FORMER republican president Rupiah Banda’s son Andrew yesterday closed his defence in a matter in which he is charged with corrupt practices after he called his wife Elidah Mwanza Banda to defend his innocence.
Ms Banda said her husband met with the Road Development Agency (RDA) officials in Italy when he was invited by the Fratelli Locci brothers to discuss their interest to invest in Zambia.
Banda last week told the court that at no time did he meet with the RDA officials when he was invited by the Locci’s in Sardinia, Italy in 2009.
Andrew 52 being a public officer as first secretary at the Zambian Embassy in Italy and later deputy high commissioner to India solicited and agreed to receive gratification from Antonello Locci amounting to two percent of all monies paid to Frattelli Locci SRI by RDA.
But Ms Banda 41 who told the court that she and Andrew were one and that she still viewed the Locci as a family told the court that although she was not privy to the percentage that Andrew and the Locci brothers agreed upon, works were rendered to the Italian family which they needed to pay for.
Ms Banda explained that she knew about the Locci brothers in 2006 in Lusaka after they were introduced to Andrew by another family friend as they had interest in investing in the country.
She said that when her husband was appointed to Italy his family was invited at the expense of the Locci brothers to their home area in Sardinia and when they went there, the Locci’s still expressed their intention to invest in Zambia.
Ms Banda said that among the sites that they visited in Italy were roads, quarries, pollution control and it was later agreed since her husband was busy, she should come to Zambia organize meetings with government officials with the Locci brothers.
Andrew who last time had indicated of calling more witnesses closed his defence and Mr Banda set September 10, 2013 as a day for his mention and fixing of judgment day.
Is this all?
All these is a sham. We need Masumba and Nchito for forging documents. These two cases are more easy to convict. Another case easy to convict is that of K14billion cartel at Bwinjimfumu road. We also need sanity with ACC to look at kickback on the oil scam by Kabimba, and GBM abuse of power with ZESCO.
the man is innocent..its sour grapes by PF…
What a difence? This is an esay job for the Judge compared to his Father’s case. Good lack my friend
This is more evidence of why it’s tricky to have your wife as a witness in your defense. Especially if you may have strayed in the past. She even agrees that he received a kick back but doesn’t know the percentage.
the kind of bahavour of these pipo who hold public office is very disgusting.yesterday i witnnesed the way in wich the lunshya DC INSULTED kafubu water workers after the man was disconnected for failing to pay his bills this man should live by example but he is failing to pay bills.
sdffhgfjfgik nsdjgkgk
@ Bufi, Excellent point!!
Please pass me whatever you are on!
Andrew is being hounded by these pathetic failures simply because the have failed to get their hands on Henry. This case is a waste of time and money simply because THERE IS NO CASE.
Whilst acquitting Andrew, bring back Watchdog, they reveal all your dirty little tricks to the nation, and we have the right to know what ‘spanners are in the works’. That is what democracy is all about.
Leave Andrew banda alone try someone else not him.
does it mean that all of you dont think properly you are telling the truth? anyway KAYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!come 20……!!!
the father looks younger than Andrew. No wonder he married a younger woman. So Thandie is even younger than her ‘daughters in-law’?
KA GELO #9
Thandiwe was born in 1972. She is 42 and older that Andrew’s wife
I meant, she was born in 1971
I remember a case where Harrington sued for commision in similar circumstances.civil servants are not barred from doing business.to me andrew is innocent,the loccis must abide by the contract,cos andrew never awardee contracts to locci it was RDA.
The Mafia want Andrew in prison so that they dont pay him what they owe. I blame Andrew for being gullible. There is no such thing as a free lunch. He will be convicted but acqitted on appeal.
Kaya; mulandu uyu wanukha.