Zambia’s Ex-Foreign Minister Jailed Over $8 Million Corruption Scandal

Joseph Malanji, Zambia’s former Foreign Minister, has been sentenced to four years in prison with hard labour after being convicted on seven counts of corruption. The charges include the illegal acquisition of high-value properties and helicopters suspected to be purchased with proceeds of crime.

His co-accused, former Treasury Secretary Fredson Yamba, received a three-year prison sentence for authorizing the transfer of more than $8 million to Zambia’s diplomatic mission in Turkey without proper justification. The transactions were flagged as suspicious, lacking the required accountability and oversight.

Malanji, who was often referred to by the nickname “Bonanza” due to his public generosity and frequent interaction with ordinary citizens, is the most senior figure from former President Edgar Lungu’s administration to be convicted. Several of Lungu’s former ministers have faced legal action in recent years, but Malanji’s case is the most prominent to date.

Delivering the ruling, Magistrate Ireen Wishimanga noted that both Malanji and Yamba were first-time offenders and acknowledged the “spirited mitigation” presented by their legal team. As a result, she said the court exercised leniency in sentencing.

The convictions are part of President Hakainde Hichilema’s broader anti-corruption campaign. Since defeating Lungu in the 2021 elections, Hichilema has vowed to root out entrenched graft in Zambia’s government. However, critics argue that corruption still exists within his own administration. Despite allegations, no ministers under Hichilema have been dismissed or prosecuted for corruption-related offences.

The controversy deepened in May 2025, when the U.S. government suspended $50 million in health sector funding to Zambia, citing “systematic theft” of medical donations. The U.S. stated it would “no longer underwrite the personal enrichment of fraudsters.” Although Zambia’s government pledged to investigate, no prosecutions have followed so far.

Malanji’s sentencing marks a significant moment in Zambia’s fight against corruption—but the public and international partners are still watching closely to see whether justice will be applied evenly across all political lines.