By 
Former Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General, Kingsley Chanda, has denied claims that vehicles were sold to the Patriotic Front (PF), telling the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court that the former ruling party did not benefit from ZRA’s asset disposal process.
Chanda, who served as Commissioner General from 2016 to 2021, is jointly charged with former Director of Administration, Callistus Kaoma.
The two face 22 counts of willful failure to follow procedure in disposing of 22 ZRA motor vehicles.
Testifying in his defense, Chanda rejected allegations that PF officials approached him to acquire vehicles for campaign purposes, stating that the claims were unsubstantiated.
“He alleged that some PF officials contacted me to purchase vehicles for campaigns. However, no names, dates, or locations were provided. There is no record or evidence of such a meeting taking place. The arresting officer did not produce a single letter of sale or vehicle registration document showing that any car was sold to PF,” Chanda said.
He told the court that all disposed vehicles were traceable via the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), and none were registered under the PF.
Chanda also dismissed the prosecution’s assertion that PF campaign stickers on three vehicles impounded by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) were proof of party ownership.
“Anyone can place a political or religious sticker on a car. That alone cannot be taken as proof of ownership,” he said.
He maintained that all vehicles were sold exclusively to ZRA employees, with supporting letters of sale and payment receipts on record.
“What those employees did with the vehicles afterward is beyond the authority of ZRA,” he added.
Chanda further challenged the policy document used as the basis for the charges, arguing that the document marked ‘P1’ was merely a draft and not the official policy in effect during his tenure.
He said the valid policy was one approved by the ZRA Board in 2002, and the draft had never been formally adopted.
“I was arrested and charged based on a non-existent policy. Had the correct policy been presented, we probably wouldn’t be here,” Chanda argued.
He noted that the draft lacked board approval and other critical elements.
He clarified that as Commissioner General, he was not a member of the Asset Disposal Committee (ADC), the body responsible for disposing of obsolete assets.
Chanda explained that the ADC reported to the Commissioner for Modernization and Corporate Strategy, then Mr. Digani Banda, who in turn reported to the Finance Committee of the ZRA Board.
“My role as Commissioner General did not include advertising or evaluating vehicles. I only participated at board level, where we received and approved disposal recommendations,” he stated.
Chanda said board resolutions and minutes submitted in court confirm that all disposals were duly approved.
Responding to allegations that vehicles were sold to individuals who had not bid or who bid below the highest offers, Chanda said the board had no insight into the operational implementation of the disposal process.
“That responsibility rested with the ADC and the Commissioner for Modernization,” he said.
He also raised concern over the omission of a key document from the prosecution’s evidence — a letter from the Secretary to the Treasury authorising ZRA to sell obsolete vehicles to staff — which he said had been submitted by his defense team.
“I acted within my lawful authority at all times,” Chanda said, adding that his decisions were guided by his employment contract, the ZRA Act, and oversight from the board.
The matter continues before the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court.
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