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TEMPERS Flare At ZRA Inquiry
TEMPERS flared at the ZRA commission of inquiry hearing on Friday after former ZRA board chairperson Christopher Mundia SC questioned Kingsley Chanda’s objectivity.
Mundia, who claimed that the commission of inquiry set up to probe the operations of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) did not serve him a written summon to appear before it, wondered why Chanda, the commission’s chairperson, had not declared interest to be part of the commission since he once worked for ZRA.
He said Chanda should have declared interest in the interest of arriving at an objective conclusion into the investigation.
He said Chanda could still have personal scores to settle with some ZRA officials he once worked with who would appear as witnesses before the commission and this could compromise his judgment.
But Chanda, who was visibility annoyed at the accusation, assured Mundia that that would not happen.
“I can assure you that this commission is composed of people from security wings, people from UNZA, the private sector, and from government…we will be as objective as possible,” Chanda said.
“I have absolutely no time to take anything personal on any witness.
You have absolutely nothing to fear Mr Mundia trust me. I am not going to be personal over anything.”
Chanda further told Mundia that he had no personal grudges against anyone at ZRA.
He said he left the institution in good way with no personal grudges against anyone.
“For your own information I was never fired from ZRA, I was retired and paid full benefits. I can even give you the amount of the benefits I was paid,” he said.
“I think it is extremely trivial to come here and attack me and insinuate that I cannot assume and perform a national duty that the President has asked me to do.”
The other commissioners tried to restrain Chanda from talking but to no avail.
“I am sure you are aware that you have been a lawyer through and through…you were chairman of the ZRA board, some of your clients with serous tax issues, you were still chairman of the board,” continued Chanda.
“Mr chairman, I think you have misunderstood me when you talk about Amocor,” interjected Mundia.
“When you say I represented Amocor, do you know what case that was? That was a criminal matter,” Mundia added.
“No, the complaint against Amocor is that it has been evading tax, you know that,” Chanda said.
Mundia challenged Chanda to do his “homework properly”.
But Chanda brushed off the challenge and told Mundia that he had just come to waste the commission’s time.
Earlier, Mundia said the ZRA board was not fairly dissolved.
He said no explanation todate had been given as to why President Micheal Sata had dissolved the board and the members of the board were now seen to be corrupt.
He said there was a huge chance that President Sata was not given appropriate information before dissolving the board.
[The Post]
Posted by Editor
on November 20, 2011. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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C-Jay
November 20, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Ok, this one you’ve quoted the The Post! Good, at least you have ‘ears’!
The Real people
November 20, 2011 at 6:15 pm
but what realy do they want to archieve and these commisions will hinder development people.
The Tactician
November 20, 2011 at 6:55 pm
How can kingsley chanda claim 2 hv no interest wen he woz busy harassing the immediate past zra management en board 2 wipe out over 100 billion in taxes owed 2 zambia by his then clients B.p,of course he has a grudge en an interest.he would be very rich ryt nw had the deal gone thru!
Chikalabwamba
November 20, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Iwe Kabwela Kasongo, Zambian Airways went the same way due to allegations that it financed PF. Dora heavily threw her weight on Zambezi Airline that had no financial muscles to operate either within Zambia or outside. The govt loaned the Airline up to now that cash has not yet reimbursed. That airline was limping thru and thru and many times schedules were not followed and 6 times their planes were detained in RSA. Workers have NOT yet paid for 3months up to date. Its time for the country to have a national airline and absorb those guys who are laid off. It pains to see kenyan airline operating locally from lusaka to ndola, lusaka to livingstone.
Booo
November 20, 2011 at 7:58 pm
“But Chanda, who was VISIBILITY annoyed at the accusation…” – Tumfweko, icisungu kwati niba Mwine Mushi!
ZRA Sharp Shooter
November 20, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Mundia was busy appointing and siding with his tribesmen. We have evidence. We can name all his people he appointed to top positions in ZRA. We have ears and eyes!!
zambiana
November 21, 2011 at 11:48 am
tribalist keep going until u reach your grave
Wanu Ngwee
November 20, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Can we ever address anythting objectively in this country when all matters boil down to tribalism? When the commission chairperson is clearly SATA’S tribesman, and when it is said that MUNDIA also appointed an army of his tribesmen at ZRA, Would Zambians have any reason to trust any of these two? KAYA …
Govt of Monkeys in a Maize Field
November 20, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Does anyone want me to tell them what this commission will reccomend?
Or you all know already, like me?
C-Jay
November 21, 2011 at 1:27 pm
I dont know, tell me!
Wanu Ngwee
November 20, 2011 at 10:34 pm
@Govt of Monkeys, TIUZE BOYI…
Consider Phlebas
November 20, 2011 at 10:41 pm
A new commission of enquiry to investigate how many churches are meeting in unfinished buildings, to be headed by fr frank bwalya.
Then another commission of enquiry to find out what percentage of women have soft bums to be headed by dora
zambiana
November 21, 2011 at 11:49 am
walasa
TL..
November 21, 2011 at 7:00 am
Thank God ZRA board was dsolvd,now we the youths can buy cars,abash political masturbation..viva ‘dont kubeb’.
Junior GBM
November 21, 2011 at 7:24 am
I have a very low opinion of Lawyer Mundia who according to the Post is incompetent but in this issue he had a point i mean look at the Chirman already loosing it this may be an indicator that he is not impartial.
man chile 1
November 21, 2011 at 8:52 am
these commissions we are witnessing every day is a total plunder of our countries resources by this PF government,they are trying to build a case against Ruphiah using innocent institutions.
noma
November 21, 2011 at 10:10 am
A board consituting Mundia,Imbwae ensured pipo like Nana the one sent away by the Commission got jobs at the expense of better applicants for the job…so zwaa kuya bayeba
Zambian
November 21, 2011 at 10:51 am
What is Amocor??
OR is it ARMCOR??
thebike
November 21, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Iwe Chanda, do u know wat 2 dclare interest is? I used 2 think graying is synonymous 2 wisdom. U tok abt being appointed by HE. That is the interest u nd 2 dclare. If u had them brains, on dat comtee beg yo pardon. Inquiry up 2 yo tym in office is ndd.
MMD
November 21, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Just bear in mind that those who get worked up when accused are actually guilty. So my take is that Chanda is guilty-
Lundazi Dweller
November 21, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Clearly from his anger to a simple observation one can tell that he can not be impartial and he started making reference to Mundia’s clients what was that for?
Godee
November 21, 2011 at 3:26 pm
State Council Mundia cannot be said to be a tribalist, unless you do not know him. Those of us who know him well, know that he is above board when it comes to such issues.This is why he was a trusted outside by the late president Mwanawasa. President Banda was his client way back before he even became president.Even at his law firm, you do not find tribe mates; only his son who is a new UNZA graduate on a learning note.
You should also know that he was the chairman of the law association of Zambia, who led the lagal fraternity in fighting Chiluba’s attepted third term.There is so much good to write about this gallant Zambian who chose not to be in politics for the common benefits that we keep seing.
Please before you write dirty things about people, get to know them first, so that you can critise objectively.
Mimi
November 21, 2011 at 3:35 pm
When one is summoned to appear before an enquiry, its not an opportunity to tell off the commission chairperson to settle scores. Mundia was too rude and Chanda is justified to lose it and tell Mundia his piece of mind. You tribalists are being eaten up and you just want to attack innocent people uncessariy. Besides Chanda is better place to chair that commission because he understands the institution having worked there
mbuya
November 21, 2011 at 3:39 pm
From his reaction, he certainly appears to have an interest. Why get worked up over a simple observation?
What a waste of tax payers money in the name of ZRA commission of enquiry?
Dissole this enquiry and save the hard earned tax payers money. Then just prosecute those involved in the scanning machines scandle. From what has been drip-feeding from plot 1, their appears to be enough evidence to do so.
I honestly think we need to save those allownaces and fuel cost for medicines in the health institutions.
Exhaust blown diffuser
November 21, 2011 at 7:28 pm
These toothless dogs are just bucking and bucking, in the end nothing will come out or be done…Pathetic Zambian politics, lets talk about investment opportunities and developmental plans. Those chaps who store from us Zambians are nicampoos we should seal all loop holes so that such acts don’t happen in future. When i was a kid, my father was fighting corruption and miss use of public funds, i will be a father soon we are still fighting corruption and miss use of public funds. I fear my children will be doing the same. Lets just seal loop holes to these evil acts (corruption & miss use of public funds)otherwise these inquiries wont solve anything. Come 2016 we shall form more inquiries provided the ruling party changes