Maravi

There'll be no deal with the task force - Chiluba

There'll be no deal with the task force - Chiluba
By Maluba Jere and Laura Mushaukwa
Sunday May 11, 2008 [04:00]

FORMER president Frederick Chiluba yesterday said he will not cut any deal with the Task Force on Corruption for the charges against him to be dropped. Reacting to Task Force chairman Maxwell Nkole’s statement that charges against him and others accused of plunder of national resources could be dropped if they surrendered what they stole, Chiluba said he would not be party to backdoor and less transparent processes.

“We are aware of the many deals the Task Force is cutting but I will not be part to backdoor and less transparent processes,” Chiluba said through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba.
“I am aware of their recent understanding with Dr Rahjan Mahtani’s commission of US $250,000 he received from the Carlington maize saga.”

Chiluba accused the Task Force of having been a vengeful instrument of oppression, persecution and lies.

“Their work is littered with deception. One need not recount their misconduct in such cases of Mr Shansonga, the damning report by the Auditor General Report, etc,” he said.

“Therefore, whether The Task Force is disbanded or not is a matter of no consequence to us. I therefore urge Mr. Nkole, in his quest to have his institution mandate extended, to remain professional and avoid the pitfalls of his predecessor.”

Chiluba said he would this week take the stand in court to defend himself and that it was important for the government to prevent and not promote side-shows and parallel processes such as Nkole’s, which actions he said were clearly prejudicial and contemptuous.

“It is imperative that court proceedings are respected,” Chiluba said. “The statement by Mr Nkole on a radio programme and reported in The Post today, (yesterday) that my cases can be dropped if he surrenders what I stole is extremely irresponsible and again an attempt to portray me as guilty and is the notion that has been fiercely promoted from inception of these cases by my enemies portraying that my options are only limited to ‘surrender’ ‘forgiveness’ or ‘pardon’.

This high–handed scheme was crystallised by President Mwanawasa’s address to a special session of Parliament convened for the sole purpose of lifting my immunity.”

Chiluba also said Nkole knew clearly well the provisions of the law and that his statement was therefore a deliberate and malicious ploy to promote the deception that he was guilty.

“I wonder what exactly was the purpose of taking me to court if my accusers are keen to try me in the press instead of using the institution of the courts to establish truth and justice,” he said. “I take great exception by government and its agents to attempt to scale up propaganda and poison public opinions and views against me and my colleagues in the week that our cases enter a crucial period. I find Mr Nkole’s statement clearly fitting a larger scheme intended to cause injurious pressure and burden to the court.”

Chiluba said his accusers should abide by the law and not conduct his trial through the press as has been done through the last seven years. Chiluba further said chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti’s claim that the government had recovered monies and properties from plunderers was itself a mere statement of redundant propaganda.

“A casual look at recovered items shows that the majority of these assets were government assets in the first place,” Chiluba said. “The list includes even strange claims of recoveries such as the FAPFAMOS debt of K40 bn.

The truth will emerge and be triumphant despite the desperate machinations by government and my sworn enemies.”

Chiluba said the country finally had an opportunity to hear his side of the story and that the nation deserved the truth.

“And the nation will get the truth. I have remained quiet over the years because the press is no place for the grave allegations levelled against me and my legacy,” said Chiluba.

“It is opportune that this is done in the sanctity of court where my accusers have rightly taken me to. Mr Nkole, Mr Mulongoti and others should not act and react with frightful and alarming statements but allow and respect the due process of law.”

And Chiluba has summoned Zambia National Commercial Bank managing director Mark Wiessing as a witness in the case where he is accused of stealing US $500 000.
Chiluba has also summoned, as his witness, former Office of the President executive director Yotam Zulu.

This is in a case before Ndola High Court deputy registrar Jones Chinyama who sits as a magistrate in Lusaka where Chiluba, former Access Financial Services directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu are charged with theft of about US $500 000 using the Zamtrop account.

The evidence on record shows that the trio allegedly stole the money between 1998 and 1999. Chiluba is scheduled to start his defence in the matter after the court found him with a case to answer on the charges against him.

According to the summons to a witness issued to Wiessing, he is to appear before Chinyama tomorrow to tell the court what he knows about the Zamtrop account.

The summons also directed Zulu to appear before court tomorrow.

The Zambia High Commission International Account was held at ZNCB London branch from 1963 to 1991. It was an operational account for the Zambia Security Intelligence Service (ZSIS) account number 01C/19/70000/03. The account was closed in 1995 before it changed to the Zamtrop Account United States Dollar account number 58C/40/o70/85/01.

Labels: CHILUBA, CORRUPTION, TASK FORCE

posted by MrK @ 12:43 PM