Gardens of Lusaka into boarding houses.
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Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri told journalists on Friday that the State had kept Muchemwa’s hostelry business at Altitude Apartments afloat since it took full control of his properties in July this year, following an order of its forfeiture by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court.
Phiri took journalists on a conducted tour of the properties within Silverest Gardens, to document and show beyond doubt that the State was managing the assets in a manner it considered appropriate, as guided by the court.
The apartments whose environment is serene, have been partly occupied by UNILUS students while some rooms are being reserved for travellers in need of accommodation.
The tidy rooms also have a provision for self catering.
Addressing the media, Phiri said the hotel business has been kept running as a going concern to ensure that the inn does not become uninhabitable.
“This is a proper case of managing a property after it has been forfeited to the State. This property is still a going concern. So when properties are forfeited to the State we are making sure that we take care and they continue as a going concern,” he said.
“This property is a classic case of good management, after it was forfeited to the State it did not go to waste. It’s being maintained, it’s still running as a business, we are making money and you can see it’s well kept, it’s well maintained and this is what we want.”
The DPP said the Hostels Board of Management is currently managing the property and providing lodging facilities in to accommodate clients and promote growth in the hospitality industry.
“The hostel board is still running it. This is a classic model that we want to adopt. We don’t want to seize property, have them forfeited to the State and then they go to ruins, of what use is it?,” he said.
“In this case, the property is forfeited to the State we are continuing to generate money, money goes to the treasury to look after hospitals, after schools, on top of that we are providing a service to the community that are able to use the facilities here. But also we still continue to employ Zambians.”
Acting Anti-Corruption Commission director general, Monica Mwansa who re-echoed Phiri’s sentiments said the money realized from the inn is deposited in the national treasury for overall utilization on pressing needs.
“We are housing students of the University of Lusaka nearby. The university doesn’t have enough accommodation, the Students have come here and they are able to pay money which comes in the assets forfeited accounts and is surrendered to the treasury for use by the general public,” said Mwansa.
“This is one example of how we are giving back to the public at large. The property is not being wasted we brought in the Hotel board management to help us properly manage the apartments. Everything is functional we are able to get updates on what needs to be touched on.”
Muchemwa’s former fancy house which is the vicinity of altitude apartments was also viewed.
Within the yard was an office space, and a servants quarter.
A check at the house revealed that Muchemwa had abandoned his belongings at the house which remain intact two years after his trial, and subsequent conviction and forfeiture of the house.
Muchemwa’s clothes and shoes were still in the closet of his bedroom.
The beds in all the self-contained rooms were neatly spread.
His household furniture was intact and is only covered with dust.
Family pictures were still hanging on the wall in the living room, bedrooms including Muchemwa’s office.
The once feared PF inter-city bus terminus commander did not only abandon his household goods and personal possessions, but two of his dogs too (continental Spaniel) which are now being fed by their new masters, the ACC.
On July 26, 2024, Muchemwa’s action-packed political career punctuated by violence and corruption ended with his loss of freedom, after he was handed a three-year jail term for for possessing a luxurious house, apartments, land, and two Faw trucks worth over K12 million and for illegally receiving allowances from Zesco Limited. by the Economic and Financial Crimes Court
The Court fined Muchemwa K141, 400 to be paid to ZESCO as restitution for the subsistence allowances he accrued.
Muchemwa has however appealed against his jailing and confiscation of his properties in the EFCC ( High Court division) and his case is yet to be cause listed for determination.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba October 13, 2024.
