CHARLES MUSONDA writes
@SunZambian
A RETIREES’ association leader has admitted that he accused his predecessor of stealing their motor vehicles despite knowing that the latter had already sued the organisation over his unpaid benefits.
This is in a case former Voluntary Separatees and Retrenchees Association of Zambia (VSRAZ) General Secretary Edson Simemeza Siachoke has been charged with theft of two motor vehicles belonging to the association.
Incumbent VSRAZ General Secretary Daniel Phiri told Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale yesterday that he was the association’s Lusaka province chairperson before he took over from Siachoke in 2018.
Mr. Phiri said he reported Siachoke to police after he refused to hand over the two motor vehicles and documents following his expulsion from the association on December 22, 2017.
“A demand letter was written to him to come and handover the two motor vehicles, court documents, files and any other documents that were in his possession by virtue of him being General Secretary,” he said.
“He didn’t bring the vehicles, documents and files for the association. In view of that we reported the matter to the police,” Mr. Phiri said.
He said the association was paying house rentals for Siachoke at K3, 000 every three months but in 2016 when Government released money to VSRAZ, the now accused person told his colleagues that the rentals had been increased to K9, 000 per month.
“Instead of money being paid directly to the landlord, the GS demanded to be paid K27, 000 from the treasurer Paul Chishimba and he raised the voucher himself. Another voucher for K61, 000 was raised in November 2016 for rentals between April and September 2016,” he said.
Mr. Phiri, who said he was a member of the association’s finance committee then, said before that Siachoke had in 2014 raised a voucher of K65, 000 for the purchase of the first Toyota Land Cruiser registration number ALT 7863.
He said after the finance committee approved purchase of another vehicle, on March 14, 2016 Siachoke raised a K260, 000 voucher himself but that it was the treasurer’s duty to do so.
“Three cheques were issued in his name and he went to buy the Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4 registration number BAC 8859. I saw it after three days but he never gave receipts to the treasurer of the finance committee,” he said.
“We only came to know that the actual price of the vehicle was K213, 000 after I came across a receipt from Jan Africa when I took office. The K47, 000 difference was not given back to the association,” Mr. Phiri said.
But in cross examination by defence lawyer Marshal Muchende, it emerged that Siachoke was entitled to register the vehicles in his name and keep them as long as the association owed him money arising from salary, leave days, and gratuity.
Mr. Phiri also conceded that Siachoke was not paid his dues and that he was aware that on May 18, 2018 the latter sued VSRAZ claiming payment of his dues before Mr. Phiri reported him to police on November 9, 2018 for alleged theft of the two motor vehicles.
Among Siachoke’s claims were K540, 000 outstanding salary for 18 months at K30, 000 per month, K288, 000 gratuity, K105, 000 in leave days, K410, 000 in night allowances, K50, 000 equipment buyout, K25, 000 for fuel allowance, and K300, 000 for house rentals.
Mr. Phiri also admitted signing a note acknowledging the association’s indebtedness to Siachoke in his capacity as VSRAZ General Secretary.
After being shown Siachoke’s resignation letter from the association dated December 26, 2017 by Mr. Muchende, Mr. Phiri admitted that he was aware that the now accused person tendered in the resignation but that it was after he was suspended and subsequently fired from VSRAZ.
Asked further if he was aware that Siachoke had already sued VRSAZ over his dues at the time he was reporting him to police over the alleged theft of motor vehicles, Mr. Phiri attempted to say he was not but after Mr. Muchende told him that lying on oath is perjury, he admitted that he was aware. Trail continues on November 1, 2019.
