By Patson Chilemba
The Anti-Corruption Commission is studying Dr Mbita Chitala’s several corruption allegations against bureaucrats in the PF administration, in order to determine the next course of action.
ACC spokesperson stated this when responding to a Daily Revelation press query.
“I wish to acknowledge receipt of your press query in which you wish to find out if the Commission will conduct investigations into the various corruption allegations raised by former ZESCO Board Chairperson, Dr. Mbita Chitala, in the book he recently published- Corporate Capture, the Political Economy of Electricity Management in Zambia 2014-2021, (How Not to Manage a State Enterprise),” Chibwe stated. “In response to your query, I wish to state that the Commission is currently studying the matter to determine the next course of action.”
In his book, Dr Chitala has has mentioned several senior figures in the PF government whom he said tried to abuse Zesco during his time as board chairman at the state monopoly, including disclosing that he flatly refused former justice minister and now PF vice-president Given Lubinda’s request to approve the sale of Zesco’s assets to his long time Chinese friend.
In the book, first obtained by Daily Revelation, Dr Mbita Chitala stated that he was summoned by then Justice minister Lubinda during his time as Zesco board chairperson to sign the resolution on the sale of 7.9 hectares Zesco land, which housed 23 medium cost power station houses among other things.
He stated that the said land had been proposed to be sold at $253,500.00, which he said shocked him that an attempt was made to strip Zesco of its valued asset at a give away price, without even the board discussing the matter and making the appropriate resolution.
“I had earlier been summoned by the Minister of Justice, one Hon. Given Lubinda then who I learnt was a long time friend of the Chinese investor whom he had met when he worked as Minister of Tourism. Lubinda asked me to sign the resolution and failing to do so would not be in the interest of Zambia as a competitor country might take the investment and Zambia would be the loser of such an investment,” Dr Chitala stated. “I was very surprised as my sixth sense told me that I was again experiencing an attempt to abuse an office of trust and I flatly hold (told) Given Lubinda that the government position which he briefed me on was not in the public interest.”
Dr Chitala stated that at the meeting of the board, the members agreed with him that Zesco would be in breach of its fiduciary duties if it started stripping the company of its assets which could not be justified.
Dr Chitala also stated that one of the most unacceptable conduct when he served as Zesco board chairman was the attempt by the various government bureaucrats to assert strip Zesco, which in the end contributed in him partying ways with the company “to give them a free reign.”
He stated that the first attempt was made by the bureaucrats under “the so called Smart Zambia Institute (SZI)”, while the second attempt was made by the management of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
Dr Chitala stated that all sorts of individuals ranging from the secretary to the cabinet and politicians put pressure on Zesco and its staff to accept the Huawei project and sign the on-lent loan of USD 392 million and that the proponents for this were Huawei, Smart Zambia, the Secretary to the Cabinet then late Dr Msiska and later Dr Simon Miti and his deputy, former deputy Finance minister and Bank of Zambia Governor Patrick Mvunga and some officials from State House.
He stated that the pressure on the Zesco board and management was so much that he as chairman got concerned that some people could be hurt.
For his part, Dr Miti is told Daily Revelation that what Dr Chitala was saying was very strange as he did not recall giving him any instructions.
Lubinda has avoided taking any calls made to him by Daily Revelation.
More @ www.dailyrevelationzambia.com
