Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:18:34 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
Embattled Chishimba Kambwili lost his cool and cried foul after being arrested and slapped with three counts of alleged fraudulent activities.
Mr Kambwili who claimed during a radio appearance last Friday that his company, Mwamoneni Engineering had made him rich, yesterday changed his tune claiming the company was owned by his son.
He claimed during the phone-in radio programme that he had been fired because his company, Mwamoneni was making so much money that he had become richer than President Edgar Lungu.
However, yesterday at a press briefing at his residence, the Roan Law maker claimed that the company belonged to his son and that he had been slapped with trumped up charges.
He insisted that he had done none of the things he was accused of while labeling other leaders, including the President and his daughter, Tasila, as corrupt.
He has been charged with forgery, uttering false documents and presenting a false document to a public officer.
The former Information Minister’s arrest comes weeks after another politician and activist, Chilufya Tayali reported Mr Kambwili for alleged fraud.
Mr Tayali complained last week that President Lungu and the Patriotic Front had been shielding Mr Kambwili from arrest for fear that he would expose damning information about them.
Mr Tayali had last year vowed to make Mr Kambwili account for his alleged fraudulent activities through the courts of law.
If convicted, Mr Kambwili could be jailed for up to seven years.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said Mr Kambwili was charged with three counts of forgery which is contrary to section 342, uttering false documents contrary to section 352 and giving false Information to a public officer contrary to section 125 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Ms Katongo however, said Mr Kambwili’s summoning and arrest was not political but purely a criminal matter.
“As Police, we wish to state that the summoning of Mr Kambwili has nothing to do with politics as he insinuated when he addressed the media yesterday but that this is purely to criminal matter,” she said.
Mr Kambwili was released on police bond and will appear in court this Friday.
The Roan law maker was summoned to appear before Lusaka division police headquarters and arrived around 10:00 hours accompanied by his lawyers, supporters as well as NDC officials.
He was immediately ushered into the interrogation room amid tight security.
His supporters carried a mattress and beddings for possible use in case he was detained.
Meanwhile there was drama as police fired tear-gas to disperse the NDC cadres who were insisting on escorting their leader inside the police station. The cadres were ferried to the police station in two buses.
No sooner had police dispatched the NDC cadres than another scuffle started when a suspected team of PF sympathizers showed up ready to deal with Mr Kambwili whom they accused of belittling the head of state.
A confrontation between NDC and PF cadres ensued and police had a tough time separating the warring parties.
According to police, one assault case was recorded following the fracas at the Lusaka Divisional Headquarters.
The victim, Chipoka Mulenga, 36 of Chingola sustained cuts on the left and right knees. A docket was opened and investigations instituted.
