Mweemba, Kunda reportedly ordered to pay over K5.5 million to ZRA for smuggling alcohol, evading tax

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) says the Economics and Financial Crimes Court has ordered Mweene Mweemba and Sydney Kunda to pay the Authority more than K5.5 million after they were convicted of smuggling alcoholic beverages into the country, contrary to the Customs and Excise Act. According to ZRA, the two men, acting together with others, smuggled various alcoholic products into Zambia through Kazungula between October 1 and October 30, 2024. In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, ZRA Manager for Corporate Communications, Oliver Nzala, said the smuggled goods included Jameson, Chivas Regal, Deacon and Imperial Blue whiskeys, as well as Bumbu Rum, Malf Godi Gin, Afrancia, and Beefeater London Dry Gin.

He said the duo had defrauded the government of significant revenue through their actions. When the matter came up on February 9, 2026, before the Livingstone Division of the Economic and Financial Crimes Court, Mweemba and Kunda informed the court that they were invoking the provisions of the Plea Negotiations and Agreements Act No. 20 of 2010, a position ZRA did not oppose.

The court, presided over by Senior Resident Magistrate Trevor Kasanda Kalisilira, fined the pair K6,400 and further ordered them to pay ZRA a total of K5,562,816.79. This amount comprised K5,085,983.91 in duties and taxes, K376,832.87 in penalties and K100,000 in prosecution costs. Nzala said ZRA had intensified its monitoring mechanisms to detect and curb tax fraud and smuggling, warning that any taxpayer found wanting will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.