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Chita Lodge Limited Director, James Chungu, has told the Lusaka Magistrates Court that he does not agree with the charges of money laundering leveled against him and former Zambia Air Force Commander, General Eric Chimese.
A witness from the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) has, however, told the court that Chungu and his wife Bapsy Bulaya are legally registered directors and shareholders in Chita Lodge Limited.
The witness further said the same names appeared on the original certificate of title for property number 2303/Q, the land on which Chimese and Chungu are accused of concealing a double storey house and nine apartments.
In cross-examination by deputy chief state advocate Gamaliel Zimba on Tuesday, Chungu said his company had four lodges namely Chita Lusaka, Chita Samfya, Chita Kafue, and Chita apartments, the subject of the alleged money laundering.
He said he acquired Chita Kafue, formerly Kafue River Motel around 2012 but there were a lot of renovations done and that he started building Chita Samfya in 2010 after he had originally established Chita Lusaka in 2000, and that in the process he got several loans from the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ).
He said he initially applied to ZESCO for power supply to the nine flats but his application changed to a forged document to which a copy of a fake certificate of title indicating Chimese’s name and a different property number 1/9/88B/488 was attached.
He said a ZAF officer Captain, Cephas Mudala, who testified that he supervised construction works at 2303/Q on behalf of Chimese lied in court that the latter provided building materials.
Chungu said there was conspiracy to implicate Chimese in money laundering because Capt. Mudala was working with then ZAF deputy Commander General David Muma who later took over from Chimese.
Chungu said he never had dealings with Mudala as he had just given the latter freedom to access Gen Muma’s premises through his property.
He said Mudala did not operate from his premises and did not do anything with him but he noted the ZAF officer’s phone number on the ZESCO application form, proof enough that there was conspiracy against Chimese.
Meanwhile, PACRA assistant inspector of companies, Patrick Chilekwa, told the court that Chungu and Bapsy Bulaya are the only shareholders and directors in Chita Lodge Limited and that the same names appear on the original certificate of title for property number 2303/Q; adding that there is no other company registered as Chita Lodge at PACRA.
Chilekwa said the name Eric Mwaba Chimese does not appear as director or shareholder.
Judgment has been set for May 22, 2023.
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