9 July 2009
FORMER Zambia Security Intelligence Service (ZSIS) executive director, Yotamu Zulu, yesterday denied approving payment for the purchase of former ministry of Finance and National Planning permanent secretary, Stella Chibanda's farm.
Mr Zulu was testifying in a case in which Chibanda is jointly charged with former Finance minister, Katele Kalumba, former director of finance, Boniface Nonde, former chief economist, Bede Mpande, former secretary to the treasury, Benjamin Mweene and former Access Financial Services (AFS) directors, Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.
The seven are facing 21 counts of theft by a public servant contrary to Section 29(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act as read with Section 41 Act number 42 of 1996.
He testified that he never approved any payment for the purchase of Chibanda's farm and that he did not know of the Zamdell farm or any other projects that were operated by the intelligence.
Mr Zulu said former ZSIS director-general, Xavier Chungu, was better placed to explain the projects. Mr Zulu said he did not know that AFS was keeping funds and renting out properties on behalf of the intelligence.
He said that although AFS documents were restricted, they were not classified in the manner that the Government classified restricted documents. Mr Zulu said that what he knew was that the intelligence had a facility with AFS where it borrowed money and paid back.
He said that he used to go to AFS and collected cash from various accounts and the ministry of Finance would help pay back the money. He testified that officers who went to collect cash from AFS signed for it and documents were at AFS. He said there was no formality in the manner in which the money was dealt with within the intelligence.
Mr Zulu added that at one time the intelligence service got US$3,000 from the Zamtrop account for operations and not to pay Systems Innovations and Wilbain Incorporated. Earlier, High Court deputy director of operations, Edward Musona, sitting as a magistrate ruled that the State should not bring in issues that were settled before another court. This was after defence lawyer, Vincent Malambo objected to the line of questioning by State prosecutor Mutembo Nchito.
Mr Musona said that rules on cross-examination were clear and the prosecution should not bring out a case that was closed in another court.
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