ACC summons Kapoko's lodge manager

THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) June 8 summoned Best Home Lodge operations manager Fred Chileshe for interrogation and a statement was recorded from him in connection with the K27 billion scam at the Ministry of Health.

Chileshe was summoned to ACC offices where he arrived in the company of his lawyer, Kelvin Bwalya. He was questioned for two and half hours.

The lawyer revealed that ACC had recorded a statement from his client in a friendly atmosphere based on mutual trust regarding the operations of Best Home Lodge. He said Chileshe gave ACC officers information on the history of Best Home Lodge and its directors.

And 27 employees at Best Home Lodge have been asked to stay away from work by management without any payment almost five weeks after the ACC first raided the premises.

Although the lodge remains open, no single client has been there since the ACC’s visit, resulting in the workers seeking legal guidance and an explanation from the management.

The workers had been reporting for work until a few days ago when management advised them to stay away. Some employees said since all the bank accounts for the lodge had been frozen, it became difficult to even get their salaries.

Former Ministry of Health senior human resource officer, Henry Kapoko owns Best Home Lodge located in Lusaka’s Roma Township.