MUSICIANS Jordan Katembula, aka JK, and Wilson Lungu, alias Wile, have been named in a case in which a Ministry of Lands official has been taken to court for allegedly selling a non-existent plot worth K300,000. This is in a case in which Mwiza Phiri, a Ministry of Lands officer, is charged with obtaining money by false pretences.

Between January 9 and March 3 last year, Phiri, with intent to deceive or defraud, allegedly got K300,000 from Henry Mambwe by falsely pretending that he had a plot for sale when he did not have one. The K300,000 was given to Mr Mambwe to buy land for Khangele Matutu, a South African businessman who has properties in Zambia. Yesterday, the case came up for trial before Lusaka Magistrate Nsunge Chanda.

Testifying in the matter, musician Rexious Chomba, 32, narrated that Katembula and Lungu allegedly facilitated the sale of a 60×40 plot in Chudleigh, Lusaka. Mr Chomba said in January last year, he was with his manager Mr Matutu, a South African. “My boss (Mr Matutu) informed me that he had received a call from JK, who informed him that he has a plot for sale,” he said. Mr Chomba said Mr Matutu and Mr Katembula later met the same day in Jesmondine, Lusaka. “I and my boss met JK and Wile.

The two [musicians] took me and my boss to see the plot in Chudleigh. “My boss said the area was where he wanted to have a plot. He then asked the cost of the plot and JK valued it at K300,000,” he said. Mr Chomba said later in the day, Mr Matutu met the two musicians to discuss the payment for the plot. “They (Mr Katembula and Mr Lungu) said that they would bring someone from the Ministry of Lands to help with the paperwork [for the plot],” he said.

He said around 20:00 hours the same day, Mr Matutu met Mr Katembula and Phiri at Radisson Blu Hotel where Mr Matutu was asked to pay K60,000 for the plot’s paperwork. Earlier, Mr Mambwe told the court that Phiri, Mr Lungu and Mr Katembula signed as witnesses for the sale of the plot. The matter was adjourned to a later date for continued trial.