Leaked Panama Papers names A Zambian in illicit deals

Attan shansonga, former Zambian ambassador to the United States of America is on the list of notable Africans in the leaked 'panama papers'.

In 1998, shansonga became a director of starflight ventures limited, stacey investment holdings ltd and debden investments limited. The activities of these companies were not revealed.

The company, incorporated in 1998, was allegedly used to purchase apartments in lusaka with money looted from the Zambian state

Attan shansonga was arrested in Lusaka in 2002 amid an investigation into the diversion of millions of dollars out of the country when late president frederick chiluba’s was in office.

Shansonga fled Zambia in 2004 and, two years later, was accused by the government of receiving “misappropriated monies” and using offshore accounts to launder the loot.

In 2005, mossack fonseca received court documents because it was the agent for hearnville estates ltd., a British virgin islands-based company named as one of 20 defendants, including shansonga himself, in a corruption case.

In 2007, an English civil court held that shansonga served as a conduit for 1.3 million United States dollars to president chiluba’s spy chief.

Following the ruling, Zambia reportedly recovered “significant sums of money from him.” attempts by the government to extradite shansonga have failed.

Shansonga is currently based in the United Kingdom where he obtained citizenship. The Zambian government including the patriotic front administration tried to bring shansonga to face justice back home, but all was in vain.

The Speech Analyst