The murder trial of Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General Guntila Muleya has revealed intricate details concerning alleged financial irregularities and the roles of key individuals. Testifying before the Lusaka High Court, Eustace Nkandu, an IBA director, provided crucial insights into transactions that reportedly led to the diversion of funds originally earmarked for statutory payments to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).

Nkandu recounted how he approved two specific transactions presented by Francis Chipyoka, an accountant who is among the four accused in Muleya’s murder. Believing these transactions were legitimate remittances to ZRA, Nkandu signed the documents as part of routine administrative procedure. He emphasized that his role was primarily limited to authorizing transactions, with all financial instructions and accounting processes originating from and handled by the finance department.

Discrepancies came to light in August 2024 when Nkandu, while on administrative leave, was summoned by forensic auditors. It was during these subsequent reviews that he discovered the funds he had authorized were never remitted to ZRA but were instead channeled to a different, unspecified account. This discovery prompted Nkandu to report the matter to the Zambia Police Anti-Fraud Unit, where he was further questioned regarding the anomalous transactions.

Guntila Muleya was tragically abducted and subsequently shot dead on July 24, 2024. The four individuals jointly charged with his murder include police officers M’Thusani Dokowe and Caleb Zulu, systems engineer Samuel Dokowe, and the aforementioned accountant Francis Chipyoka. Earlier proceedings in the trial also heard evidence linking an accused, Dokowe, to a vehicle through fingerprint evidence, further deepening the complexities of the case.

During his testimony, Nkandu also touched upon another transaction dated July 5, 2024, stating he could not recall who presented the document but reiterated its origin from the finance department. Furthermore, the court was informed about the arrangements made for Muleya’s burial, where all staff were required to attend and assigned roles, with some receiving fuel allowances. Significantly, Nkandu noted that Francis Chipyoka, despite being responsible for making payments to service providers for the funeral arrangements, was conspicuously absent on the day of the burial. The trial is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.