Maravi

Explain Katumbi issue - Dr Chongwe asks Levy

Explain Katumbi issue - Dr Chongwe asks Levy
By Brighton Phiri
Monday December 10, 2007 [03:00]

PRESIDENT Mwanawasa owes Zambians a detailed explanation over the closure of criminal proceedings against Moses Katumbi, prominent lawyer Dr Rodger Chongwe has said. Commenting on government's announcement that it had discontinued and closed all the criminal and civil actions against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province governor Katumbi, Dr Chongwe said the MMD government was not being sincere and transparent in its dealings with Katumbi.

"What I know is that this government told us that Moses Katumbi received US $20 million from former president (Frederick) Chiluba's government to purchase arms and that neither did the arms arrive in Zambia nor was the money reimbursed for failure to supply the arms. They also told us that the Task Force on corruption will ensure that either the money or arms were brought into the country," Dr Chongwe said.

"Who doesn't know how Katumbi through his Chani Fisheries Company was at the centre of rigging elections through corruption under the Chiluba regime? And this is the man government is telling us that he now owes us nothing? What has happened to the US $20 million?"

Dr Chongwe wondered whether President Mwanawasa and his government had forgotten about the controversy that arose from former information minister Vernon Mwaanga's visit to Katanga that led to his dismissal. He asked government to explain how they arrived at the settlement with a person whom they accused of plundering the country's resources.

"This government owes its people a detailed explanation over this matter. And this explanation must come from the President himself because the Task Force cannot enter into such an agreement without his authority," Dr Chongwe said.

"Surely we need to know how the man who owed us US $20 million can suddenly be said to owe us nothing. We all know that Chiluba's leadership attracted the people's disapproval because of his dealings with Katumbi. We seriously need an explanation from President Mwanawasa and not his minions."

He said government's action had nothing to do with legal issues but that of deceit and politics. Dr Chongwe said the good relationship between Kinshasa and Lusaka did not depend on how Katumbi's cases were going to be handled. "Unless this government is telling us that our claims that Katumbi owes us US $20 million are false and that government is apologising for telling us," he said.

"They must come out in the open and tell us that Katumbi did not receive the US $20 million. But who doesn't know Chiluba's illegal dealings with Katumbi?" Government on Friday stated that Katumbi was at liberty to return to Zambia and engage in lawful business he might consider appropriate after the two parties agreed to discontinue and close all criminal and civil actions against the latter.

According to a joint statement on resolution of matters between the Zambian government and Katumbi, through his legal representatives William Nyirenda and Company issued in Lusaka, all outstanding matters between the parties had been resolved to the satisfaction of both.

Government stated that the settlement of the matters between it and Katumbi was intended to secure the maintenance of peace and security between Zambia and the DRC.

Labels: CORRUPTION, KATUMBI, MWANAWASA

posted by MrK @ 5:38 AM