COURT CONVICTS FAZ GS REUBEN KAMANGA FOR FAILING TO REMIT NAPSA CONTRIBUTIONS

THE Lusaka Magistrate Court has convicted Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) General Secretary, Reuben Kamanga, for failing to remit National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) contributions and penalties totalling K7.2 million for the association’s employees. Kamanga has been ordered to pay a fine of K400 and repay the K7, 222, 894.98 in three installments, with the first payment of K437, 806.98 due by January 31, 2025.
Kamanga, who was convicted for offences committed between January 11, 2014, and January 11, 2024, failed to remit the contributions and associated penalties for eligible FAZ employees.
The amounts owed cover contributions and penalties from January 2014 to December 2024.
In court, Kamanga admitted to the charges and, through his lawyer, explained that he had met with NAPSA and agreed to repay the debt. Upon his admission, the court found him guilty and convicted him.
In mitigation, Kamanga pleaded for leniency, describing himself as a first-time offender who should be given a lighter sentence.
Magistrate Constance Kansankala, while passing sentence, emphasised that failure to remit contributions is a serious offence.
“The convict is a first offender and has not wasted the court’s time. However, failure to pay the said penalties is an offense, and he was aware of the contributions,” the magistrate ruled.
“I fine him K400 for each of counts one to three, and the fines shall not be cumulative. Failure to pay will result in one month’s imprisonment.”
In the first count, FAZ failed to pay K280, 710.25 in contributions (both employer and employee) and K4, 804, 273.14 in penalties for the period between January 2014 and December 2017.
In count two, the association owed K150, 080.24 in contributions and K1, 966, 273.34 in penalties for the period from February 2018 to November 2020.
In the third count, FAZ failed to pay K7, 015.74 in contributions and K14, 526.09 in penalties for the period between March 2022 and December 2023.
The court’s ruling mandates Kamanga to make the necessary payments, beginning with the first instalment by the end of January 2025.