12 December 2007
Ndola — THE Government decided to discontinue the case involving Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga governor, Moses Katumbi because there was insufficient evidence to win the case against him.
Chief Government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti said in Lusaka yesterday that the decision to discontinue the case against Mr Katumbi was made in good faith as it was also aimed at preventing conflicts between Zambia and the DRC.
Mr Mulongoti who was speaking to journalist at the Lusaka International Airport, said the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), which Mr Katumbi allegedly swindled, did not have proper records of its dealings with the Congolese official.
The minister said it was found that the case would have been costly on the part of the Government in terms of legal fees considering that the FRA did not have a proper record keeping system to provide the much needed evidence to win the case.
He said the Government was looking at the interest and security of the nation hence the decision to task the Attorney General, Mumba Malila and Task Force on Corruption to examine the matter and find the way forward.
"As Government we have a role to play in ensuring that security is maintained in the country and it is for this reason that we saw it fit to discontinue the case because of poor record keeping and even if we had to continue with the case it was not going to be sustained," he said.
Last week, the Government and Mr Katumbi reached a settlement on the claims they had against each other in the interest of upholding friendly relations and diminishing the potential for conflict between the two countries.
A statement jointly signed by Mr Malila and Mr Katumbi's lawyer William Nyirenda, said Mr Katumbi surrendered property and assets valued at K8 billion to the Government.
The Government also undertook to discontinue and close all investigations against Mr Katumbi and would release the trunk containing eight transparent plastics of emeralds, which were deposited at the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB).
The Government agreed to allow Mr Katumbi to enter and leave Zambia freely as is befitting of his status as governor of a friendly nation in accordance with the laws of Zambia.
He also challenged Zambians to take an interest and join hands in the fight against corruption which he said should not be left to the law enforcement agencies alone.
Mr Mulongoti said the effects of corruption affected everyone hence the need for people to get involved in such affairs which affected the economic development of any country.
He, however, bemoaned the increasing number of acquittals in corruption cases and asked those tasked with responsibility to investigate such cases to do a good job.
Mr Mulongoti said people should only be arrested if the investigative agencies have enough evidence against them as that would also prevent the Government from paying colossal amounts of money in legal suits.
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