Former Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji is under investigation for allegedly buying seven properties in Silverest Gardens and Chongwe just one day after returning from Turkey in 2020. The Economic and Financial Crimes Court was informed that Malanji paid $50,000 in cash for these homes.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Kwaleyela Mukelabai of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) testified that Malanji’s total income from 2016 to 2021 was K5.1 million, encompassing salaries, allowances, and gratuities. Mukelabai noted that the payments for the properties were made in installments of $18,000, $16,000, and $14,000, with receipts issued in Malanji’s name.
Mukelabai’s investigation into the transactions revealed inconsistencies in the documents provided by Malanji, including falsified bank statements and contract details. This was corroborated by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) in Congo, which discredited Malanji’s claims of receiving $100,000 in cash from a contract with Gibson Power Systems.
The ongoing investigation raises serious questions about the authenticity of Malanji’s financial records and the legitimacy of his property acquisitions.
