MINISTER of mines and mineral development, Paul Kabuswe wants to extract a whopping K50 million from matero member of parliament Miles Sampa, for soiling his character by alleging that he amassed wealth from the clandestine manner he had sold Mopani Copper Mines on the Copperbelt, to its new investors.
Kabuswe has given Sampa a three-day ultimatum in which to retract the defamatory statements made against him, on his Facebook page.
On his Facebook page Sampa posted defamatory statements alleging that ; “The UPND government can be faulted for failure to achieve one of many things but there is one huge success they have made which I wish to commend them for. They have set the standard that no one that breaks the law gets away with it be it in Ministries, Judiciary, Parliament, ECZ, Councils etc.”
“Zambia is good with the precedent that he or she that breaks the law in the execution of their duties, will be visited by the same law someday. I have the mines minister Kabuswe in mind. From a ambo Mayor of Chililabombwe under ECL as in the pic
attached, to a now multi-millionaire in dollars after selling our Mopani mine to Delta from the Middle East at $O (zero price). Free that is.”
“The arrogance of fast big money is all over him and I have personally seen such before. I am no Zambian but can tell which other Ministers are in and not in fast money just but how they now walking and speaking.”
According to a letter of demand served on Sampa by Kabuswe’s lawyers, Leonard Tembo legal practitioners, the minister says the innuendo expressed in Sampa’s posting implies that he has violated the law in his execution as
Minister of Mines and Mineral Development, specifically relating to the recent transaction of
Mopani Copper Mines between Government through ZCCM-Investment Holdings Ple and Delta Mining Limited.
Kabuswe says the transaction of Mopani Copper Mines by the Government of Zambia was legally conducted as the process was duly complied with and it is evidenced by the fact that no one has commenced any legal action in Court including Sampa himself, against the government or himself relating to the said transaction.
Kabuswe said he has never broken any law in his role as Mines Minister in the facilitation of the transaction of Mopani Copper Mines, as he has not been charged with any criminal case relating to the transaction of the mine.
“To that extent our client briefs us that he was flabbergasted by your statement that he is now
a multi-millionaire in Dollars which statement is totally untrue,” read the letter.
“According to our client by the said words, you meant and were understood to mean that our client has personally benefited in monetary form, through corrupt deals, from the transaction of Mopani Copper mines to the extent that he is now a multi-millionaire in Dollars.”
Kabuswe said the words imply that he engaged in illegal acts in his role as Minister of Mines and Mineral Development during the process of the transaction of the mines when in fact not.
He said the statement by Sampa that he has become arrogant because according to him, he has accumulated ‘fast big money’ from the transaction of Mopani Copper Mines is not only false, but also has potential to tarnish his political career which he serves with diligence and humility.
Kabuswe said he has spent his life building a positive reputation of his political career which spans for over 20 years during which period he has been elected or appointed among other positions, as councilor, Mayor of Chililabombwe Town Council, Member of Parliament of Chililabombwe Constituency and currently serving a s Minister o f Mines and Mineral Development of the Republic of Zambia.
He stated that he was shocked, disturbed physically and mentally and felt maliciously scandalized, as he has received numerous inquiries from workmates, family members and from his constituents in Chililabombwe Constituency in which he serves as area
Member o f Parliament.
Kabuswe contended that the words imply that he is corrupt and not fit to hold his ministerial position.
He said as minister of mines he represents government in his interactions with both local and international mining business entities and persons in the best interest of government and he strives to maintain an impeccable reputation.
Kabuswe said his reputation has been damaged by Sampa’s reckless false statements and as a politician he should have avoided posting such a preposterous and agitating statement which was well calculated to bring his political and personal reputation into ridicule, public scandal, odium and contempt.
The minister said he has been seriously injured in his character, and reputation and has been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt.
He said as a result he is seeing redress for defamation through an apology and that Sampa desists from making libelous statements against him.
Kabuswe warned Sampa of a lawsuit if he fails to meet his demands.
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba December 6, 2024.
