BUSINESSMAN According to Lusaka Chief Resident magistrate Davies Chibwili, Francis Muchemwa, also known as commander two, worked for Zesco between 2015 and last year.
A witness testified in court that Muchemwa made more than K1 million in gross compensation and K502, 135.81 in net pay during his employment with the electricity firm.
The Anti-Corruption Commission detained Muchemwa in September of this year in connection with the possession of items valued at more than K12 million that were allegedly the proceeds of crime.
It is alleged that between 1 January 2015 and 31 August 2022, Muchemwa owned property number L/26392/M, a K2, 500,000 home in the Silverest neighborhood of Chongwe.
Additionally, it is claimed that Muchemwa owned apartments with property number L/26395/M worth K4, 500,000.00 in Silverest area, Chongwe, between January 1, 2015, and August 31, 2022.
Further claims state that Muchemwa did own properties with the numbers L/28477/M/H and L/28477/M/J between 1 January 2015 and 31 August 2022, acting jointly and in concert with Friltech Networks Zambia Limited.
The asset, which is in Chongwe’s Silverest neighborhood, is worth K3,400,000.00.
Additionally, it is claimed that Muchemwa did own an FAW truck with registration number BAR 9059zm worth US$62,000.00 between 1 January 2015 and 31 August 2022 while working with Altitude Properties Limited.
Additionally, he is charged with violating Section 99(f) of the Income Tax Act when read in conjunction with Section 98 of the same law, which is found in Chapter 323 of the Laws of Zambia.
Later, Muchemwa appeared in front of the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court and refuted the accusations.
Eric Lyumbika, an accountant at Zesco, gave a brief report of the accused’s profits when he was employed by Zesco throughout the trial.
According to Mr. Lyumbika, the report details earnings between June 1, 2015, and August 31, 2021.
He claimed that from June 1, 2015, to August 31, 2021, Muchemwa received a salary from Zesco, with gross earnings of K1, 482,903.73 and net profits of K502, 135.81.
However, when a defense attorney questioned the witness during cross-examination if he understood the number of properties his client owns and how he acquired them, Mr. Lyumbika responded in the negative.
The witness responded that he was unaware of the businesses Mr. Francis Muchemwa is invested in, and he was also unaware of the accused’s prior salary.
A second witness, a Zesco human resources manager, related that the accused signed an employment contract with the company in June 2015 that ran through September 2021, at which point he quit.
