Road Development Agency (RDA) construction and rehabilitation director George Manyele has testified in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court that RDA nominated Mwamona Engineering and Technical Services as a sub-contractor to conduct works on the Mansa-Luwingu road.

This is the matter in which Chishimba Kambwili, his son Mwamba, Mwamona Engineering, Lukwesa Musonda Brano and Mulenga Makasa Kapilima are charged with; one count of making a document without authority, one count of uttering a false document, two counts of obtaining pecuniary advantage by false pretenses and 35 counts of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

It is alleged in one of the counts that Mwamoma Engineering and Kambwili between August 1, 2014, and September 30, 2016, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together by means of false presence, dishonestly obtained US $105,220.07 from China Henan International Corporation Group Limited, purporting that Mwamoma, a company which was subcontracted, was executing the works on Luwingu-Mansa road when in fact not.

When the matter came up for continued trial before Principal Resident Magistrate Mwaka Mikalike, Thursday, Manyele explained that the RDA had two types of sub-contracts namely; domestic sub-contracting and nominated sub-contracting.

He further explained that under domestic sub-contracting, the main contractor selected a contractor to work with.

Manyele added that under nominated sub-contracting, the employer, which in this case was the RDA, nominates a sub contractor to which the main contractor would work with.

“The main contractor is responsible for the works done by the sub contractor,” he said.

Manyele said Mwamona Engineering Technical Services Limited was nominated by RDA as a subcontractor, whereas China Henan was the main contractor.

In cross-examination by defence lawyers Keith Mweemba and Gilbert Phiri, Manyele said Mwamona was selected by the RDA as it falls under nominated subcontractor.

He added that the nomination was based on the competence and capacity of a sub contractor.
The State witness also said RDA followed the modalities and guidelines when it sub contracted Mwamona Engineering and Technical Services.

He also told the Court that China Henan was responsible for the works on the Mansa-Luwingu road, adding that the RDA had no problem with the said company because the works were performed in a competent manner.

Manyele admitted that the workers were entitled to payment because the works were delivered competently.
The case was adjourned to August 30, 2019.