Dingswayo
JF-Expert Member
- May 26, 2009
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Zambia President Michael Sata has ordered the country's law enforcement agencies to "thoroughly investigate unexplained funds" in his predecessor Rupiah Banda's trust account."Information we have received is that Mpundu Trust is holding over $1 million with one of our local banks," said President Sata in a media release from his office.
He added: "Considering the colossal amounts involved in this bank transaction, I strongly believe that it's only fair and prudent for the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), in liaison with other law enforcement agencies, to professionally and systematically investigate this matter."
The decision to probe Mpundu Trust is without malice or ill-motive, but to simply set the record straight by ensuring that the due process of the law applies, President Sata said.
"We promised the Zambian people that accountability, transparency and fairness before the law will be the bedrock of our administration (and) this is what we are doing," he said.
Mpundu – Mr Banda's Chewa local language word meaning twins – is a trust for the former head of state's boy-girl twins.
Treasury accounts
Neither Mr Banda nor his office responded to President Sata's directive and when contacted, his administrative secretary could not give a response, saying he wanted to consult the former head of state.
President Sata who has made sweeping changes to government since his September 20 election, ordered his Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda to reclaim $2.4 million state revenue that was "lying idle" in a local bank and move it to the docket's treasury accounts.
Meanwhile, the DEC summoned President Sata's son Mulenga and a civil society leader, Mr Gregory Chifire, who alleged that the former had acquired two luxurious cars valued at $350,000 within 60 days of his father's ascendancy to the presidency.
"The commission has so far had an audience with Mr Mulenga Sata and he is cooperating with the investigations," said Mr Samuel Silomba, the acting spokesperson of the DEC.
He added: "Considering the colossal amounts involved in this bank transaction, I strongly believe that it's only fair and prudent for the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), in liaison with other law enforcement agencies, to professionally and systematically investigate this matter."
The decision to probe Mpundu Trust is without malice or ill-motive, but to simply set the record straight by ensuring that the due process of the law applies, President Sata said.
"We promised the Zambian people that accountability, transparency and fairness before the law will be the bedrock of our administration (and) this is what we are doing," he said.
Mpundu – Mr Banda's Chewa local language word meaning twins – is a trust for the former head of state's boy-girl twins.
Treasury accounts
Neither Mr Banda nor his office responded to President Sata's directive and when contacted, his administrative secretary could not give a response, saying he wanted to consult the former head of state.
President Sata who has made sweeping changes to government since his September 20 election, ordered his Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda to reclaim $2.4 million state revenue that was "lying idle" in a local bank and move it to the docket's treasury accounts.
Meanwhile, the DEC summoned President Sata's son Mulenga and a civil society leader, Mr Gregory Chifire, who alleged that the former had acquired two luxurious cars valued at $350,000 within 60 days of his father's ascendancy to the presidency.
"The commission has so far had an audience with Mr Mulenga Sata and he is cooperating with the investigations," said Mr Samuel Silomba, the acting spokesperson of the DEC.
