Lawyer, two others nabbed over Baobab land
The arrest comes barely three days after Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila warned of stern action against anyone using the ruling party’s name to encroach on Baobab land and any other areas around Zambia.
LUSAKA lawyer Germano Kaulung’ombe and two others have been arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally sell plots on the Baobab land along Kafue Road.
The arrest comes barely three days after Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Mwila warned of stern action against anyone using the ruling party’s name to encroach on Baobab land and any other areas around Zambia.
The three suspects, who include Stanley Tembo and Leonard Mapulanga Nyoni, are said to have swindled five National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) directors claiming that there were plots for sale on the Baobab land.
According to Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo, the five directors reported to police that they had been swindled out of various amounts of money by Marshal Chambers, a law firm headed by Mr. Kaulung’ombe, on the pretext that there was land on sale.
“It was reported that between 16th and 23rd July, 2019, the complainants received information that there was land for sale at Baobab along Kafue Road and that the sale was spearheaded by Marshal Chambers, a Law firm headed by Mr Germano Mutale Kaulungombe and that down payments of K100, 000 were paid by each complainant except for one complainant who paid K200, 000 for two plots bringing the total amount to K600, 000. “Investigations revealed that the land in question belonged to Nyimba Investments and had not been offered for sale hence three suspects identified as Germano Mutale Kaulungombe, Stanley Tembo and Leonard Mapulunga Nyoni were apprehended and jointly charged and arrested for one count of forcible detainer contrary to Section 87; and five counts of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 309 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia,” Ms. Katongo said in a statement.
She said the suspects are detained in police custody and will appear in court soon, adding that anyone that could have been swindled in respect of the Baobab land should report to police.
Sources close to the transaction named some of the NAPSA directors allegedly swindled by the suspects as Dorothy Soko (director investments), Philip Muyumbana (director projects), and Ronnie Kamanya (director- strategy and business performance).
When contacted, Mr. Muyumbana said he had no comment as the matter was under police investigations but could neither deny no confirm that he is one of the victims while Ms. Soko could not pick up the call but only texted back that she was in Livingstone. Early this week, Mr. Mwila reminded all PF members across Zambia that no one must commit illegalities in the party’s name and advised them to follow the due process of the law and laid down procedure.