A security guard has testified in court that he once guarded a house which Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela allegedly bought from former Minister of Labour Austin Liato. This is in a matter in which Chitotela and three others are facing four counts of concealing and being in possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.

It is alleged that between July 3, 2016 and October 30 last year, Chitotela, Gregory Chibanga and Brut Holdings Limited concealed lot number 148 of farm 50A situated in Makeni. The farm was allegedly disguised in the name of Diris Mukange and it is suspected that the property is a proceed of crime. It is further alleged that between the same dates, the trio concealed part of sub-division A lot 22183/M situated in Ibex Hill, Lusaka, disguised in the name of Diris Mukange, property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

When the matter came up for trial yesterday before magistrate David Simusamba, Samuel Sikoswe of Kafue informed the court that he guards people’s houses and at times works there. He said sometime last month, officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) approached him and asked about a house he once guarded in Ibex Hill opposite the American Embassy.

“I told them that the house belonged to Austin Liato and that I worked at the same house, but that Mr Chitotela later on became his boss,” Mr Sikoswe said. “I also told them that when the house was put on sale, there were a lot of people coming to view the place. “Mr Chitotela [later on] became my boss because he is the one who was bringing me items or things to use,” he said.

Mr Sikoswe said Mr Chitotela had Catholic sisters renting the house. Asked during cross-examination to confirm whether Chitotela gave him any documents to prove that he became his boss, the witness replied in the negative. Further asked at what point Chitotela become his boss, Mr Sikoswe said in 2016. Asked who lives in the house now, the witness said he was unaware. He further admitted that Chitotela did not get any keys from him. Mr Sikoswe also informed the court that during interviews with the ACC officials, he told them that he did not know Chitotela because “I was afraid as it was the first time I was appearing in such big offices”.