Human Rights Defenders Coalition ( HRDC ) executive member Billy Mayaya has reported to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) bribery attempts on Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Banda by businessperson Chandra Shekhar More.
In a let ter dated December 23 2020, Mayaya alleges that More called him on the phone to facilitate a reversal of his (More’s) immigration status following his deportation from the country.
In the letter, Mayaya alleges that More sent him a WhatsApp text message on December 22 seeking to be connected to Chimwendo Banda to reverse deportation status.
He said: “On the next conversation, he called me where I then pretended to be with the minister although I was alone. He was brazen enough to offer a payment of K60 000 000 for a reversal of his prohibitive immigration status.
“This amount would be given in equal instalments of K30 000 000 with the first given to me and the other half given to the minister.”
Mayaya said he decided to report the matter to the graft-busting body on the basis that payment of such an offer is an offence under the Corrupt Practices Act.
In an interview last evening, Mayaya confirmed writing the ACB, saying the matter will now be handled by the bureau as he has submitted all the evidence.
In a separate interview, ACB director general Re y n e c k Mat emb a confirmed receiving Mayaya’s complaint, saying: “I can confirm that the letter that you have mentioned has been delivered at the ACB some two hours ago [around 6pm].
“A copy of the said letter has also been sent to me electronically by the complainant [Mayaya] himself.”
He said the bureau will look into the matter and investigate it just like all other complaints or allegations it receives.
Re a c t i n g t o t h e development in a telephone interview, Chimwendo Banda said he was impressed that Mayaya reported the matter to the ACB.
He said he was notified about the development through a phone call from Mayaya.
But the minister said he has never been in contact with More and that he is yet to follow up on the matter
