Cape Town, Sunday, July 14, 2024 – In a scathing rebuttal, Amos Chanda, a former high-ranking government official, has strongly condemned the accusations made against him by Thierry Charles, a French national who claims to represent the minority shareholders of ZCCM-IH Limited.
Chanda, who resigned from his position as Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations at State House in 2019, has vehemently denied any involvement in “graft and embezzlement” against the state-owned mining investment company.
In a detailed statement, Chanda described Charles’ allegations as “preposterous” and “brazenly malicious,” suggesting that the Frenchman is engaging in a “racist” and “malicious” campaign to tarnish his reputation.
Chanda revealed that he had previously encountered Charles on two occasions, where the latter had lobbied him to help remove the ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pius Kasolo, and replace him with a “white” CEO. Chanda, who has “dedicated considerable effort towards building a fair and humane society,” strongly rejected this proposal, considering it a “racist approach.”
Addressing Charles’ claims that Chanda was involved in “shadowy dealings” with “bad eggs” at State House, the former official stated that he had no links with the institution since his resignation in 2019. Chanda challenged Charles to provide any evidence of his alleged misdeeds, inviting him to “tender before any lawfully constituted tribunal” any proof of such wrongdoing.
Chanda expressed his outrage at the “diabolical and pervasive attack” from Charles, suggesting that the Frenchman’s actions feed into the “malicious individuals who plant false narratives before the law enforcement agencies.” He emphasized that he would not “succumb to any form of oppression, particularly laced with racist undertones.”
The former government official concluded his statement by seeking an “honest answer” from the board and management of ZCCM-IH to confirm or dismiss Charles’ letter as their collective position or that of some of its shareholders. Chanda’s lawyers have assumed conduct of the matter, indicating that he is prepared to take legal action against the accusations.
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14th July, 2024