.TEMBO

By CHATULA KAMPO –

A SENIOR Anti-Corruption Commission of Zambia (ACC) investigations officer has testified that suspended Copperbelt police commissioner Mary Tembo instructed a police officer to go to Grizzly Mining and collect documents for change of ownership of the vehicle donated  to  her.
Caroline Nkata of Kitwe, told Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Paul Chisha that a police officer, Aaron Chalibikila, told her that the accused instructed him to collect documents for change of ownership of the vehicle into her name.
She said Mr Chalibikila told her that Grizzly Mining human resource manager Davies Phiri gave him a letter and other documents authorising the change of ownership of the vehicle.
Ms Nkata testified that the officer told the ACC that  the accused  instructed  him  to take  her  personal vehicle  together with  a police  vehicle to  Grizzly  Mining for  repairs.
Tembo, 53, of 4 Bukafu Road in Ndola and Plot 37 Lusaka West farms in Lusaka is charged with two counts of abuse of authority of office.
Tembo, between May 1 and June 30 last year allegedly obtained a Toyota Corolla, AAX 5716 from Grizzly Mining which she registered in her name.
In the second count, Tembo between November 1 and December 31 2012 in Ndola is alleged to have attempted to get Grizzly Mining Limited to fix her personal Toyota Cressida F100.
She had delivered the vehicle to the company using public resources along with a Zambia Police vehicle purporting that both vehicles belonged to the service.
The  witness  testified  that  she interviewed all  the  people who  played a  role  in the case and  that she collected supporting  documents from  the Police, RTSA and Grizzly  Mining.
Ms Nkata told the court that Grizzly Mining transport officer Clifford Chilumbwa told her that he had received two motor vehicles; a Nissan hard body and a Toyota Cressida belonging to the police for repair.
“I also interviewed Mr Zamsogolo Njovu, a Copperbelt police staff  officer who wrote the request letter  for the repair of the two  vehicles. He told me that the accused told him to include her personal vehicle on the request for repair,” she  told  the  court.
She testified that she collected a photocopy of the white book of the Toyota Corolla AAX 5716 from RTSA and also interviewed Grizzly Mining human resources manager Davies Phiri.
Mr Chisha adjourned the case to July 12 to 18 this year.
The magistrate will deliver a  ruling on the  application  by  defence lawyer Milner Katolo on  whether the   court  should accept a  photocopy of the  white book as part of  evidence.