THE Taskforce on corruption yesterday recorded a warn and caution statement from second Republican president, Frederick Chiluba, over his alleged involvement in the Carlington Maize deal in which the country lost US$7.8 million.
Dr Chiluba, who arrived at the Taskforce offices in Woodlands at 10:40 hours, was accompanied by his wife Regina, lawyer Robert Simeza, former Foreign Affairs deputy minister, Valentine Kayope, and spokesperson, Emmanuel Mwamba.
The interrogations took over two hours.
The Taskforce has been investigating the case of a Canadian commodity supplier by the name of Carlington Sales Company.
The supplier was being investigated following an agreement with the Republic of Zambia in 1997/98 for the supply of maize to Zambia at a cost of US$24 million.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the interrogations, Taskforce chairperson, Maxwell Nkole, said Dr Chiluba had been called to explain the deal and a questionnaire was given to him.
“A warn and caution statement has been recorded. He is deemed to be a suspect as he was at the centre of brokering together with other people,” he said.
Mr Nkole, however, said Dr Chiluba was evasive and declined to answer questions.
He said the Taskforce would investigate the matter further and if possible recover the money involved.
“This was abuse in the sense that a fraction of that money was diverted. A lobby contract was entered into after a formal contract was sealed. This is another angle we are trying to consider.”
When asked whether former Finance minister Edith Nawakwi and Finance Bank chairman Rajan Mathani, who had also been mentioned in the deal, would be implicated, Mr Nkole said the Taskforce had already carried out preliminary interviews with the duo.
The focus of the Taskforce was to recover the money and the matter would later be referred to the Director of Public Prosecution for possible prosecution.
‘We will be making recommendations after completion of the investigations,” he said.
Mr Mwamba said in an interview that Dr Chiluba was asked more than 20 questions which he refused to answer as he was exercising his constitutional right.
He said there were two contracts involving US$7.8 million.
The Carlington Sales Company was contracted to supply white and yellow maize and the contract was signed on October 10, 1997.
Mr Mwamba said the then Food Reserve Agency executive director, Chance Kabaghe, signed the contract together with Mr Ali Ben Menashe on behalf of Carlington Sales Company.
He said when the contracts failed, two sub-contractors were engaged. One was for consultancy and the other for lobbying.
He said Mr Bonaventure Mutale, who was the Attorney-General then, signed the consultancy contract while Ms Nawakwi signed the lobbying contract.
Mr Mwamba said the lobbying contract was meant to help Zambia find a buyer for Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines assets in Canada while the consultancy contract was to help the country build its image.
Mr Mwamba said Dr Chiluba denied involvement in any of the alleged offences.
[Times of Zambia]
LT dont you have any other interest topic this week, its all about FTJ?
I hope FTJ goes to prison. He deserves it After everything he has done. Justice must be done
i dont believe that ftj was the only person to have committed a crime since 1991 and if he did the court has failed to prove that beyond reasonable doubt for more than six years now,no wonder the ‘task force’ in itself is plunder of national resources…
I used to think Chiluba was suffering from kleptomania until I realized that he was actually warped in pilfering, pinching, larceny
#3
Whether he wasn’t the only one, he must be made an example of. Even if we had to find out LPM was also plundering resources, he should face the same justice. I hope FTJ goes to jail. I hope they find him guilty. I think the only reason the case is taking so long is because FTJ is trying to corrupt our judges, but he will be caught. Justice must be served.
The short man must be in prison. In his tenture he ‘raped’ Zambia very badly.
Can Nkole make sure he summons EVERYBODY who was implicated in the carlington saga. That way we shall believe that it is being done objectively.
Task Force is a money wasting scheme. Levy must be ashamed of himself. How much money as been spent so far on Chiluba investigations so far? What waste of nation resources. Even if you want to create jobs, you don’t do it basing on investigating one person and you spend millions on that one person forever. Let the Police’s Fraud Dept do the investigations and spend that Task Force money on worthwhile ventures like UNZA, Colleges, Bridges, Schools, Hospitals, and other public utilities. What a useless and wasteful program is Task Force? Who initiated this police, anti-corruption and other law enforcement parallel program?
if I could get a chance of meeting this Chiluba one on one, I can strungle him to death. I hope he collapses again and this time I pray he dies. I’m sick and tired of being so sick and tired of reading his name.
A Zulu, you are being too violent. Debate issues and debate them with utmost restraint. Threatening violence and more especially nurder is against the law anywhere in the world. This forum does not want to lose a colleague due to being visited by the law. I hope and trust you know that every posting sends your computer info and more so, the owner of the computer and the time used and its location. How do you think they find people who send viruses and other malicious and unwanted stuff on the internet. I am sorry, bro, you crossed the line.
#8
No matter how long it takes, no matter how much money is spent, no crime must go unpunished. FTJ must face the law, no man is above the law. FTJ has committed so many crimes against this country and now he must pay, he must know that no everybody gets away with murder. Chiluba must face the law. FTJ must be made an example of. If LPM is also doing the same, then he’ll face the same law. Justice must be served.
CHILUBA SUFFERS FROM ” SHORT MAN SYNDROME”..
PUT THAT MAN IN JAIL ALREADY DAMM HE BELONGS THERE.
CHILUBA MUST FACE THE LAW LET HIM ACCOUNT FOR ALL OUR MONEY I HOPE HE HAS LENT A LESSON THAT DONT JUST OPEN YOUR MOUTH THE YOU FAIL TO EXPLAIN TO THE TASK FORCE BE CARREGIOUS I KNOW YU
Innocent until proven guilt.i would think most people in this site would know that considering how the talk about the law but thats obviously not the case
Who is wasting tax payers money, task force or Chiluba? The man can humble himself as ask for mercy. It will be folly for him during mitigation to say he is a first offender and there needs to be pardoned
And 2012 will soon be here! Wait and see!
I thought he is in jail,so he is still accounting for his stealng . let the dpp open up the case we want this guy behind gars soon
Kakokola nemilandu shakako kamudala … I was thinking kale ba kalonga!
Anyhow, This is the only thing Chuchu has done …ukukashupa! Well done Levy palichi.
However, also realise that you’ll have the same kind of treatment, especially na Nepotism yenu ba tata! We are just using Chiluba as a puching bag for you!
Crazy-Zambian #11. Yes if at all there cases to charge this man, do it. You cannot proscute the same case for 8 years. It is either you have evidence, or you don’t have. Let it be known that some proscution if not done properly can turn into persecution. The most foolishly thing the Mwanawasa gov did was to form a task force specifically for this case. Now these guys in the task force have nothing to do, but probably witch hunt. Let them put up or shut up. This is just another gov drain. Period.