Professor Clive Chirwa today told the Lusaka Magistrate’s court that he was given conditions by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in August 2013 to accept the two counts he was charged with of abuse of authority and failure to disclose interest in order to have the case against him closed.
This is a case in which Prof Chirwa is charged with failure to disclose interest and abuse of authority of office contrary to the laws of Zambia.
This is in a case where Prof Chirwa, 58, of plot 206/101, Ibex Hill, is in the first count charged with failure to disclose interest contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Prof Chirwa is in the second and third counts jointly charged with Regina Mwale, 50, of High Ridge in Kabwe and former Zambia Railways Limited Finance Director for abuse of authority of office, after the duo allegedly authorised payment of K72,282,210 to Fallsway Apartments for Prof Chirwa’s accommodation, an amount which was beyond the professor’s entitlement, an act which is arbitrary and prejudicial to the rights and interests of the government of Zambia.
The second and third counts allege that the accused persons authorised the payment to Fallsway Apartments on unknown dates but between February 1 and March 2, 2013 in Kabwe.
Prof Chirwa, who appeared before Magisterial Obbister Musukwa to give his defense on the matter, said he was called sometime in August by the ACC to be given details of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s opinion and that he went with his former lawyer Yosa Yosa and met the ACC Director of Investigations and Chief
Investigations Officer who asked him to accept the two counts he was charged with in order for the case to be closed.
He said he was given four conditions which included forfeiting his terminal benefits, to stop communicating, remaining in the country and apologizing to the Zambians at Mass media on both television and radio for what he had done.
Prof Chirwa said he rejected the offer and told the Director of Investigations that he had done nothing wrong and would clear his name in court and he was then told that they would relay his decision to the DPP but that they did not give him feedback on the matter as agreed.
He further testified that at the time he received a call from President Micheal Sata to come and help run Zambia Railways on October 10, 2012 he told the President that he was busy with the designing of the new Toyota Camry for 2016 but later reflected the discussion with President Sata on the need for him to work for his country.
Prof Chirwa said he later received his offer letter as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Zambia Railways which was dated November 7, 2012 but it had no contract on conditions of service attached to it and he was only given the contract letter on February 3, 2013 by the Zambia Railways Board Chairman, Mark Chona.
He said on December 3, 2012 he was received by a protocol officer and a driver from the Ministry of Transport, Works Supply and Communications at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and was driven directly to Fallsways Hotel and not Intercontinental Hotel where he used to lodge the previous times when was in the country.
He said the former Minister of Transport, Christopher Yaluma, who later found them there, told Chirwa not to find another place but stay at Fallsway Hotel as it was the best place for him after Chirwa told the Minister that he wanted to bring over his family to Zambia.
He further testified that he was not yet an employee of Zambia Railways but a future CEO when he presented a preamble plan on his vision for the company on December 18, 2012 during a meeting which was attended by board members, the former minister of Transport Christopher Yaluma, his deputy, Panji Kaunda and many officials from the ministry of transport.
Prof Chirwa told the court that in his presentation on the preamble the plan of how to rehabilitate Zambia Railways was not done during a Board meeting on December 18, 2012 as the meeting was attended by many officials from the Ministry of Transport.
He further said he returned to the United Kingdom and was only told by the board chairman through an email on January 11, 2012 that his contract was ready and he came back to Zambia where he signed it during a signing ceremony though the salary was far below what he was getting in the United Kingdom where he was working.
Defense in the matter continues.
Kawala wa munthu uyuuuu Chirwa !!
You were TOO exhorbitant even you tho stayed in UK. Thts theft of its Kind !
Chirwa should realise that the game is over and there is nowhere to hide. He wants to make us believe that he was “designing the new Toyota Camry”…as a professor. At the very least, all he could have been commssioned to do was test the “crashworthness” of a specific model..And that is a long shot. Toyota, like many car and bike manufacturers have their own in-house designers who are sworn to screcy over designs etc.
He also wants to claim that the he was more in the UK than the K248,000 (rebased) a month he was being offered. Now that is a lie.. a big lie and I challenge all UK based bloggers to research what professors at second tier universities get (Like Bolton) where Chirwa was.
Chirwa is a fraud and wants to use his UK exposure as a key to “con” Zambians and the PF.
Some one is designing a New Toyota Camry and you say he is a thief. Imwe mwe banthu bakwa Lesa. Let us be realistic with our comments please.
@Miya,
Yes he is a thief who had a skim to steal from Zambia Railways by using his defunt company to train Zambia Railways personnel. If you were realistic you would see that what Chirwa was doing was far below the integrity of a professor of good standing to the degree of designing a new car on behalf of Toyota. So if he was insincere about failing to declare his interests in his own company, who is to say that he is being sincere about designing the new Toyota. Pls try and see beyond your nose on this one.
Ba “Anderson Chisala”: Tekanyeni neku mila amate. You need to digest the political events and environment in which principal players in the Govt and the Post Newspaperr chose to frame up on some tramped-up charges against Prof Chirwa. You need also to reflect as to why the same ACC prefer to burry issues that relate to Mutembo Nchito, Fred Mmembe, Wynter Kabimba, Masebo and the rest. Zambia is now a haven political persecutions.
It will be interesting as to how events will positively turn upside down after the 2016 General Elections.
This Mphangwe guy needs to be questioned also. It appears you know something
Given: Everybody knows something. What is your problem?
Given and Anderson you both re morons.
Uluse Lwalile Inkwale!!!
Chirwa is a conman. His plans were were unrealistic and untainable . Here in uk Boston university is basically a technical college upgraded to university status by the labour government . All research of Toyota is done in Japan and not uk. Toyota plant in the uk is very small compared to other vehicle manufactures.
So what is wrong with the institution being upgraded? Was it done just because Chirwa was there? Who said a U.K. based engineer cannot work on a project in Japan?
Leo you are dull. It is common for accademicians and researchers to work beyond borders. Chirwa has his own shortcomings but he is not claiming to be educated. He is educated. He is able to design as evidenced by his first design of a tractor. If you are not able dont pull your friends down. Atleast Chirwa in his short stay made about 17 billion revenue and a profit for ZR. Muyenga has made a loss in his first 6 months. Think Zambians. Its Muyenga who is stealing, not Chirwa.
Leo to dull what are you doing in UK well said 2020
Shallow minded people like you Leo Phiri re a source of worry for the this country , it the more reason the rate of progress in this country is slow. All this Chirwa thing is just cheap propaganda.
Dont you also know that CBU was called ZIT. Zambia institute of technology. So whats the problem is bolton was a college?
Prof. Chirwa, you r the people with a vision that the average Zambian cannot comprehend as most r yet to see the possibilities of what they are capable of and what is out there in th world. They often argue from a baseless perspective, a myopic Zambian perspective. U are being persecuted for nothing. As can be seen, he was taken to Fallsway apartment from the airport by the Minister and he did not initiate it. Honestly, let the man go. He is a genius renowned the world over and is representing us on bigger things. Let the man go and do not turnish his image and reputation that he has worked hard for. Zambia needs to stop this habit of pulling people down. We would have had a proper railway system with him at the helm. Now, we r lost (we hear of new trains but no proper rail-track.
Be real . Chirwa planned plunder. To get his personal company as the main railway trainer – and you say he
was framed?? He didn’t refuse himself as that’s wat he did
You should have consulted your legal team before accepting the charge. In the same verne, you could take your legal team to court for being wrongly adviced.
Ah Chirwa wait for cross examination!
Prof. Chirwa arrived at KKI airport, received by protocol officer and driver taken to Falls ways Hotel where transport minister Christopher Yaluma urged him (Chirwa) to stay and not Intercontinental Hotel where he usually went to stay.
Today Chirwa faces charges including choosing to stay at Falls ways Hotel which is more expensive that Inters. Typical PF web of deceit, lies and manipulations at play, a characteristic that defines PF Sata.
lol… Toyota competitors should go to Chirwa and get all the car designs. lol… Professor getting instruction by word of mouth, i.e his evidence is hear say. WOW!!! But the beauty about it all,
why kapoko was aquited over 17 billion.chirwa boi ulbe mwaiii