By Agness Changala
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri has filed a notice of appeal against the acquittal and sentence of former Foreign Affairs minister Joseph Malanji and his co-accused former secretary to treasury Fredson Yamba.
In a notice of appeal filed in the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court against the acquittal and /or sentence dated September 9, 2025, Phiri stated that he desired to appeal to the High Court, the sentence of both Malanji and Yamba and the acquittal of the former.
“To the clerk of the above court, I, the above-named appellant hereby give notice that I desire to appeal to the High Court the sentence of both FREDSON KANGO YAMBA AND JOSEPH MALANJI and the acquittal of JOSEPH MALANJI in count five. I desire to be present when the court considers the appeal,” Phiri stated.
Last week, Yamba was convicted in two counts of wilful failure to comply with the law and applicable procedure relating to the management of public property, contrary to the Laws of Zambia and was sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour while Malanji was on the same day convicted in seven counts of possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
He was sentenced to four years imprisonment with hard labour and was acquitted in count five where he was also charged with the offence of possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
Yamba has since filed documents applying for bail and hearing is set for September 15, 2025.
Malanji was jointly charged with Yamba with 10 counts of possession of property reasonably suspected as proceeds of crime.
Yamba was accused of having failed to follow procedure in relation to the buying of an estate in Turkey, and Malanji was accused of being in possession of a hotel and helicopters, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Yamba is charged with two counts of willful failure to comply with applicable law while Malanji was charged with eight counts of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
It was alleged in the first count that Yamba, on dates unknown, but between January 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 in Lusaka, being Secretary to the Treasury, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown allocated and authorised the transfer of K108,401,197.00 to the Zambian Mission Account in Turkey for the procurement of real estate without following the law.
In counts three to 10, Malanji allegedly possessed a Bell 430 Helicopter, a Bell 206 JET RANGER Helicopter and Gibson Royal Hotel, properties suspected of being proceeds of crime.
