By 
The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has heard that former Foreign Affairs Minister, Joseph Malanji, made a series of high-value cash deposits shortly after the Zambian Embassy in Turkey purchased a chancery building—raising questions about the use of millions in public funds.
During cross-examination, prosecutors revealed that only US$1,126,308 of the US$4.8 million allocated for the building was actually paid. The whereabouts of the remaining funds remain unclear.
State prosecutors submitted that Malanji deposited K10 million in cash between October 26 and 30, 2020, just after his return from Turkey.
The funds were deposited into a Stanbic Bank account belonging to Gibson Power Systems, where Malanji is a director and signatory. The deposits were made in five consecutive K2 million tranches.
Travel records presented in court showed Malanji left for Morocco on October 22, 2020, and returned to Zambia on October 26—the same day the first deposit was made.
Malanji told the court the money came from personal business ventures dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, including transport and power automation.
However, he admitted under cross-examination that he had not provided supporting documentation and that the Stanbic account had an opening balance of zero in 2017, with only K365 on the day of the first deposit.
Further bank records showed additional large deposits: US$204,500 and US$100,000 on December 30 and 31, 2020, respectively, days after another trip to Turkey. In early January 2021, deposits and transfers ranging from US$48,000 to US$100,000 were made to South Africa’s National Airports Corporation and Gibson Power Systems.
Prosecutors argued these financial movements—occurring within a short window after his trips—may be linked to the chancery deal and could not be explained by Malanji’s business activities, particularly without evidence.
In March 2021, three more deposits of US$100,000 each were made between March 16 and 18.
The full amount, US$300,000, was later transferred to a Bell helicopter vendor—part of what the State alleges was a purchase made using proceeds of crime.
On September 2, 2021, US$105,000 was paid to Gibson Charter by a company believed to have received funds from the embassy.
A letter authorising regular deposits above US$100,000 into Gibson Power Systems was presented in court, bearing Malanji’s signature as chairperson to the Central Bank.
Read More: Malanji denies owning helicopters, calls prosecution’s claims ‘a complete fabrication’
When questioned on aircraft ownership, Malanji denied owning any helicopters or acting on behalf of any company in their acquisition, though records showed repeated transfers from his associated accounts to entities linked to helicopter leases.
Malanji is facing three counts of possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime. Meanwhile, former Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba, is facing two counts of willful failure to comply with the law.
In the first two counts, Yamba is accused of authorising the transfer of over K154 million to Zambia’s mission in Turkey for real estate purchases without following legal procedures.
Malanji is charged in the remaining three counts related to the alleged illicit ownership of a Bell 430 helicopter, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter, and the Gibson Royal Hotel.
The case continues before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.
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