By 
Lusaka Magistrate, Ireen Wishimanga, has set September 1, 2025, as judgment day for former Foreign Affairs Minister, Joseph Malanji, after admitting a contested sick note into evidence.
The ruling followed testimony from Dr. Beros Nsiku Vangu, a 44-year-old medical officer who works at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and part-time at Lusaka Trust Hospital, where the medical note originated.
Dr. Vangu told the court that he examined Malanji between 20:30 and 21:00 hours and issued a medical note excusing him from court attendance.
Read more: Court queries Malanji’s sick note ahead of judgment in case of alleged corrupt enrichment
However, the note carried the name “Ambassador Joel Malanji,” which raised concerns from the State.
State Advocate, Mukuma Chipawa pressed the doctor on whether he knew the difference between “Joel” and “Joseph” Malanji and if he could confirm that the individual he attended to was the accused in court.
Dr. Vangu explained that the name “Joel” appeared automatically in the hospital’s computer system and that it was his first time treating the patient.
He declined to confirm whether the person he attended to was indeed the accused.
In her ruling, Magistrate Wishimanga said there was no evidence to suggest that the discrepancy was caused by the accused himself.
“I will give the accused the benefit of the doubt as he did not write the name. The system reflected ‘Ambassador Joel Malanji,’ and the note was duly issued by Lusaka Trust Hospital,” she said.
The magistrate admitted the sick note and granted Malanji the eight days prescribed in the report, while emphasizing that both the accused and his surety must be present when judgment is delivered on September 1.
Malanji is jointly charged with former Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba, on counts of willful failure to follow procedure and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The State alleges that between January 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021, in Lusaka, Yamba, while serving as Secretary to the Treasury, approved and authorized the transfer of K108,401,197 to the Zambian Mission in Turkey without following established procedures for the procurement of real estate.
During the same period, Malanji is accused of possessing several high-value properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.
These include a Bell 430 helicopter, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, the Gibson Royal Hotel, and three houses in Silverest.
Both Malanji and Yamba have denied the charges.
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