HH abused me - Lubinda

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) vice president, Given Lubinda has revealed that President Hakainde Hichilema abused him just like he did to PF member of the central committee Chishimba Kambwili.

Mr. Lubinda said he was abused when he was elected chairman for information for the United Party for National Development (UPND) to arrange meetings when the President never wanted him anywhere near the national management committee.

He said he had to call it quits after he realised that he was being used.

Mr. Lubinda was speaking in an interview with Journalists at the Lusaka Magistrate Court yesterday after the court adjourned his matter where he is facing four counts of possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime.

Mr. Lubinda said he was not shocked by the revelation by Minister of Information and Media, Cornelius Mweetwa because he had been there before and had known how Mr Hichilema was. “Those who don’t know Mweetwa and President Hichilema are shocked by the revelation he uttered on Monday, but I am not shocked because Mr. Hichilema is an abuser who doesn’t know how to keep friendships. And when Mweetwa is excited, he tends to speak things which he obviously shouldn’t say, I know him very well,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Lubinda, when his matter came up for continuation of defence, narrated to the court how he entered into agreement with Kingsland City and paid K1 million upon execution of contract.

Mr Lubinda also explained how the money went into his personal account as alleged by the state. “I have two explanations for that. The first is that at the time, Highview Investments Limited did not have a dollar account. The second is that in the agreement itself and upon execution of this agreement, the lender shall pay the full amount to the borrower’s recipient. High view Investments Limited designated Given Lubinda to be the recipient.

We entered into the agreement on February 3, 2018. Upon execution of the contract we paid the amount of K1 million and slightly above for Kingsland City. A receipt was issued after the purchase. The first payment was made on February 26, 2018, he said.

Mr Lubinda told the Economic and Financial Crimes Court that the US$100, 000 which was deposited into his bank account from Qingdao Ruichang Cotton Industrial Company was not a proceed of crime.

Mr Lubinda, is alleged in the first count to have on March 3, 2018 at Lusaka received US$50, 000.00 from China Africa Cotton Limited and he is in the second count alleged to have on February, 2, 2019 received US$100, 000.00 from Qingdao Ruichang Cotton Industrial Company Limited property reasonably suspected of being a proceed of crime.

In the third and fourth count, allegations are that Lubinda on December 23, 2019 in Lusaka received US$80, 000.00 from Qingdao Ruichang Cotton Industrial Company Limited property reasonably suspected of being a proceed of crime and on March 15, 2019 in Lusaka disposed of a sum of US$50, 000.00 to Sunshare Investment as part payment towards the purchase of property no. C1.56# situate at Kingsland City.

Trial continues today for scene visit.