Katumbi gets back seized assets
THE Zambian Government is in the process of handing back companies and other assets belonging to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province Governor, Moses Katumbi, which were seized by the defunct Task Force on Corruption, Mr Katumbi’s lawyer William Nyirenda has said.
He told THE TIMES OF ZAMBIA in Ndola yesterday that negotiations to return Mr Katumbi’s properties began during late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa’s administration when the Katanga governor and former Task Force on Corruption executive chairperson Max Nkole met in DRC.
Mr Nyirenda, who was in the company of Mr Katumbi and Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya, said the Congolese leader was only repossessing what rightfully belonged to him.
Mr Katumbi was in Ndola for bilateral talks between Katanga and Copperbelt Province which aimed at sharing ideas on the implementation of joint development projects.
The talks centred on the tarring of the Pedicle Road, which connects Zambia’s Copperbelt and Luapula provinces via Katanga Province in the DRC, and the improvement of Kasumbalesa border, among other issues.
Asked to state the number and value of the companies and other assets which were being given back to his client, Mr Nyirenda said he was legally bound not to disclose information about his client to the public.
“No disclosures, the law on confidentiality does not allow me to do so. I have a duty to protect my client and his properties,” he said.
But according to available records from the proceedings of the Task Force on Corruption, the seized properties included precious stones, which were deposited in a commercial bank, Chani Fisheries, some buildings in Ndola and Kitwe industrial areas and other personal effects.
And Mr Katumbi said in an interview that he was happy to receive his properties.
Mr Katumbi said he was aware that some Zambians had a wrong impression of him and that they seemed to be uncomfortable with fellow black Africans who were successful businessmen.
“What I have in Zambia is less than one per cent of what my family owns in the DRC,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Katumbi, who flew to Ndola in his private jet, said he had no intentions of influencing Zambian politics because he was a DRC government official who does not believe in interfering in internal affairs of other countries.
“It is cheap politics to say that I want to influence President Banda’s choice for vice-president. I have relatives in this country and during my recent visit to Luapula Province I happened to meet President Banda,” he said.
Mr Katumbi flew back to Katanga Province after the meeting.
Courtesy of Times of Zambia
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I am very open-minded and democratic. But I have started having problems with this Kakumbi. Least to say, he is getting on my nerves. I will be watching him!
Who can confirm the real nationality of Mzee Moise Katumbi Chapwe? I remember chief Kazembe said once that no one will touch his nephew Katumbi and he is always in Lubumbashi to visit his nephew. Katumbi is related to Chiluba (Who is Congolese and who is Zambian among the two? ) , During the VJ saga, Katumbi declared that he is entitled to a Zambian passport and can even stand during election in Zambia. When he fled DRC during Mobutu’s era, he came to start business in Zambia and was a Zambian citizen, check at Kitwe City COuncil records, he was ot a foreigner doing business in ZAmbia, but Zambian doing business in his own country with money stolen in DRC. Today he is boosting to have in Zambia only 2% of the wealth he has in DRC, but he started business in DRC with money made in Zambia, by selling arms to Angola and some other dubious businesses with Chiluba. He crosses the border and stays where it suits him afer committing some fraud and money laundering in Zambia, or DR Congo. Who is he finally? Zambian? Congolese?
Kapatamoyo, why did you change your name from Joseph Tembo? You used to make sense then.
So the POST was right in revealing that VJ told Mr Katumbi that the Zambian Government owed him, and not the other way round; even though VJ denied that he had said so?
Just imagine, it had to take the showing of a video clip to convince everyone the POST had told the truth; and today VJ is still an influential person in the governance of the Country. Mawe! where are the morals that are required for one to be a leader? Thanks to RB!
I like the ” what I have in Zambia is less than 1% of what my family owns in Congo”
Please, Please if others can be acquitted who is he to suffer, give him is assets and people can work for Chani fisharies and other of his companies.
It was expected.
Just give him what belongs to him, Most of those factories and houses have now gathered rust and dust. most have even been vandalised. last time i checked one of the houses in riverside kitwe there where leaks all over. Its better to let this Man take care of his assets and possibly employ people to feed themselves. Why empound assets without evidence only to leave them to mother nature for distruction?