State witness confesses meeting Cabinet Ministers in Stardy Mwale case

By LUCY PHIRI

A STATE witness has testified that in 2023, a meeting was held with four UPND cabinet ministers in which details of the case involving former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Stardy Mwale was discussed.
The matter is in relation to the failure to comply with the law, relating to the procurement of Gulfstream G650 Presidential jet.
The four ministers included Minister of Defence, Ambrose Lufuma, former Minister of Justice, Mulambo Haimbe, Minister of Home Affairs, Jack Mwimbu and Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali .
Mr Charles Lungu a former Director of Procurement at Ministry of Defence told the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that he had a meeting with the Ministers in which the details of the matter were discussed.
Mr Lungu testified that he was the one who reported Mwale to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as a whistle blower.
Mwale and five others pleaded not guilty to four counts of wilful failure to comply with the law, applicable procedure or guidelines, relating to the procurement of Gulfstream G650 Presidential jet. Mwale is jointly charged with Ms Isabel Wilima Chinji, Brigadier General Micheal Obister Mbewe, Brigadier General Evaristo Sakala, Brigadier General Frank Hardy Sinyangwe and Dr John Phiri.
Mr. Lungu further said what he reported to ACC is exactly what he told the Ministers at the Ministry of Defence in the meeting.
When asked by Mwale’s lawyer, Mr. Leon Lemba if the witness made a deal with the ACC to testify against the accused person? Mr. Lungu said he presented the case as it was and told them the truth of what transpired.
Mr Lungu said he was angry with Mwale and wanted to fight him after he insulted him over the letter he wrote to elbit system requesting for minutes on contract amendment no MOD/MPC/024-17 without engaging him. “When I wrote that letter, on March 13, 2019 which was a Wednesday PS Mwale called me for a meeting in that meeting I found madam Chindi an Accountant and Assistant Director, when I went into that meeting the PS was so furious I asked what I did and he showed me his phone to read, I read it was the letter I sent to Elbit Systems Limited. And I had wrote to the Permanent Secretary saying Sir, I have been discussing with you this issue but there was no response so I had no option but to write to elbit system, I will never forget that day the PS insulted me, and I felt bad, I lost it and I wanted to fight him, I stood up charged going where he was fortunately a Dr Mulenga, former PS Home Affairs came as I stood up and told us to go out,” Mr. Mwale said.
Mr Lungu said he was so hungry that he wanted to fight Mwale.
When asked if he reported Mwale to ACC because he was angry with him?” He said he went to report the truth.
It is alleged in the last count that Mwale on the dates unknown but between March 1, 2017 and September 27, 2017 in Lusaka, being a Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence whose function concern administration, management and use of public property and revenue, he fraudulently facilitated and made payments amounting US$50.000.000 (Fifty Million Dollars) to ELBIT Systems Limited for goods and services not supplied or rendered in full, namely, Medical Evacuation Facility on the Gulf stream G650-ER Jet and upgrading the said Jet from a single mission passenger business jet to a Multi mission Aircraft as per contract no. MOD/MPC/024- 17 between the Government of the Republic of Zambia (Ministry of Defence) and Elbit Systems Limited.
Trial continues on November 19, 2024.