Questions on Mpundu Trust upset Rupiah

Questions on Mpundu Trust upset Rupiah
By Kombe Chimpinde, Bright Mukwasa and Nelly Phiri
Sat 21 Jan. 2012, 19:50 CAT

RUPIAH Banda yesterday got upset when journalists asked him over the corruption allegations against him.

When the journalists approached him for a comment over allegations of money laundering regarding Mpundu Trust Limited and his abuse of office when he served as president, Banda opted to remain silent even physically sealing his lips for a while despite the journalists' persistence.

Banda walked away from journalists towards his vehicle while bodyguards shielded him in an umbrella from both the rains and the journalists who were running to get closer to him.

Banda got incensed with the journalists' pursuit and the corruption allegation questions before exclaiming in frustration: "Please I am not deaf. Don't be like that! I came for a funeral. I am very depressed about this occasion."

However, journalists pleaded with him that they were merely giving him an opportunity to respond to the corruption allegations being levelled against him
But Banda visibly got emotional.

"Yes I know. I can respond, I am a free man but this is a different platform, that's all," he said.

Banda was attending the thanksgiving service for the late former Bank of Zambia governor David Phiri who died on Monday after suffering a stroke and was cremated on Wednesday.

Recently, home affairs minister Kennedy Sakeni said that the corruption in Frederick Chiluba's 10-year-rule was a joke when compared with the theft of public resources in just three years of Banda's regime.

A report of the Commission of Inquiry instituted by President Michael Sata led by justice minister Sebastian Zulu revealed glaring irregularities and indicated Banda's influence in abusing and circumventing set government institutions and procedures and that he aided RP Capital to ensure LAP Green Networks bought Zamtel despite not being fit to run the company.

A combined team of investigators recently summoned his wife Thandiwe to appear before it on February 3, 2012 in connection with money belonging to the Mpundu Trust and some luxury villas under construction on Lusaka's Leopard Hill Road.
There have also been calls for the lifting of Banda's immunity to face prosecution.

Earlier, Banda said he had fond memories of the late Phiri.
"Although we were more or less the same age, he was like an older brother. I miss him. I feel very depressed because as you heard he was a great man. A man who wanted to unite this country across tribes and across races," he said.

The thanksgiving service was attended by Vice-President Dr Guy Scott, PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba and some government officials.