16 May 2008
Ndola — A LUSAKA magistrate's court yesterday heard that former Zambia Security Intelligence Services (ZSIS) director general Xavier Chungu assured Access Financial Services (AFS) chief executive officer, Faustin Kabwe that he had authority to do business with his firm.
In his continued defence, Kabwe, 58, told the court that he dealt with Mr Chungu in his capacity as director general of ZSIS and that the former intelligence chief assured him that he had full authority and powers to establish the business relationship with AFS.
Kabwe was testifying in the case in which he is charged with former President Frederick Chiluba and AFS director Aaron Chungu of theft. They allegedly stole public funds from the ZAMTROP intelligence account.
Kabwe said during evidence led by defence lawyer John Sangwa that Chungu informed him that he would seek the services of AFS to take care of certain investment projects that he wanted to promote.
Kabwe informed Mr Chungu that he had established channels with Meer Care and Desai, which was a law firm in London when it involved funding from outside the country.
He told the court that Mr Chungu informed Kabwe that he was duly entitled to develop the relationship he was seeking with AFS.
He said there was nothing special about the financial services with ZSIS and that AFS had no reason to doubt Mr Chungu's credibility.
Kabwe said Chungu met Mr Meer in 1996, because he wanted to discuss certain matters concerning Zambia and South Africa.
This was because Mr Meer had a relationship with the South African government.
The court heard that Mr Meer had provided services to President Nelson Mandela and therefore Chungu wanted him to intervene in the Zambian matter involving relations between Dr Kenneth Kaunda and the MMD Government.
The hearing continues.
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