Ex-Defence Ministry Intelligence Chief Testifies In Lopa Case

A Witness yesterday testified that he received information during the 2011 general elections that foreign troops from a neighbouring country had come to Zambia to help the previous regime if elections did go in its favour.
And Lusaka High Court deputy registrar Wilfred Muma yesterday asked the ex-defence chiefs appearing in court for corruption involving K1.5 million to close their case and wait for judgment if they did not have witnesses.
This is in a matter in which former Zambia Air Force commander Lieutenant General Andrew Sakala, Lieutenant General Wisdom Lopa and former Zambia National Service commandant Major General Anthony Yeta are jointly charged with corruption and diversion of funds meant for covert and classified operations for the three defence wings’ operations during the September 2011 elections.
Brig Gen Paul Chitalima, 59 a retiree and former Ministry of Defence chief of defence and intelligence, who testified as Lt Gen Lopa’s witness, told Muma sitting as a magistrate, that he also received information that the opposition on the Copperbelt was actively planning operations.
Brig Gen Chitalima said during that period, he received several reports of security concerns in the country, and that he was not aware that Lt Gen Lopa had been to Chainama Golf Club.
Lt Gen Sakala in his testimony had submitted that in September 2011, he took K500 million (K500,000 rebased) to Lt Gen Lopa, whom he met at Chainama Golf Club and delivered the same amount to Maj Gen Yeta at his residence.
He said he was not also aware about the K2 million which was given to Zambia Police, Zambia National Service, Zambia Air Force and Zambia Army.
Brig Gen Chitalima submitted that on September 19, 2011, he drove to Lt Gen Lopa’s office between 18:00 hours and 19:00 hours to brief him about the security situation in the country.
He said did not know where Lt Gen Lopa had been before 18:00 hours and after 19:00 hours.
Brig Gen Chitalima said he met with Lt Gen Lopa, who was dressed in combat attire in his office.
The witness said after briefing the army commander, the two parted company and he left Lt Gen Lopa in his office.
He said it was his responsibility to know the whereabouts of the defence chiefs because of the grim security situation which prevailed at that time.
Earlier, before the matter commenced for continued defence, Lt Gen Sakala through his lawyer, Nganga Yalenga, asked magistrate Muma to proceed with his co-accused’s witnesses as he was not ready.
Maj Gen Yeta’s lawyer Mutakela Lisimba also said he could not proceed because he was in the same dilemma as his witness was unwell.
Lt Gen Lopa’s lawyer Lastone Mwanabo said he had two witnesses who were not before court and applied for an adjournment.
But magistrate Muma said it was unfortunate that Lt Gen Sakala was hampering the progress in the matter with his failure to make his witnesses available.
He said he was not happy with the recurrent adjournments.
“If at all you are not ready with your witnesses, close the case and go into judgment,” he said.
Magistrate Muma said if he knew that the defence were not ready to proceed with the matter, he would have stayed at the High Court, where he had other matters.
Yalenga apologised to court for the inconvenience caused.
And just when the matter was about to be adjourned, Brig Gen Chitalima walked into court and the defence was ordered to proceed.

Posted by Kunda on May 29, 2014. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.