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The president of the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) has been arrested and charged with money laundering offences.<\/b><\/p>\n
The country’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) alleges that Andrew Kamanga obtained government funds under false pretences and was part of a conspiracy to defraud.<\/p>\n
The DEC says the 57-year-old used the money to fund trips for two associates to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame – the two individuals who travelled to the tournament as part of Faz’s support staff – have also been charged, along with Faz general secretary Reuben Kamanga.<\/p>\n
An investigation revealed that neither Madalitso Kamanga nor Siame held official or executive positions within Faz.<\/p>\n
The quartet are alleged to have acted together to obtain 341,902 Zambian kwacha ($13,150 \u00a310,580) from the government for expenses and a further 99,980 kwacha ($3,850 \u00a33,095) for return flights to Ivory Coast.<\/p>\n
The DEC says the fraudulent activity occurred between 1 January and 15 February, coinciding with the Nations Cup finals where Zambia exited at the group stage.<\/p>\n
An Faz spokesperson said Andrew Kamanga’s arrest was “part of a long-term plan to bring [into] question” his reputation ahead of the governing body’s elections next year.<\/p>\n
Faz is set to hold its annual general meeting in Lusaka this weekend and the spokesperson added that the position of the organisation’s president was not under threat.<\/p>\n
“There is no immediate risk of Mr Kamanga being out of Faz because this is just an arrest and the matter has to go to court – if at all there is any merit,” they said.<\/p>\n
A DEC statement added that the suspects are “finalising bond processes” and “will appear in court soon”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n