Connect with us

Metro

Former Zambian Minister, Kampyongo, wife charged with K29 million fraud

Published

on

A former Zambian Minister under the Patriotic Front (PF) government, Stephen Kampyongo, has been charged alongside his wife, Wanziya Chirwa, on 11 counts of possession of property suspected of rbeing proceeds of crime worth over K29 million.

During preliminary hearing on Wednesday at the Lusaka Magistrate Court, Justice Sylvia Munyinya said Kampyongo, who was the Minister of Home Affairs and was later made Minister of Local Government and Housing during the administration of ex-President Edgar Lungu, and his wife had to answer to the charges contrary to section 71 (1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.

Munyinya ruled that the prosecution had establised a prima facie case against the accused.

“I have considered the evidence on record and it appears to me that a prima facie case has been established warranting the accused persons being called upon to make their defence on the respective counts,” she said.

“Having said this, I invite the accused persons herein to make their defence on the subject offences,” she added.

The prosecution had earlier alleged that Kampyongo, between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2021, did possess property number Lus/38467 located off Twin Palm Road in Lusaka valued at K1, 600, 000; and, property number Lus/24406 located off Lilayi Road, Libala South valued at K860, 000.

It also alleged that the PF chieftain possessed property number F/135/4301 and property number F/137/4301 both located in Eureka Park, comprising incomplete double storey house valued at K11, 100, 000.00; property number KAF/Ln 59832/8 and KAF/59832/9 in Chifwema area valued at K1, 600, 000.

Charges against Kampyongo’s wife are that between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2021, she possessed property number F/135/4301 and property number F/179/4301 located in Eureka Park off Kafue Road valued at K11, 100, 000.00.

It further alleged that she possessed property number F/33/a/F/2470 and property number F/33/a/F/2471 located in Meanwood Ndeke, Lusaka valued at K2, 100, 000.

She is also alleged to possess property number F/609/E/77/A48 and property number F/609/E/77/A485 located in Foxdale Lusaka valued at K5, 200, 000 property number L/2131/m/a/2/cl/11 valued at K1, 200, 000.00 located in Ibex Hill, Lusaka, property number L/2131/M/A/2/CL/10 valued at K1, 200, 000.00 located in Ibex Hill, Lusaka, property number L/30168/m and property number L/30167/M located in Mikango Lusaka valued at K2, 110, 000.

It is also suspected that Chirwa did possess K1, 382, 513.84 and K1, 200, 000 in two separate bank accounts held with Indo Zambia Bank.

Metro

Zambia’s ruling party UPND warns against personal attacks on President Hichilema

Published

on

Zambia’s ruling party, the UPND, has warned opposition politicians and critics against personal attacks on President Hakainde Hichilema as his meekness should not be mistaken for weakness.

Secretary-General of the UPND, Batuke Imenda, who gave the warning in a statement in Lusaka on Monday, urged political opponents to always engage in mature and issue-based discourse.

Zambia Monitor reports that Imenda’s warning, was directed at the leader of Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) party, Kelvin Bwalya Fube, whose recent remarks Imenda described as “provocative” and a “feeble attempt to mislead citizens.”

“Provocative words uttered by Kelvin Bwalya against our party and President Hichilema are a clear demonstration of naivety,” Imenda said in the statement.

He further advised Bwalya to abandon personal attacks and focus on substantial political issues.

The UPND Secretary suggested that Bwalya’s attacks stemmed from a desire for relevance amid declining political fortunes, hinting at a possible alignment with former President Edgar Lungu.

“It appears KBF is hoping that Edgar Lungu might support his embattled political career by unjustly attacking President Hichilema,” he said.

Imenda defended the President’s record, highlighting that under Hichilema’s leadership, Zambia’s democratic space had expanded compared to the previous PF administration, which he accused of stifling freedoms.

He noted that while criticism was welcome, it should not devolve into baseless attacks, warning that opposition figures should not misinterpret Hichilema’s restraint as weakness.

Imenda also criticized Bwalya for overlooking the gains in transparency and justice since the change in government, claiming that past regimes were marked by resource mismanagement and corruption.

Continue Reading

Metro

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

Published

on

The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest that spread across the country from August 1 to the 10th.

The nation was thrown into shock on Friday when the Nigeria Police presented 76 protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason. Among the suspects were four minors who slumped before they could be arraigned before the court.

This caused serious uproar in the country with Nigerians condemning the government and calling for the unconditional release of the kids and the dismissal of the charges against them.

The decision to withdraw the charges against the underage accused came following a directive by President Bola Tinubu who ordered the immediate withdrawal of the charges and an in-depth investigation into what led to the arrest and detention of the minors.

Tinubu had also ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) to officially take over the case file as well as review the cases following public outcry that came with the arraignment of the minors.

The charges were finally withdrawn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja through an application for discontinuance filled by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF.

According to Abubakar, the discontinuance application was based on provisions of sections 174(1), (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

The DPPF also applied for further proceedings to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom, in line with provisions of Section 266(b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Childs’ Rights Act.

In response, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Fanala (SAN), who stood in for the accused as well as other defence lawyers in the matter, did not oppose the applications which promoted the judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, to strike out the charges, while the four affected minors were also delisted from the charge sheet.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Tech3 hours ago

Mastercard partners Diamond Trust Bank to boost digital payments in East Africa

Mastercard has struck a strategic partnership with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) to boost digital payments in East Africa with specific...

Uncategorized4 hours ago

Zimbabwe bans police from using mobile phones while on duty

The Zimbabwean government has banned members of its police force from using mobile phones while on duty. The ban, which...

Metro4 hours ago

Zambia’s ruling party UPND warns against personal attacks on President Hichilema

Zambia’s ruling party, the UPND, has warned opposition politicians and critics against personal attacks on President Hakainde Hichilema as his...

Sports6 hours ago

Kenyan court jails killers of Ugandan Olympian Kiplagat for 35 years

A Kenyan court sitting in Nairobi on Tuesday sentenced two men, Peter Ushuru Khalumi, 30, and David Ekai Lokere, 25,...

VenturesNow7 hours ago

Zambian govt spends K16.6 billion in October on debt servicing, gulping K4.7 billion

Zambian Ministry of Finance and National Planning released K16.6 billion in October to assist Zambian development and public service delivery,...

Metro10 hours ago

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest...

Sports1 day ago

Chepkirui leads Kenya to podium sweep at New York City Marathon

Kenya had a clean sweep of the podium at the 2024 New York City Marathon on Sunday as Sheila Chepkirui...

Tech1 day ago

AfriLabs to host ‘Annual Gathering’ in Cape Town

Pan-African innovation hub, AfriLabs, has announced Cape Town, South Africa, as the host of its “Annual Gathering” scheduled to hold...

Metro1 day ago

Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as...

VenturesNow1 day ago

South Africa: Petrol, diesel prices to rise on Wednesday. Here’s why

Following an increase in the price of oil due to the crisis between Iran and Israel, petrol and diesel prices...

Trending