Lusambo earned K115, 645 as Minister – State witness

AN Accountant at Lusaka Provincial Administration has told Lusaka magistrate court that former Lusaka province Minister, Bowman Lusambo received a total payment of K115, 645.95 when he was serving as Minister from 2018 to 2021.

Mr. Lawrence Mukoye, 53, a state witness testified that he was approached by the Anti-corruption commission (ACC) to provide information concerning the payment which the Provincial Administration made to Lusambo as a provincial Minister.

Mr. Mukoye said he proceeded to retrieve Lusambo’s personal file from the registry and he got all the figures retrieved.

“A total payment of K115, 645.95 was made to Lusambo when he was serving as Lusaka Province Minister from 2018 to 2021,” he said.

Another state witness, Mr. Morgan Mwanza, an Accountant at Ministry of Finance and National Planning told the court that Lusambo’s net salary was more than K2 million.

“The net salaries amount is K2, 546,359.64. The leave travel benefit net amount was K109, 069.71. House hold was to K1, 020,000. Settling in allowance net amount was K170, 931.19 and the estimated total was slightly over K3.8 million,” Mr. Mwanza said. He was testifying in a matter, Lusambo is facing two counts of Possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 of the Forfeiture of proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010. Mr. Mwanza said in January 2022, MOF received a warrant of access from officers from the ACC enquiring on personal emoluments that the former minister received as a Minister and was provided.

And a Tax inspector at the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) direct taxes Division returns and payment unit, Mr. James Mwansa, 40, testified that Nuclear Sound General Dealers, a company registered for tax under Lusambo’s name has not been tax compliant since it was registered on March 31, 2006.

Mr Mwansa said the check on the Tax Online Two system indicated that the taxpayer is no longer trading as Nuclear Sounds and General Dealers but only as a TPIN meaning he is no longer a sole trader. Trial continues.