Love affair with ‘boss’ gifted me ZRA car, state witness tells court

_{By LUCY PHIRI}

A STATE witness has testified before the Lusaka magistrate court that she had an affair with former Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Director of Administration, Calistus Kaoma from which she benefited a motor vehicle worth K35, 000.

Ms. Elina Banda, former temporal employee at ZRA yesterday narrated before magistrate Sylvia Munyinya that the accused gifted her the vehicle from an auction sale for which she did not qualify.

Ms. Banda said in cross examination that she had a conversation with Kaoma in his office on disposal of vehicles that ZRA usually has, and he promised to get one for her.

In this matter, Kaoma is jointly charged with ZRA commissioner General, Kingsley Chanda in a matter are charged with willful failure to comply with procedure relating to the manner they disposed 22 used motor vehicles belonging to the commission and abuse of authority.

Both accused persons denied the charges.

Ms. Banda said she could not refuse the initial K12, 000 which the accused gave her to pay for the vehicle because it came as a directive.

When further asked by one of the defense lawyers Mr. Winter Kabimba SC, what was special about her that Mr Kaoma bought her a vehicle? She said they had a relationship.

“Out of the relationship you benefited a vehicle?” He asked. Yes, Ms. Banda responded.

She said kaoma later sold the vehicle and handed over a total of K35, 000 to her.

Ms. Banda said Kaoma did nothing wrong to buy a beautiful lady like her a vehicle.

Meanwhile, Fred Bwalya, 46, a Chief security officer at ZRA told the court that his subordinate indicated to him that there were irregularities regarding the number of vehicles instructed to be released.

Mr. Bwalya said instead of indicating one vehicle on the gate pass there were six vehicles which was irregular.

He said the vehicles where given to David Mpundu who was not a member of staff.

“These vehicles only members of staff were entitled to purchase. When I looked at the gate pass I observed that there were six vehicles four were Mitsubishi one was single Hilux and a Nissan, after checking that the gate pass has more that the number of vehicles and I checked the name on the pass it was Mr Mpundu David, and when I tried to check within our main system, I discovered that he was not a member of staff,” he said.

Mr. Bwalya said Kaoma directed the release of the motor vehicles.

“I went to see my supervisor, Mr Martin Mugara transport and security manager, when I presented the document to him, his guidance was that the signatory was our director and therefore his authority superceded what we could have done, the name of our director was Kaoma.

From there he guided that we can proceed to release the vehicles and further Mugala guided that we needed to keep a copy incase of any audit queries could arise from the number of vehicles released. And from there I indicated to my subordinate Mr Moyo to proceed with the release of the motor vehicles,” witness said.

Particulars allege that Chanda and Kaoma between January, 14, 2017 and

December, 31, 2020 in Lusaka did willfully fail to comply with the

applicable law and procedure relating to the disposal of property in

the manner they disposed a motor vehicle namely, Mitsubish Pajero

bearing registration number ABR 9683, Mitsubish Pajero bearing

registration number ABL 3751, Toyota Hilux bearing registration number

ABM 8166 and Toyota Hilux bearing registration number ABM 8166.

Others are Mitsubish Pajero bearing registration number ABL 3753,,

Mitsubish Pajero bearing registration number ABL 3851, Mitsubish

Pajero bearing registration number AIM 987, Mitsubishi Pajero bearing

registration number ABR 9679, Toyota Hilux bearing registration number

ALC 9120, Toyota Hilux bearing registration number ALC 9123, Toyota

Prado bearing registration number ABV 2201 , Mitsubish Pajero bearing

registration number ABL 2465 and Mitsubish Pajero bearing registration

number ABR 9684, the property of ZRA.

Trial continues on August 14,2024.