25 November 2008
NATIONAL Democratic Focus (NDF) president, Ben Mwila yesterday told a Lusaka magistrate's court that he gave second Republican president Frederick Chiluba's wife, Regina, US$100,000 for her business.
Mr Mwila told Principal Resident Magistrate, Charles Kafunda that he gave Mrs Chiluba the money for her business to buy property.
He was testifying in the case in which Mrs Chiluba has been charged for being in possession of property suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully acquired.
Mr Mwila told the court that he gave Mrs Chiluba the money without security and that there was no agreement signed.
He testified that it was not the first time he was lending out money to individuals and informed the court that he also had dealings with the late Baldwin Nkumbula, among others.
In cross-examination by state prosecutor Dennis Simwinga, Mr Mwila admitted that he wanted the court to believe that he gave Mrs Chiluba the money without any security.
He said it was not his business to know the property that Mrs Chiluba wanted to acquire and that they agreed that he would take security once the property was registered.
Mr Mwila said he knew Mrs Chiluba in the political arena and that she was one of the most dependable political cadres and that was how they built a relationship.
He admitted that he would regret it if she was sent to jail and that nobody would be happy with that.
The defence has since closed its case and judgement in the matter has been set for March 3 next year.
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hi ,am chola mwape based in capetown,i wonder how the zambian judiciary really works cause from the time i came to know the limelight of the cases in zambia and the way the courts deal with the cases really you are the big shame to the world at large,for how long are you going to stop this,all they know is to attack our old politicians more of the chiluba regime,are they the only people you know who have stolen our riches,please work according to the way you are supposed to work.i feel bad when someone tells me on how our courts are working.the late president said they had recovered the money chiluba stole where is the money ,what have they done with the money,they should be probed also