The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has submitted to the High Court that Madalitso Kamanga and Jairos Siame were unlawfully included on a government-funded trip to the Ivory Coast.
According to DEC, Kamanga and Siame, who are non-Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) officials, were part of the advance party for the senior men’s national team at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) football tournament.
DEC revealed that preliminary investigations showed that FAZ president Andrew Kamanga and Reuben Kamanga, General Secretary, who appointed the duo, did not have the authority to include them on the trip.
As a result, Kamanga and Siame face charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretenses, and conspiracy to defraud.
DEC also stated that government paid K341,902 in allowances and K99,980 for return tickets for the two individuals.
Kamanga and Siame have applied for a judicial review, seeking a certiorari order to quash the State’s decision to withhold their passports.
However, DEC has asked the court to dismiss the application, arguing that the seizure of their passports was done within the confines of the law.
DEC also stated that the duo is required to notify the commission whenever they want to travel within and outside the country, as they are considered a flight risk.
DEC emphasized that investigations are ongoing and that the docket would be submitted to the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) for possible prosecution once the investigations are concluded.
DEC also argued that their actions are not illegal, void, or unconstitutional, as they have reasonable grounds to believe that the applicants committed an offense.
