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Zambia: FJT Appears Before Taskforce On Corruption
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
28 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Ndola
THE Taskforce on corruption yesterday recorded a warn and caution statement from second Republican president, Frederick Chiluba, over his alleged involvement in the Carlington Maize deal in which the country lost US$7.8 million.
Dr Chiluba, who arrived at the Taskforce offices in Woodlands at 10:40 hours, was accompanied by his wife Regina, lawyer Robert Simeza, former Foreign Affairs deputy minister, Valentine Kayope, and spokesperson, Emmanuel Mwamba.
The interrogations took over two hours.
The Taskforce has been investigating the case of a Canadian commodity supplier by the name of Carlington Sales Company.
The supplier was being investigated following an agreement with the Republic of Zambia in 1997/98 for the supply of maize to Zambia at a cost of US$24 million.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the interrogations, Taskforce chairperson, Maxwell Nkole, said Dr Chiluba had been called to explain the deal and a questionnaire was given to him.
"A warn and caution statement has been recorded. He is deemed to be a suspect as he was at the centre of brokering together with other people," he said.
Mr Nkole, however, said Dr Chiluba was evasive and declined to answer questions.
He said the Taskforce would investigate the matter further and if possible recover the money involved.
"This was abuse in the sense that a fraction of that money was diverted. A lobby contract was entered into after a formal contract was sealed. This is another angle we are trying to consider."
When asked whether former Finance minister Edith Nawakwi and Finance Bank chairman Rajan Mathani, who had also been mentioned in the deal, would be implicated, Mr Nkole said the Taskforce had already carried out preliminary interviews with the duo.
The focus of the Taskforce was to recover the money and the matter would later be referred to the Director of Public Prosecution for possible prosecution.
'We will be making recommendations after completion of the investigations," he said.
Mr Mwamba said in an interview that Dr Chiluba was asked more than 20 questions which he refused to answer as he was exercising his constitutional right.
He said there were two contracts involving US$7.8 million.
The Carlington Sales Company was contracted to supply white and yellow maize and the contract was signed on October 10, 1997.
Mr Mwamba said the then Food Reserve Agency executive director, Chance Kabaghe, signed the contract together with Mr Ali Ben Menashe on behalf of Carlington Sales Company.
He said when the contracts failed, two sub-contractors were engaged. One was for consultancy and the other for lobbying.
He said Mr Bonaventure Mutale, who was the Attorney-General then, signed the consultancy contract while Ms Nawakwi signed the lobbying contract.
Mr Mwamba said the lobbying contract was meant to help Zambia find a buyer for Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines assets in Canada while the consultancy contract was to help the country build its image.
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Mr Mwamba said Dr Chiluba denied involvement in any of the alleged offences.
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