FORMER Zambia Army commander, Wisdom Lopa has insisted that he did not get the K500, 000 from former Zambia Air Force (ZAF) commander Andrew Sakala, saying his defence wing was well-funded at the time.
Lopa said his wing had before the elections requested for funding in order for him to ensure the security situation in the country was contained and he received K3.5 million.
This is in a matter in which the three former service chiefs, Lopa, Sakala and former Zambia National Service (ZNS) commander Anthony Yeta are jointly charged with theft by public servant involving K1.5 million.
The three former service chiefs, between September 16 and September 21, 2011, were alleged to have stolen K1.5 million, money meant for operations before, during and after the elections.
But Lopa told deputy director of local court, Wilfred Muma who sat as principal magistrate during cross-examination yesterday that when the defence chiefs went to State House to brief the new commander of the armed forces about the situation of the security in the country, he did not raise the issue of receiving the K500,000 because it was of less importance compared to the issues of national security.
Lopa said the Central Joint Operations Committee (CJOC) meeting, which was held on September 14, 2011, resolved to allocate K500,000 to each of the defence wings including the Zambia Police for covert operations before, during and after the elections.
Lopa, who was the chairperson of the CJOC, said it was resolved in the same meeting that the money would be transmitted directly to the different services and not through ZAF which was headed by Sakala.
He said before the meeting at State House, he requested for money to be allocated to his wing and received the K3.5 million.He said when he did not receive the K500,000 allocated to his wing at the CJOC, he was not worried because his wing was well-funded at the time, adding that he did not object to the allocation of K500,000 as such funding was always forthcoming.
Lopa said if the money was sent directly to the ZAF account as was alleged by Sakala, it was a departure against what was agreed upon during the CJOC meeting.He said he only learnt that Sakala was given the money when the Government Joint Investigations Team interrogated him on the matter.He insisted that what he received in a black bag from Sakala where wine and sexual boosters, in form of herbs were contained.
He said the sexual booster was sent to him through Sakala from a ZAF officer who was attached at the Zambian Embassy in Tanzania.Lopa said when asked by one of the State prosecutors how it was possible to receive sexual boosters at the time, he explained that he was going through pressure during the period of elections.
Meanwhile, Mr Muma has granted Lopa, Sakala and Yeta, applications for each of them to subpoena two witnesses.
Trial continues on May 6, 2014.
[Times of Zambia]
Abakulu bonse at libido. ifyabushilu fyekafyeka
Show some respect! Unless your D.i..k falls off it is still of paramount use even in the elderly.
Just leave them, that is not a lot of money.
I do not like the way PF is demeaning and embarrassing our Former commanders.This case is a witch hunt meant to discredit anyone who served under the Rupiah Banda Administration. It has become clear that the PF come up with trumped up charges against influential people in the previous administration. The CJOC authorized use of the money for security during the 2011 elections.We all know that and saw Security personnel and equipment mobilized during that time.PF should watch out and not mess with the army.
This is one of the many signs of PF fight against corruption and abuse of public resources. It will send strong message to all public officers not to squanders public funds.
WELLDONE PF!!!
@GOFO. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IN THIS COUNTRY WE APPEAR NOT TO HAVE VALUE FOR ANYTHING. WE ARE QUICK AT CALLING FOR THE ARREST OF ALL PLUNDERERS OF GOVT. RESOURCES, BUT WHEN SUCH ARE ARRESTED WE TURN AROUND AND ACCUSE SOMEONE OF WITCH HUNTING – WHICH IS WHICH? NOSTRADAMUS SAYS, “JUST LEAVE THEM, THAT IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY”! IS K1,500.000 NOT A LOT MONEY? HOW MUCH SHOULD ONE STEAL IN ORDER TO BE CONVICTED? OF COURSE NO ONE WANTS TO SEE ONE GO TO JAIL BUT WE ARE IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS TO BE GUIDED BY RULES, REGULATIONS AND LAWS OTHERWISE EVERYTHING WOULD BE FREE FOR ALL. IT IS NOT WITCH-HUNTING BUT TO ALLOW DUE PROCESS OF THE LAW TO TAKE PLACE. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT FOR PARDON BUT ONLY AFTER THE COMMANDERS HAVE DONE THEIR PART. DENIAL BY ONE IS COMPLICATING…
Iwe thats tax payers money they plundered let the law take its cause if they are innocent our courts will clear them are you a beneficialy?
You truly need to boost libido during election just in case you meet alot of girls
You’re right!!! Those herbs were to be used for “erections” during “elections”.
Just goes to prove that there is no honour among thieves! If MMD had won the elections these service chiefs would have pocketed the money and we would have never known anything about it.
@Stirflow Our education system really needs an over haul.How else can we explain your reasoning ? Let me break it down for you – you hire a guard to watch over your house over the weekend.During that time there are no break ins. Do you then ask the guard for a refund because no thief broke into your house and you feel the money was wasted?
This is what Pf is doing asking for a refund because there was no violence during the 2011 elections.
Mulenga don’t show your dullness here! Can’t you see that these chaps were being being bribed to ensure MMD stays in power no matter what. And who is asking for a refund anyway?
Kikikikiki, Generals are Generals. They look at elections as Erections!!!
Remember that in soldiering, there are three ‘W’s. the first is War, which requires bullets, the second is Wine needed by the gullet and lastly Women which goes with sexual boosters. So no problem.
Is that how you explain theft away?
The facts: 1.5 billion was given to Gen. Sakala to give to Lopa and the other guy from ZNS: 500m a piece. Sakala says that he gave them the money in some bags. The two say no we never got the money, only mutoto. So where is the 1b? Either Sakala ate it alone or the other two are throwing him under the bus. No with hunt here.
They had no idea that the bus was fast when they started crossing the road…
@General Sakala – You hav cracked my ribs!! ati the bags they were given were full of Mutoto not the K500,000 Gen Sakala is talking about…….! Kikikikikikiiiiiiiiiiii Yaba! Aya ma Generals….?