Malanji Moves to Block Helicopter Forfeiture

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji has filed an urgent application at the Lusaka Magistrates Court to prevent two seized helicopters from being transferred to the Zambia Air Force.

Mr Malanji's legal move comes after President Hakainde Hichilema publicly announced plans to donate the aircraft to ZAF. The former minister says he wrote to Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri raising concerns about the President's statement while his case remains under appeal.

Through his lawyers, Mr Malanji argues the state should not dispose of the helicopters while his High Court appeal is pending. He contends that forfeiting the aircraft now would make any favorable ruling on appeal meaningless.

The former minister further claims the helicopters are involved in separate legal proceedings in South Africa, and that unresolved third-party interests exist in the properties.

Mr Malanji was convicted in September on seven counts of possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime. The magistrate sentenced him to four years imprisonment with hard labour under the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act.

He immediately appealed both the conviction and sentence at the High Court, where the matter awaits determination.

In his current application, Mr Malanji is asking the magistrates court to maintain the current situation by blocking any forfeiture action until his appeal is heard, warning that allowing the transfer would cause irreparable harm to his legal position.