FORMER Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) chairman, Francis Kaunda, has denied allegations that he abused his office and conspired to defraud ZCCM by offering Ndola Primary School to Ndola Trust School maintaining that he is a man of high integrity.
In the first count, Kaunda, is charged with abuse of authority after he allegedly offered Ndola Primary School to Ndola Trust School.
In the second count, Kaunda and Access Financial Services (AFS) director, Faustin Kabwe, are charged with conspiracy to defraud after they allegedly conspired to defraud ZCCM by offering Ndola Primary School to Ndola Trust School, an act that was prejudicial to the interest of the Government.
High Court deputy registrar, Edward Musona, found the two with a case to answer and subsequently put them on their defence.
Testifying in the matter, Kaunda, 70, a business consultant, maintained that he was denying the charges against him.
He explained, during evidence led by his lawyer, Fred Mudenda, that in 1974, then Republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, appointed him managing director of Metal Marketing Corporation of Zambia (MEMACO) and later Nchanga Consolidated Copper Mines (NCCM).
Kaunda testified that in 1981, NCCM and Roan Copper Mines (RCM) were merged and that Dr Kaunda appointed him chairman and chief executive of ZCCM, which he headed for 10 years.
He told the court that he was removed as chairman of ZCCM without reason or explanation when there was change of Government in 1991 and that during his career, he handled huge sums of money and that his integrity was never questioned.
Kaunda said in March 1997, he received a surprise call from then Republican President, Frederick Chiluba, that he was having sleepless nights concerning the privatisation of ZCCM and asked him if he could assist.
He stated that he suspected that Dr Chiluba asked him to help because of the manner he left office and that it took the Government almost two years to pay him his terminal benefits.
Kaunda said as a patriot, he accepted to assist and did not know that he was going to be appointed chairman of the privatisation team.
He said that his contract was signed on May 14, 1997 by then secretary to the Treasury, Professor Boniface Mweene, and that the contract stated that he was a public officer and a consultant.
Kaunda said it was not true that he was contracted to sell core assets.
Hearing continues.