Katele, 6 others found with case to answer

High profile cases of corruption inherited from the late President Levy Mwanawasa's anti graft campaign continue to be concluded by the magistrates courts. In recent months three high ranking general in the military have been convicted. These include former Zambia airforce commanders Sunday Kayumba and Christopher Singogo, former army commander Geojago Musengule (all three are on bail pending appeal) and former Zambia National Service commandant Wilford Funjika. Others already convicted include former lands minister and Member of Parliament Rev Gladys Nyirongo - once referred to as a woman of God by her husband during an election petition in 1996 and Regina, wife of second republican President Frederick Chiluba (both women are on bail pending appeal). Judgment in Chiluba's case is expected on July 20, 2009. Thus the present finding by the magistrate's is not surprising and observers expect Chiluba and people in the story below will be convicted:

THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has found former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Katele Kalumba and his six co-accused persons with a case to answer for alleged corruption. Lusaka High Court deputy director of operations, Edward Musona ruled that the seven accused persons have a case to answer when he sat as chief resident magistrate.

Others charged with Dr Kalumba are former Ministry of Finance permanent secretaries, Stella Chibanda and Boniface Nonde, former secretary to the Treasury Benjamin Mweene, and former chief economist Bede Mphande. The rest are defunct Access Financial Services directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.

“I am satisfied that the prosecution have established a prima facie case against the accused. I find therefore each of the accused persons with a case to answer in respect of their respective charges…I accordingly put each of them on their defence,” Mr Musona said.

He set April 27, 2009 as date for commencement of defence.

The seven have been accused of facilitating and benefiting from alleged overpayments Government made to two United States of America-based companies, Systems Innovation and Wilbain Incorporated. The two companies were allegedly overpaid for security installations they did at strategic government institutions that include Office of the President headquarters, State House, Cabinet Office, the Vice-President’s residence, Lusaka International Airport and the Lusaka High Court.

According to evidence on record, the Government owed Wilbain and Systems Innovation a total of US$33,958,000 (about K19 billion).

But it is alleged that Systems Innovation was paid US$28,112,176 (about K15.7 billion) while the payment to Wilbain was US$11,909,000 (about K6.6 billion), bringing the total US$40,021,176 (K22.4 billion).