With Oswald Diangamo in active communication with State House Police Commissioner, Fanwell Siandenge, at the time of his arrest, the entire State House was a crime scene.
By Zambian Whistleblower.
Lusaka, Sept. 1 – You will recall that we predicted that because of the forces behind the individuals involved in the gold/cash scandal at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA), this case would most likely be resolved via two channels.
News that nolle prosequi has been entered with regard to one Zambian suspect, Oswald Diangamo, and all the Egyptians who were earlier charged with espionage and entering an unauthorised space of the airport, does not surprise us.
Also Read: Hichilema’s close associates get implicated, we name them for clarity’s sake!
It is clear that this case has collapsed in the way we had reported it would. During the time that the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) made everyone believe they could prosecute this case, there have been behind the scenes government to government high stakes engagements.
Meanwhile, the detainees themselves and their agents have used money to buy themselves a channel out of detention and the charges altogether. United States Dollars have been flying around like confetti since the jet was grounded at KKIA. Nearly all the officers from government agencies, who “raided” the jet on the apron of the airport simply grabbed any amount they could.
Hence Zambia Police Airport Commandant, Robbinson Moonga, and other officers from the Zambia Air Force and other security agencies have already been exposed. There are others in the government and security system who have taken their share and have escaped notice for the time being.
The amount of money found on the plane will probably never be known now that nolle prosequi has been entered in the manner announced today. But the money that came into the country can be estimated by the news that the Egyptians on board that jet came seeking to buy 500Kg of Zambian gold.
What Zambians will also never know is the full description of the military equipment found on board that jet, and the kind of security upgrades made to it, which have been compared to those of the Zambian Presidential Jet, the Gulfstream G650.
These security upgrades were a sign of a high value mystery passenger having been on this flight, reputed to be very close to the Egyptian President, who was let go when the suspects were first taken from Police cells to other holding quarters.
But even more interesting is the inclusion of Oswald Diangamo on the list of those for whom a nolle prosequi has been entered. The reason for this is that from everyone who has been named in this scandal, he is the one who has the closest links with President Hakainde Hichilema, and who was one of the Zambian masterminds behind the gold deal that resulted in this scandal.
In fact, when he was arrested and his phone grabbed, he was reported to have been found in active communication with State House Police Commissioner, Fanwell Siandenge. This is what led many to conclude that in this matter, the whole of State House had become a crime scene.
Also Read: Hichilema’s presidency must be probed to understand the current corruption at State House.
But there is another reason for this quick resolution. The Egyptians had greater leverage in negotiations for their nationals. The Zambian government has pinned its hopes of resolving the ongoing shortage of medicines and medical equipment in public health facilities on a government to government deal with Egypt.
The deal worth $70m has already been brokered between the two governments, whereby the Egyptian military entity is procuring the medicines from Egyptian manufacturers and charging the Zambian government a commission for the service. Zambia is desperate to end the shortage of essential drugs in public health institutions.
With high ranking military and intelligence officers aboard the grounded jet detained in Zambia, this deal was at risk. Evidently, President Hichilema and his government have given in and freed the suspects.
Because President Hichilema cannot risk leaving Oswald Diangamo in detention, he has been included among the beneficiaries. Francis Mateyo, on the other hand, is a State House “security operative” and can easily be separated from the President.
Also Read: Koswe struggles to explain gold scam suspect’s link to State House.
President Hichilema could be separated from the sugilite scandal but he cannot be separated from this one, in much the same way that former President Edgar Lungu was connected to all the big scandals of government and party officials.
◾Conclusion:
If elections were held today, President Hichilema would be treated the same way that Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front were treated.
And if there is one thing that has been confirmed in this gold/cash scandal, it is that it involved many individuals who are Tonga by tribe. By this standard, it seems Tongas have even more serious thieves than other groups.
Disclaimer: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the author are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Woodpecker’s Digest but we feel compelled to remain a channel for reputable journalists.
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