Thursday, December 5, 2024

DEC arrest Former Zambia Air Force Commander for various criminal activities

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-President Edgar Lungu confers with Zambia Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Eric Chimese shortly after his arrival from Muchinga Province at ZAF Lusaka Airport
FILE: President Edgar Lungu confers with Zambia Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Eric Chimese shortly after his arrival from Muchinga Province at ZAF Lusaka Airport

The Drug Enforcement Commission has arrested former Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Eric Mwaba Chimese for various criminal activities.

Eric Mwaba Chimese, 50, a retired Zambia Air Force Commander residing at Plot No. F/4301/3/3 Baobab area in Lusaka has been arrested and jointly charged with James Chungu, 51, a Director of Chita Lodges Limited for Concealing of property, willful giving of false information, abuse of authority of office and possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In the first count, Lieutenant General Chimese on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2018 and 31st January, 2019 jointly and whilst acting together with James Chungu and other persons unknown did conceal a portion of a farm in Ibex on which nine fully furnished flats, an upstaired house, a gym, visitors quarters and a semi-detached servants quarters have been constructed purporting to show that the said properties belong to Chita Lodges Limited, a company where James Chungu is a Director when in fact the properties in question are owned and were constructed by Lieutenant General Chimese.

In count two, James Chungu on 31st January, 2019 did willfully give false information to authorized officers by stating that the said properties where for Chita Lodges Limited when in fact not.

In count three, Lieutenant General Chimese abused his authority of office in his capacity as Zambia Air Force Commander by directing the deployment of some Zambia Air Force employees to do construction works at his properties.

In count four , Lieutenan Geneneral Chimese did possess properties suspected to be proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 (1) of the forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act.

The Commission has since seized properties which include thirteen (13) fully furnished houses, one semi-detached house and a gym all within Lusaka.

The accused persons are on Police bond and will appear in court soon.

This is contained in a statement issued to the media by DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo.

80 COMMENTS

  1. The seizure of 13 fully furnished houses need be converted into GRZ houses and any other assets corruptly obtained, rented out on commercial for income to government. DEC to target all similar properties corruptly acquired by individuals and under pseudo titles for government to claw back revenue for development of Zambian people.

    • Unbelievable how people have become so free to steal with impunity under ECL. I have no doubt Chimese stole, but he’s in trouble for over doing it without ECL getting a cut.

    • This is why when I visit Zambia and see these lavish properties, I just look away. Most of them are built with monies acquired dubiously. Learn to live within your means people.

    • Eric was too young for that job. ZAF commander need be run by “retired” Generals, I mean in 70s and above. Serious.
      I can’t believe that guy Eric can won 13 houses. 13 in Lusaka????

    • One of the factors leading to impunity among senior govt employees is the way they are appointed. Merit has been thrown out of the window, anyone as long as they are PF cadres can be military generals, police IG, PS, or parastatal heads. So ultimately the blame lies squarely on Edgar Lungu. The man who stole from a widow and was subsequently disbarred from LAZ

    • Chimense umwaiche nali mwebele umwaiche leka ukubensa. The same regime you are helping rig elections by restricting flying to Chakolwa Lungu will torture you. Here you are paying back for your sins.

    • The Real Olivia, the moment a Civil servant builds mansions everyone should question how? Just take a look at their salaries. There is no way a Civil Servant who doesnt own a business would possess a mansion unless he is stealing from our tax

    • Really laughable…this guy was overseeing million of dollars worth of Defence contracts an you are pinning him on laughable charges like Chitotela…I mean it’s like charging a corrupt bank manager for stealing pens and paper.

    • We all know that the reason this man was fired and is now being persecuted is because he did not share the proceeds of corruption with the powers that be.

    • This also proves the maxim “there is no honour among thieves”. Let this be a lesson to all those stealing with PF. You turn to dance will come. It may not seem so now, but it’s coming.

    • Great job DEC. This is the way to go. Make sure he forfeits to the State all the properties he acquired illegally. All corrupt individuals in Zambia need to be found and punished. Corruption should not be entertained in Zambia. These are the people tarnishing the image of our beloved country. Make sure to charge him with perjury too for lying to DEC investigators, and lock him up for a hundred years to deter other would be thieves. While you’re at it, keep an eye on Lungu too and his ministers. Most likely Lungu and his buddies have corrupt issues that may need your attention. You’re doing a great job guys. Keep it up, and we the Zambian people support you. Again thanks.

    • LUNGU HATERS LIKE DESPICABLE Jay Jay ARE DUMBFOUNDED.
      SO THEY ARE SPINNING THE STORY BUT ZAMBIANS CAN SEE THAT ECL HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CORRUPTION

    • African wealth….I thought James Chungu was business savvy…..not know he is just one of the plunders…..Malabishi….

    • This is high Treason. Prosecute in kind. This is unacceptable. Seize all the assets and plough back the money into our defense and air forces.

    • They cannot arrest him for the big crimes as State House is connected as usual like Chitotela…only a new govt will sort all these crooks including Lazy.

  2. DEC targeting Luapula and Bemba people. I know the games you are playing, you have been bought. sorry, He is yet to lose another election in 2021.

    • I’m from Luapula but cannot support thieves no matter how closely related they are to me. I just hope Chitotela is innocent otherwise he too must dance akalela.

    • That is why some of you are peddling tribalism to protect your loot! Chickens are now coming home to roast. You cannot swindle God. There is nothing about Luapula here. Thieves are thieves no matter where they come from.

    • If Eric stole, did he steal in the name of the people of Luapula or for their benefit for them to feel obliged to support him?

    • Alale Ndanje! Kansi uli wakwesu yewe! Kuku tata! With that out of the way, I agree with you have said about thieves and facing justice!

    • You are saying they are thieves, they have stolen. What did they steal? and from whom? perhaps about the conduct of public office? they are still clean before justice. ati perpetration of tribalism, did I ask you to be tribal?

  3. Unbelievable how people have become so free to steal with impunity under ECL. I have no doubt Chimese stole, but he’s in trouble for over doing it without ECL getting a cut.

    • These guys have been stealing under Chiluba, Mwanawasa, RB, Sata and now Lungu. The only reason we are knowing this is because now they are being exposed by DEC, ACC. The president is allowing these to their work. You remember Mwanawasa resigned as VP under Chiluba. And Chiluba was annoyed
      We should wait and see what happens next. We also should thank social me?ia as a lot is being exposed.

    • Matumbo you’re right. I remember during Levys time how our suppliers and buyers suddenly became rich. Most of them never even delivered anything to the mine but got paid colossal sums. We’re knowing about these things because the easy access to information through various mediums.

    • You have not mentioned KK perhaps because there was very little development in later years and hence very little money to steal from. Stealing is in the DNA of Zambians. I remember as a Town Engineer in a Municipal Council I got a loan from LASF to build a house but I failed to complete it and people started laughing at me that I am building houses for the council but I cannot finish my own house. I imagine Chimense as a ZAF commander was under the same pressure.

  4. Ru***Sh, Corruption fight that is NOT systematic, targeting individuals that have some difference with ONE BIG CORRUPT person!! We will NOT BE DUPED, IT IS FOR PERSONAL REASONS OTHER THAN A GENUINE FIGHT TO PROTECT RESOURCES FOR ZAMBIAN POPULACE!! We all know that there are many inflated government contracts, evoucher scandals,FISP fertilizer scandals,Mukula,RATSA…..scandals reported in Auditor General’s Reports, YET NO ONE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO COURT AMONG THE BIG FISH!! Just finish each other as we look for alternative leadership!!

  5. Crime doesn’t pay, why don’t people want to live simple lives after retirement? It’s stressful for children to undergo such experiences, this isn’t the inheritance that you bequeath but a good name. Life will never be the same, no matter what else you give your children

  6. Our leaders and their appointees have brought a lot of shame upon our country. It’s common knowledge that Zambian civil servants are wealthier than honest businessmen. The republican president needs to clean up this corruption even among those close to him. This country needs to be liberated from these plunderers.

  7. How old is the dude Nat Mulenga, ZNS commandant?
    Looks too old to be in employment 2gether with his Dep Brig. Kamiji
    Or they are old by ugliness?

  8. That man without sin, let him cast the first stone !!! Leadership should be investigated too !! The biggest thief in your country , and he’s untouchable ???? Squandering state finances will never be kept under control as long as Zambians continue supporting these corrupt so called leaders who want to cling on to power .

  9. A fish starts to rot from the head. Until the head is cut off, this sort of stealing will continue. It was the same in South Africa until the ruling ANC took action on the head of the fish. In PF, those out of favour with the inner circle will be target but the head of the fish and its inner circle will continue looting.

  10. It is true James Chungu owns the large peice of land in ibex, opposite the old ZAF land. On the left of the road going all the way down to the stream.

    I don’t see this case going anywhere…either ACC are hopless or this is a grand trick involving high level stathouse operatives meant to dupe the public into thinking the fight against corruption is on…..

    • Those officers uses their offices to steal public money and sleeping with peoples wives in exchange foe sex. There is a Colonel Christian Manga at ZNS headquarters in Lusaka the man is a humanizer and a thief. Manga uses is office as procurement offer to give contracts to women in exchange of sex. Colonel Christian Manga you are fool a liar and a cheater.

  11. During the UNIP days an institution called “Special investigations team for economic activities and trade” (SITET) was set up. One of its responsibilities was to investigate by simply asking how some acquired properties he claimed to have owned. With the advent of multi party democracy people complained and felt that peoples rights were being infringed upon. There are many mansions and Lodges registered under fictitious names whose owners are the big fish in government and particular in the civil service. Chimense is not the only one and if we had to be serious about fighting corruption a lot of people would be found wanting. There is a Bemba saying “Changa bekata uwachelwa”. Ask the Bembas they tell you the meaning. Well I am not saying let’s bring back (sitet) but scratching the…

  12. LUNGU HATERS LIKE DESPICABLE Jay Jay ARE DUMBFOUNDED.
    SO THEY ARE SPINNING THE STORY BUT ZAMBIANS CAN SEE THAT ECL HAS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CORRUPTION

  13. THE ZAMBIA AIR FORCE PERSONNEL CONCERN OVER THE PUBLIC HUMILIATION OF FORMER COMMANDER LT GENERAL CHIMESE
    Following the reported arrest and charge of our retired Commander, we the Service Men and Women in ZAF want to air our concerns over this shocking public humiliation of our former commander very unprecedented in the history of the Zambia Defence Force and the Air Force in particular.
    This man was our commander and we think he deserves more than we are seeing. We could be wrong but it is our strong belief that he deserves better. Chimese transformed and modernized Zambia Air Force to a very high global standard.
    We want to tell the Zambians that this man worked in the Zambia Air Force as a brilliant Fighter Pilot Instructor and Examiner for 30 years. He was appointed to the office…

    • Concerned ZAF personnel. Your memories must be real short. Have you forgotten Sunday Kayumba who was even convicted in a court of law.

  14. He was appointed to the office of Air Commander at the age of 43 years only in October 2011 by The Late President Michael Sata.
    He was retired in 2011 as a requirement before promotion and appointment to the rank of Lt General and Air Commander respectively. He was paid his retirement benefits in full in 2012. We are also aware that he is an ex-diplomat who was working in Zimbabwe until he was recalled in January 2011. His records show that he was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars. What about the allowances he was getting in dollars from all the international trips he made during the 7 years he was air commander? He was one of the most travelled commander in the history of Zambia Air Force? Owning property is a very serious component of the contemporarily Zambia Airforce Culture.

  15. Chimese was getting gratuity every year for 7 years and was being paid his gratuity at our Air Force offices. For us in the military, the highest paid person is the commander and for seven (07) years, this man was in this position. What about the travelling he did and some of the other things he was doing personally that we may not be privy to? We all know that he was a very sharp guy a revolutionary leader one of the most notable in the history of our Commanders.
    Owning property is a very serious culture in the Zambia Air Force. We request ACC brothers and sisters to do an inquiry on all Air Force officers and see the lifestyle that exists.
    To our ACC brothers and sisters, we are aware that the posting of those pictures on social media platforms and print media was made to win some…

  16. Isn’t this the same Chimese The 2015 and 2016 Presidential Elections PF Master Rigger, The Anti Cholera Commander for 2017/18? How has he fallen from grace? Is there something we do not know that is going on here?
    We request our government to carefully handle this situation otherwise, a lot of people in government will soon join General Chimese. We need to bring to a stop this unfair treatment of our cherished General.
    The Zambia Air Force is currently just on auto pilot with a Commander/Businessman who is just concentrating on his Pure Crime Called 360 Convention Centre along Twin Palm Road which we will talk about on another ideal day very soon.

    • “Cherished General” yet you say he master minded the rigging of elections. Should his involvement in such vice be applauded? What fall from grace are you talking about if he allowed himself to be used to rig elections? Let Chimense have his day in court, that’s not asking too much.

    • Just shows how deep rooted the rot has permeated our once respected men in uniform. They even support a wrong with impunity!

  17. When his Excellence says let system fight corruption this is what he means.Even if he is not there the system will fight and not some task force to target certain individual.In short we have started seeing the fruits of his Excellency belief in the systematic way of doing things.Thank you your Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

    • There is no way Chimase and Chitotela can be stealing without Lungus knowledge.They are all involved.Just wait for the PF to be kicked out 2021.
      Ati the president has zero tolerance for corruption…my foot..
      You think these cheap gimmicks will let IMF give you a financial bailout.Forget it.

  18. The toll gate costing 4.3 million US dollars is just part of the fundraising for 2021 campaigns, and you think he can touch him

  19. Keep on draining the swamp as this is just the tip of the iceberg. We want all the big fish brought to book , you’ll see all the kapentas running for their lives

  20. President Lungu definitely deserves to be commended for allowing DEC and ACC to operate freely.

    Fighting corruption is by allowing institutions to play their role unhindered and not targeted individual witch hunt.

    I encourage President Lungu that there should not be any sacred cows in this endeavour.

  21. Zambians are very funny people…DEC & ACC dont arrest people, it becomes Lungu’s problem…DEC & ACC arrest big people, it still becomes Lungu’s problem.

    So what do they want Lungu to do? Why cant we commend where its due? Would these institutions be doing what they’re doing if there was no political will from Lungu?

    • It is not that we don’t know what we want, we know exactly what we want, we want a zero tolerance to corruption , not that some like chitotela are more important than others……chitotela has wealth way beyond his means…

      Arresting or charging chimesa for flats on land we know is owned by chita lodge seems doubuios …..the owner of chita is already a rich man and does not need any dirty money from ZAF on his land….if he sold the said plot to chimesa , who then built those flats , then now claims he owns the land to protect Eric, then maybe….. other wise only a full on fight against corruption will do…

    • We are used to the Mwanawasa era of open courts of public opinion. Where noise and finger pointing from the post newpaper showed the international community that the corruption fight was in full swing. Convictions were hard to get because we ignored laws. Today we have a president who has put laws before opinions. He has shown political will by wanting to institutionalize and not personalise the corruption fight. Because it’s working, certain sections who wanted him to fail are not happy.

    • The LAZ Council says it believes that the decision not to dismiss Mr. Chitotela’s does not support the fight against corruption, which the President has on numerous occasions publicly supported.

      And the Association has insisted that Mr. Chitotela should resign from his ministerial position as it is not appropriate for him to continue serving as a Minister whilst facing criminal charges and appearing in court pending the determination of the matter.

      LAZ also holds the view that prosecution of a sitting Minister in the courts of law cannot be effective.

    • #Zambian citizen in fact Mwanawasa was only window dressing. ….how did he allow Mmembe to get away with so many misdeeds. Rev Gladys Nyirongo is still a free person because her arrest was originated by the President therefore law enforcers had nothing much to go on. He allowed a key witness in the socalled fight against national plunder to escape from the country. Examples abound.

  22. all these prosecutions under the said DEC PR are so surprising hope everyone shes after is thinking of her in a good way otherwise making or putting someones life at stake is very high risk even if its work i guess you all know what i mean the man he has just arrested is a retired trained soldier for that matter former commander,anyway lets watch madam keep it up and stay safe

  23. There is no way Chimase and Chitotela can be stealing without Lungus knowledge.They are all involved.Just wait for the PF to be kicked out 2021.
    Ati the president has zero tolerance for corruption…my foot..
    You think these cheap gimmicks will let IMF give you a financial bailout.Forget it.

  24. Bembas are big thieves. When Mr Lungu said recently that out of 10 thieves 6 are bembas he was very right. he had the information. he actually emphasised he had damning statistics but pipo blamed him. EL knows that in the PF circles Bemba pipo are the ones who have stolen so much. it is not only today though, it is historical. look back at Zambias govt corruption cases in the past the majority are bembas, these pipo are natural born thieves. Bembas don’t see anything wrong with stealing, it is in their culture. Many years ago the Lozis even used to refuse getting married to a Bemba bcoz they feared they may get married to a thief. this is a fact

    • I agree. Back in their homland actually bembas think stealing is cleverness. I lived there in the 70s.EL was very correct on 6 out of 10.

    • The facts are clear. Chitotela chimanse chungu chiluba Faustino kabwe katele kalumba musonda of zanaco f.kaunda: all big thieves in Zambia are bembas.the fun thing is that they even support each other wen stealing.what a shame.

    • Dambo Dambo who stole donor funds at ZNFU, is he bemba? Sons of RB still on the run, are they bemba? During privatization hh plundered our resources, is he bemba? My issue is being targeted.

    • Any reasoning person will agree that because of their sheer numbers the bembas continue to dominate Zambia’s social-political sphere. Together with their equally many cousins from the East they make the numbers at every institution in Zambia. Our brothers and sisters from other regions have had over 50 years to make up the numbers but….kaya….

  25. It’s free for all.steal as much as you can.
    Majority of Zambians can’t make a dollar
    A day and see how people stealing.Then
    They say no evidence. Not even worried
    About law enforcement agencies.shame.

  26. It’s easy to see why Zambia is still poor. ..we talk too much, we criticize with partiality, we love scandal example is the fewer postings on the Mopani accident as compared to the postings on useless politics.

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