A Zambian court has sentenced former Foreign Affairs Minister, Joseph Malanji, to four years in prison with hard labour after finding him guilty of corruption involving millions of dollars in state funds.
Malanji, who served under ex-president Edgar Lungu between 2018 and 2021, was convicted alongside former Treasury Secretary, Fredson Yamba, who received a three-year sentence.
The court heard that Malanji used diverted public funds to acquire luxury assets, including two Bell 420 helicopters, while Yamba allegedly approved the transfer of over $8 million to Zambia’s mission in Turkey without proper justification.
Delivering the ruling in Lusaka on Thursday, Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga acknowledged pleas for leniency but stressed that justice had to prevail.
“I have heard the spirited mitigation by counsel and taken note that the convicts are first offenders and are entitled to some consideration,” she said. “However, the offences committed were grave, and public resources must be protected.”
The convictions mark the first high-profile graft sentences handed down against top officials from Lungu’s administration since President Hakainde Hichilema assumed office in 2021. Hichilema has pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, though critics argue progress has been slow.
Reacting to the judgment, anti-corruption advocates in Lusaka described it as “a step in the right direction,” but cautioned that much more needs to be done to restore public confidence.
“This verdict shows that even powerful figures can be held accountable, but it should not end here. The government must pursue other cases with the same commitment,” said civil society activist Chola Mwape.
Zambia, one of Africa’s leading copper producers, continues to struggle with high poverty levels, with more than 60 percent of its citizens living below the poverty line despite its natural wealth.