THE government-to-government oil deal between Nigeria and Zambia was “hazy”, a State witness told the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
This is in a matter in which former President Rupiah Banda is charged with abuse of authority of office contrary to the law.
When the matter came up for cross examination before chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda, Friday Tembo, an arresting officer from the Government joint investigations team, said that the deal was “shrouded in secrecy”.
Mr Tembo said government procurements are supposed to be overt but the oil deal was hazy.
He said Mr Banda had appointed only one person to handle the deal and that even the former minister of Energy, Kenneth Konga, performed only a certain part of the transaction and was not involved in the entire process.
Mr Tembo said he made up his mind to arrest Banda after investigations revealed that he had allegedly abused the authority of his office and that he did not charge him with theft.
He said he did not produce documents highlighting where the proceeds went after the deal was concluded because it would not add weight to his case as he was investigating abuse of authority of office and not theft.
Mr Tembo said the oil deal was supposed to benefit the Zambian government, but alleged that Banda took advantage and procured the oil for his personal benefit.
He said Banda benefited from the deal when he directed his son, Henry, to determine where the money from the deal was to be channelled.
Banda allegedly procured a government-to-government oil contract in the name of the Republic of Zambia, “which he in fact meant to benefit himself and his family”.
He is accused of instructing his son, Henry, to determine the destination of the proceeds of this contract, an instruction from which the republic of Zambia did not receive any benefit.
Banda’s alleged act is “arbitrary and prejudicial to the interests of the republic of Zambia”
aquit him, poor zambians have rendered hero status on him.
Hahahahaha ba PF whom r u trying to CHEAT we r not kids RB is a freeman and DONT PLAY WITH OUR MIND talk of something else.
Your politics r not INTERESTING.
In as much as people want RB to account for the money he stole, and possibly face jail, I don’t think Lungu will continue to prosecute RB.
This case will be dead and buried by March of this year.Why? Because Lungu accepted bribes from RB ‘s Nigerian connections . He got money for campaigns through RB. So RB is now officially a national hero.
It now sort of makes sense why RB killed lozis, in 2011. He really could not face the revolt of the Lozis denying him his privileges to bring in Nigerian oil prospectors in Western province at huge bribe for his personal gain.
Lozis’ now brace your selves for more to come now that one of your own has been co-opted into the plan to exploit Western province’s mineral sources for the enrichment of Lungu RB and their Umhozi Kumawa associates.
This case has already confirmed that RB was not involved in this and that there was no Govt to Govt deal between Zambia and Nigeria. It has also confirmed that Zambia did not lose any money nor did the Govt agree to pay for any oil from Nigeria.
Key state witnesses have all confessed to that effect and that this was a deal between Kachingwe and Akapena, his colleague in Nigeria.
The best thing is that this case “collapsed” way before RB’s endorsement of Lungu but it now appears that People have forgotten all the “FACTS” that were spread all over the media to “conveniently” accept that RB was involved.
You have Judged a man before he is Judged by the Courts. If acquitted, you shall all claim that its EL doing it even if the evidence is right before your noses.
Nothing else but RB should face justice for all the crimes PF are prosecuting him for.
The elections are over and despite his endorsement of Lungu, his criminality against the people of Zambia should go on without interference.
Tired of mediocre politics!
This case is now WASHAUTI !!!!!!
@And Rupiah is the man these Wako ni Wako-Umodzi Kumawa Family members want to project that he loves Zambians,when infact Not.Why steal from the pipo you love?The moment Zambians will take Morality and Integrity seriousy,such pipo like Rupiah won’t even raise their heads in Zambian politics.For now criminals seem to be heros-sic.
So how does this prosecutor prove that proceeds of the deal went to Banda and his family if he is not interested in producing documents to show where the money went?
Stop writing about that RB, the most tribalist ever witnessed in campaigns. Kabolola,stealing anything, oil what what including HH’s votes.
We already know where this is going. Papa campaigned for you, now pay him his dues.
It is clear that a crime was committed here, as much as I agree with you that this will be swept under the carpet; it pains me to realise that in this time and age Zambia is still undergoing such levels of corruption and misuse of the judicial process…this case and the M’membe DBZ case will be Lungu’s indication to Zambia as to how sincere he is in protecting OUR INTERESTS…
@Prince
He may deal with the ‘cartel’ but not Banda, that I can assure you. That’s the problem we face in Africa unfortunately and it seems its never going to go away.
And EL doesn’t see anything wrong with being close to such a man. His govt prosecuting RB and eating together at the same time. Zambians, too, have no sense of morals by voting for such a leader. We can’t be trusted by donors and investors alike.
i totally agree. No one should even claim that Zambia is a christain nation. our immorality, double standards and criminality for survival somehow define zambia.
BANDA IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY SO HE CAN ASSOCIATE WITH ANYBODY REGARDLESS
MY APPEAL to PRESIDENT LUNGU is to deal with the last pockets of the cartel. It looks like they are still determined to disturb you and Banda.
Remember its Banda and not the cartel that helped you to be in the office. And this is true.
Don’t do anything to please the cartel. Let the cartel continue to work with Guy Scott.
And you must flash them out quickly before they penetrate your system.
I doubt that the cartel will ever leave statehouse. It seems their leader is related to everyone somehow.
We can’t really claim that Rb’s hands are clean. The fact that El has associated himself with the likes of him and fawaz brings his character of judgment into disrepute. As Guy Scott pointed that “you can’t fight corruption if you’re being sponsored by corrupt elements.” we like these words democracy and corruption and yet we are clueless. Otherwise we wouldn’t stand for these vices happening in our government.
It’s pay back time. This case is going nowhere.
make sure you dont restore his immunity and arrest this old man..
What a bunch of hypocrites. Zambia cannot develop like this.And the whites shall continue mocking Africans.
There are pipo here who behave like angels. like they have never made a mistake. the Bible says “Let Him who has Not sinned throw the first stone” If you are a sinner and throwing such stones you are dead. We have heard of witnesses crying. we have heard of things like government did not spend any money. Now some pipo in their wisdom or the lack of it make conclusions. Even if Sata was alive this case was going nowhere. We have a DPP who lied on oath, we have a dpp who knowingly stole DBZ money and doesn not want to pay. We have papers owing taxes and you insist on a Man where no govt money was spent as MOF
Am i missing something. we buy oil and not sell. how then is it that the Zambian government expected proceeds.
or has oil been found in N/ western province and we don’t
Part of the problem is stories are media-rised. From this posting I can make out neither allegation nor fact!
Is he is guilty of Abuse of Office by using office to set up the deal? If the gov’t did not pay for the oil we still need to know why he used Presidential Authority to set the Deal up.
PLEASE JUDICIARY, FIND THIS MAN GUILTY OF ABUSE OF AUTHORITY AND MOVE ON! It sounds like that is all he is guilty of. Why do corruption court cases just drag on and on and on in Zambia! Aaaaah. And then just die out!!