No One Above the Law

Convictions of former Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji and ex-Treasury Secretary Fredson Yamba underscore Zambia’s resolve to hold senior officials accountable for embezzlement and misuse of public funds.

By Francis Maingaila  ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24 - (5 September 2025) - The convictions of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji and ex-Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba mark a significant milestone in Zambia’s fight against high-level financial crimes, sending a clear message that no public officer is above the law.

Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Director General Nason Banda told journalists at a briefing in Lusaka this morning that the prosecutions were the result of “diligent internal, regional, and international collaboration.” 

He emphasized that investigations are ongoing, with the possibility of uncovering additional high-ranking officials linked to the case.

Joseph Malanji was found guilty on seven counts, including embezzlement of over US$11 million and the illicit acquisition of assets such as a Bell 430 and a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter. 

He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Fredson Yamba was convicted on two counts for bypassing legal financial controls to facilitate the misappropriation of public funds and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The DEC revealed that Malanji allegedly used the Presidential Jet to transport millions of dollars in cash from Turkey, depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars into personal accounts within days. 

"During the same period, he purchased two helicopters for personal use, exposing the audacity and scale of the crimes," he explained.

Banda highlighted the critical support received from the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Turkey. 

He revealed that investigations also involved key institutions, including the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA), the Asset Forfeiture Unit of South Africa, the Basel Institute’s International Center for Asset Recovery, and the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative. He further acknowledged the cooperation of ministries, the Zambia Air Force, private companies, and the general public in securing justice.

Banda stressed that the DEC’s work is far from over, noting that additional public funds linked to the case remain unaccounted for.

 “There is a high likelihood that other high-profile individuals involved in related financial crimes will be held accountable,” he said. He issued a stern warning to serving public officers, urging them to desist from misappropriating public resources. 

Banda noted that Zambia is prepared to pursue complex and transnational cases using sophisticated investigative and prosecutorial methods.

Clarifying the commission’s stance on the sentences, Banda said the DEC welcomed the court’s verdicts and emphasized that concerns over leniency fall outside its mandate, as achieving convictions remains the commission’s primary focus.

Banda declared that these convictions mark the beginning of a “new era where complex transnational organized crimes by public officers will be met with determined and sophisticated enforcement interventions.”

 The prosecution of Malanji and Yamba underscores Zambia’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, signaling that corrupt practices at the highest levels of government will no longer go unpunished.