I wondered how a boy, 8, could have an NRC - Tayali
CHILUFYA Tayali yesterday took the stand in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court and testified against Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili that his son Mwamba Kambwili was too young to have had a National Registration Card (NRC) at the time Mwamona Company was incorporated in 2001.
In this matter, Kambwili 49, stands charged with three counts namely, forgery,
uttering a false document and giving false information to a Public Officer contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Kambwili took fresh plea after the state amended the charges and added count three in which he pleaded not guilty in all the three counts.
In count one, it is alleged that Kambwili on October 29, 2013 in Lusaka , with intent to deceive Patents and Company Registration Agency did make a false document namely No Change return (company’s form 71) purporting to show that it was signed by Mwamba Chishimba when it was not.
In count two, Kambwili on the same dates as in count one in Lusaka, knowingly and fraudulently did utter a false document namely No Change return (company’s form 71) to the Patents and Company Registration Agency.
And in count three, it is alleged that the accused on unknown dates but on or before August 23 2001 in Lusaka, did give false information to a public officer (the Registrar) at Patents and Company Registration Agency knowing or believing that the same to be false. thereby causing the said public officer ought not to do or to do something which such public officer ought to do or omit if the true state of facts respecting which such information given were known to him.
The matter came up before magistrate David Simusamba for commencement of trial.
Tayali, the first witness told the court that two informers from Kitwe had lodged a complaint against Chishimba Kambwili who was minister then, that he was putting pressure on their work as they were Mopani Copper Mines employees.
He testified that the two informers told him that Mr Kambwili had a contract with Mopani Copper Mines and was fond of checking who else was getting business at Mopani and if he found that someone else was given business, he would accuse them of being corrupt.
“Upon receiving this complaint, I thought of doing a research to ascertain if indeed Mr Kambwili owned that company, I went to PACRA to verify the details of that company. I found that Mwamona did exist as a Limited Company and the directors were Mwamba Chishimba and Carol Kambwili.”
He further testified that he informed the informers that Mr Kambwili did not own the company they alleged he owned but they insisted that they had interactions with Mr Kambwili relating to the company.
Mr Tayali said Kambwili used to go to PACRA to push for business relating to the same company as the director.
“I had known Mr Kambwili’s son as Mwamba Kambwili and not the name that was on the document that was at PACRA, further I doubted the age of the son at the time the company was incorporated in 2001, he was about 8 years old and could not own an NRC which was attached to the documents relating to the company,” he said.
Mr Tayali testified that he informed Mr Amos Chanda to tell the President of Mr Kambwili’s dealings and he was assured that the President would be informed immediately after elections.
The matter has been adjourned to March 15 2018 for continued trial.