Security wings have questioned former vice-president, George Kunda and former minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati in the acquisition of the controversial border scanners at a cost of over K100 billion.

The investigators quizzed the two former MMD leaders in connection with suspected illegalities in the acquisition of eight border scanners.

Mr Mutati arrived at the former offices of the task force on corruption on Buluwe Road in Lusaka’s Woodlands area around 14:00 hours on Wednesday.

His appearance was in connection with reports that the awarding of tenders for the purchase of scanners by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) was marred with irregularities.

Spokesperson of the combined team of security personnel, Charity Chanda, confirmed the development and said Mr Mutati’s appearance was meant to help the team understand what he knew about the tender process in the ZRA deal.

This is in a matter in which ZRA is being investigated on allegations that the tax collector single-sourced for the job with the influence of some senior Government officials.

Mr Kunda is reported to have issued an illegal statutory instrument last year to sanction collection of ‘inspection fees’ of K360,000 from each transporter by Bradwell International, a company contracted by the Zambia Revenue Authority to manage scanners.

Mr Kunda, who was then Republican vice-president is said to have authorised in August last year, the collection of the money from each transporter even in ports where there were no scanners to pay 85% to Bradwell International. The remaining 15% went to the Government.

Finance and National Planning Minister, Alexander Chikwanda has since revoked Mr Kunda’s statutory instrument and abolished the K360,000 which was being levied on transporters.

Mr Kunda in a separate interview denied the allegation and said the statutory instrument was signed within the law.

And Mrs Chanda said both Mr Mutati and Mr Kunda were appearing as witnesses because of their knowledge and involvement in the matter.

Recently, former ZRA Commissioner-General, Wisdom Nhekairo was warned and cautioned by the security team.

Mr Nhekairo referred further queries to the police.

And the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has pounced on two senior management officers at Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS), who are currently being investigated by the commission for various offences including money laundering activities and seized six motor vehicles from them.

DEC acting public relations officer, Samuel Silomba, who confirmed the development in Lusaka yesterday said the motor vehicles were seized early this week.

In an interview in Lusaka, Mr Silomba said investigations into the matter involving ZRCS senior management officials have reached an advanced stage.

However, he could not name the affected officers but said the nation would be kept informed of any latest developments at Zambia’s largest humanitarian organisation.

Efforts to get a comment from ZRCS Secretary General, Charles Mushitu proved futile as his mobile phone was switched off while another senior officer Mr James Zulu, could not comment referring all queries to Mr Mushitu.

Meanwhile, sources within the society revealed that some motor vehicles belonging to the organisation were being parked and hidden in different locations in Lusaka, where the commission could not find them for fear that they could be seized as well.

The sources said the organisation had been grounded following the sudden closure in December last year after senior managers received immense pressure from the commission to stand aside to pave way for investigations.

The workers complained that management communicated to them through telephone calls and text messages informing them that the organisation has been closed until January 8, 2012 but that was not the case.

The employees said that as things stood, they received information that the humanitarian organisation might not resume operations soon because of the on-going investigations.

The workers also complained that they had not yet received their salaries dating back to September last year and appealed to the government to intervene.
[Times of Zambia]

The UPND has accused the PF government of having failed the people of Zambia since it assumed government in September 2011.

UNPD chief advisor, Douglas Siyakalima says President Sata has failed to fulfill the promises he made to the Zambian people during the 2011 election campaigns.

Mr Siyakalima says President Sata has deviated people’s attention to the fight against corruption which he said is only targeting political opponents .

And Mr Siyakalima told a media briefing that publishing of the Baroste agreement in the media will not solve anything because the document has been in the public domain.

But State House says the Patriotic Front Government has managed to free the media from the shackles of the former ruling party the MMD which used to black out the voice of opposition political parties.

President Sata’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations,George Chella says Mr Siyakalima should appreciate that today opposition political parties are free to voice their views using the public media.

Mr ChellaA said this was not the case during the MMD regime.

He advised UPND to present meaningful opposition to the government because at the moment the party is only pretending not to notice the changes the PF government has brought since the September 2011 poll.

ZNBC

LAP Green Network Chairman Wafik Alshater has described as completely baseless accusations that Zamtel was undervalued at the point of sale.

Mr Alshater in an electronic statement released to QFM has also dismissed allegations of wrong-doing by LAP Green during the acquisition of the 75 percent stake in Zamtel.

Mr Alshater claimed that LAP Green followed due, facilitated by a consortium of internationally renowned professional service companies, including Standard Bank, Denton Wilde Sapte and KPMG South Africa.

He said that the open and competitive bid process was overseen by the Zambia Development Agency and included the direct involvement of the Attorney General and international legal advisers, Simmons and Simmons.

Mr Alshater added that the 75% stake sold to LAP Green in June 2010 for $257 million about K1.37 trillion constituted the highest amount ever paid for a privatized company in Zambia and was at the time one of the higher valuations for a telecoms asset in Africa

He said that Zamtel is a successful turnaround story and that LAP Green remains keen to cooperate with the Zambian government to ensure the continued growth and success of the company.

And Mr Alshater has accused the media in Zambia of subjecting LAP Green to a concerted campaign of misinformation.

He said that the willful misrepresentation of LAP Green has forced the company to explore legal options to protect its reputation.

QFM

The Lusaka Magistrate court was today packed with heavy presence of police as trunks and money were taken to court for identification in the case involving former Labour Minister Austin Laito.

Mr. Liato who had his indictment substituted yesterday is charged with possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Before Magistrate Aridah Chulu was Paul Kayando, a witness, who identified the trunks and two safes where the money was being kept.

Kayando, a former worker at Mr. Austin Liato’s farm in Mwembeshi identified the items in question following an application by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mutembo Nchito.

Kayando testified that he and his colleagues witnessed the excavation of the money and that the money was counted at the Lusaka Central Police Station.

He told the court that one trunk contained K1.1 billion while the other had K1 billion.

He also told the court that his wife and his colleague’s wives fainted upon seeing the money adding that the place where the money was discovered had an alarm system.

Kayando added that Liato threatened to kill him and his colleagues and falsely imprisoned them in his car and moved them around.

Kayando further testified that Liato accused them of having divulged the presence of money at his farm.

Later the money and trunks where whisked away from the court premises as the court moved to Liato’s farm in Mwembeshi.

ZANIS

The Zambian mission in Canada, Ottawa misapplied K339 Kwacha in 2010 which was part of the K898 million meant for the rehabilitation of the High Commissioner’s residence.

According to the 2010 Auditor General’s report ,of the total amount of K898 million, only K365 million was spent on renovation works, while K193 million was in the bank.

The report revealed that K 339 million was applied on unrelated activities such as settling of utility bills and payment of subsistence allowances.

It further revealed that the contractor engaged to carryout the works on Residence No.9 Mission Inn Grove was paid a down payment of K24 million but that as of May 2011, the contractor had not completed the works and had since abandoned the site.

The Audit report also revealed that in June 2010, a representational vehicle, Mercedes Benz 240 CDJ, was involved in an accident which was not reported to the Police.

It said that conquently, despite the vehicle being comprehensively insured, no insurance was claimed, but that the mission paid an amount of K26 million in repairs.

The mission during the period under review also transferred amounts totaling K403.9 million from the revenue account to operational account without authority from the Secretary to the Treasury.

The Zambian mission in Canada was headed by Dr Nevers Mumba at the time.

Yesterday, the 2010 Auditor General’s report was released with a comparison of irregularities with the 2009 report revealing a sharp increase in excess expenditure from K87.3 billion in 2009 to K814,2 billion in 2010.

In a statement released to media,Public relations officer Ellen Chikale said that misapplication of funds increased from K95.2 billion to K 220.6 billion ,while unretired imprest in the same period increased from K25.8 billion to K77.2 billion respectively.

Ms Chikale said that the report had also revealed irregularities due to undelivered materials,unaccounted for funds, excess expenditure and non recoveries of salary advance and loans.

The report has also revealed that there was delayed banking of K13.5 billion, while unaccounted for funds amounted to K3.8 billion and irregular payments amounting to K 10.3 billion

And Bishop John Mambo has charged that revelations of increased irregularities in the 2010 Auditor General’s report are a clear confirmation that Zambia stinks of corruption.

Bishop Mambo said that it was saddening to note that Zambia has been singing the song of poverty and unemployment when billions of kwacha go unaccounted for.

He said that the Patriotic Front government has a mammoth task to correct the disturbing revelations of corruption in the previous MMD government.

Bishop Mambo has however noted that the Patriotic Front government is working hard to ensure that misappropriation of funds is reduced. He has predicted that more revelations will come to the fore in view of the change of government.

Bishop Mambo in an interview with QFM radio on Wednesday appealed to civil servants to help the PF government achieve its goals.

QFM

A new song is taking over the airwaves on Zambian radio stations . The song is called “Vitumbuwa” it is done by 2wo-1ne, a hiphop all star group made up of K star, krytic, thugchuld, buttah Nova & Marvel. The song has got so popular a remix of it is already reportedly being produced.

It is a hot topic of discussion on social media websites such as facebook and twitter. People are in two groups those who love the song and those who hate it.

The people who hate the song say it is a meaningless song that does nothing to improve the state of Zambian music. And that zambians need to be making songs that will stand the test of time , not songs that will be hot for a month and then fade away.

Contrary to those views there are those that love the song. They say it is a fun song and music is supposed to be fun . You forget about all your problems and just let lose and enjoy the carefree , humorous  song.

Take a listen to it and tell us what your view of the song is.

2wo-1ne – VITUMBUWA

BY KAPA187