Mweene Crecious Mweemba & Sydney Kunda to pay over K5.5 million to ZRA
Oliver Nzala
By Derrick Sinjela
The Economics and Financial Crimes Court has ordered Mweene Crecious Mweemba and Sydney Kunda to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) over K5.5 million for smuggling alcoholic beverages into Zambia, contrary to the Customs and Excise Act.
Details are that Mweene Crecious Mweemba and Sydney Kunda, on a date unknown but between 1st October, 2024 and 30th October, 2024 in Kazungula, jointly and whilst acting together with others, smuggled into Zambia, Jameson whiskeys, Chivals Regal whiskeys, Deacon whiskeys, Imperial Blue whiskeys, Bumbu Rum Artisanal run, Malf Godi Gin Con Afrancia and Beefeater Gin London dry gin, thereby defrauding the Government of the Republic of Zambia huge sums of revenue.
When the case came up on 9th February, 2026 in Livingstone, the convicts informed the Court that they were invoking the provisions of the Plea Negotiations and Agreements Act Number 20 of 2010. The Authority did not object.
“The Court sentenced the convicts to a fine of K 6,400.00 and further ordered them to pay ZRA a total sum of K5,562,816.79 comprising duties & taxes (K5,085,983.91), penalties (K376,832.87), and prosecutions cost (K100,000.00),” read a Wednesday 11th February, 2026 Press Statement authored by Manager-ZRA Corporate Communications Oliver Nzala.
The case was before the Senior Resident Magistrate Trevor Kasanda Kalisilira.
Mr. Nzala says ZRA has intensified its monitoring mechanisms to detect tax fraud and smuggling. In this regard, any taxpayer found wanting will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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