Maravi

Chiluba justifies his silence on maize deal

Chiluba justifies his silence on maize deal
By Namakau Nalumango and Maluba Jere
Friday May 09, 2008 [04:00]

THE Task Force missed an opportunity to get something from my insight into the Carlington maize deal by slapping me with a warn and caution statement, former president Frederick Chiluba has said. But Task Force on Corruption chairman Maxwell Nkole said Chiluba, as former commander-in-chief, owed Zambians an explanation on the Carlington maize saga.

Speaking through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, Chiluba said he was left with no choice but to invoke his constitutional right to remain silent because had he cooperated, whatever he may have said would have been used against him in court.

"I decided to remain quiet because of the manner of the interrogation. The blame falls on the Task Force. They narrowed their focus and didn't attempt to establish the truth," he said. Chiluba said in law, the warn and caution restricted one from revealing what needed to be disclosed.

Chiluba said he would only explain the Carlington Sales maize deal when the matter is before court.

He said it was wrong for the Task Force on Corruption chairman Max Nkole to say that he evaded questions because he had always cooperated with them and other institutions and cited the times he had been called to present himself at court and at the police station.

"I did not evade the questions. It was wrong for the Task Force to say that I did in the face of a warn and caution statement that they slapped on me," Chiluba said.

But Nkole said former president Frederick Chiluba was still free to come forward and assist investigators to recover the money in the Carlington maize scam involving about US$7.8 million.

However, Nkole expressed happiness with the way investigations in the case were progressing.

"We have made good progress with statements from Bonaventure Mutale and lawyers from Rossenblatt Solicitors UK, Silwamba ," he said. "Mr Chiluba is still free to come forward and assist investigators recover the plundered money."

Nkole recently said Chiluba and his Iranian associate Ari Ben Menashe knew where the US $7.8 million lay.

He also said there was nothing wrong with the Task Force’s attempt to trace and recover Zambian public funds adding that they expected his assistance which Nkole said Chiluba had denied them.

Nkole added that Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi would also be summoned for interviews when the Task Force was ready.

The Task Force is investigating the case of Canadian commodity supplier, Carlington Sales Company, following an agreement with the Republic of Zambia in 1997/98 for the supply of maize to Zambia in the extent of US$24 million.

The government transferred the money in the extent of US$7.8 million towards this contract but not a single bag of maize was ever delivered and a loss of public funds remains incurred.

And when Chiluba was summoned to appear before the Task Force over the maize saga, he was reported to have evaded questions.

Labels: CHILUBA, COURTS, MAIZE, TASK FORCE

posted by MrK @ 4:07 AM