The recent arrest of the President of the Zambian Football Association (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, on charges of embezzlement of public funds has raised concerns among some football stakeholders, notably former Cameroonian international Samuel Eto’o.
On April 23, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia (DEC) arrested the President of the Zambian Football Association (FAZ), Andrew Kamanga, along with the Secretary General Rueben Kamanga, and two others, Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame, for “obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 309 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.” All four are accused of misappropriating public funds.
DEC investigations revealed that the suspects, acting together, obtained money from the Government of the Republic of Zambia under false pretenses. This money was purportedly allocated to Madalitso Kamanga and Jairous Siame to attend the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The allocations were transferred to their personal accounts. Additionally, the duo also obtained round-trip tickets.
It was discovered that the funds were disbursed to two individuals claiming to be officials of FAZ, necessitating their participation in the AFCON preparatory team. “However, investigations revealed that neither Madalitso Kamanga nor Jairous Siame held any official or executive positions within the Zambian Football Association (FAZ).”
This fraudulent activity occurred between January 1 and February 15, 2024, coinciding with the dates of the Africa Cup of Nations held in Côte d’Ivoire from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
In fact, journalist Boris Bertolt specifies that the FAZ President used state funds to only travel two individuals who had no association with the federation. He was arrested today. “In Cameroon,” continues Boris Bertolt, “the President of the Cameroonian Football Federation took an additional 2.7 billion CFA francs, apart from the funds already allocated by the government, with which he traveled his friends, friendly magistrates, his girlfriends, social media activists, governors’ wives, etc… over 500 people with state funds (see part of the list). There is no doubt that if the Cameroonian government follows in Zambia’s footsteps, Samuel Eto’o is simply a walking prisoner. He knows it.”
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