Witness tells court funds approved for ZRA were diverted in Muleya murder case

A witness in the murder trial of Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General Guntila Muleya has told the Lusaka High Court that funds meant for statutory payments to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) were allegedly diverted to another account. Eustace Nkandu, an IBA director, testified that he approved two transactions presented by accused Francis Chipyoka, believing they were for statutory remittances to ZRA. Nkandu said he signed the documents as part of routine procedure, noting that all financial instructions originated from the finance department.

“I signed the document and handed it back,” he told the court, adding that his role was limited to authorising transactions while accounting processes were handled by the finance unit. Nkandu was testifying as a prosecution witness in the case where Muleya was abducted and later shot dead on July 24, 2024. The four accused in the matter are police officers M’Thusani Dokowe and Caleb Zulu, systems engineer Samuel Dokowe, and accountant Francis Chipyoka, who are jointly charged with murder.

“It was during later reviews that I discovered that the funds I had authorised had not been remitted to ZRA,” he said. “The payments I approved were not made to ZRA but to a different account,” Nkandu testified. He added that he reported the matter to the Zambia Police Anti-Fraud Unit, where he was questioned over the transactions.

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On another transaction dated July 5, 2024, Nkandu said he could not recall who presented the document but maintained it had originated from the finance department. The court also heard that all staff were required to attend Muleya’s burial and were assigned roles, with some receiving fuel allowances. Nkandu said Chipyoka was responsible for making payments to service providers during funeral arrangements but was absent on the day of the burial.

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