The Anti-Corruption Commission has spent the last two days grilling FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya and three other officials for alleged corrupt activities at Football House.
ACC corporate affairs officer Christopher Chibanku confirmed that Bwalya was summoned for “routine questioning” but refused to divulge details.
According to Zambia Reports sources, Kalusha was interrogated on Thursday and Friday. On Friday the interrogations were intense and went into late hours before the official attended the annual award event for the association.
Other officials grilled are General Secretary George Kasengele, committee member Pivoty Simwanza and Financial Officer Sam Phiri.
The ACC is investigating Kalusha for allegedly receiving a bribe ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup bid.
The commission is also investigating FAZ after the association’s former treasurer Kelvin Mutafu revealed that the association was involved in corrupt activities involving ticket sales and illegal replica jersey dealings.
I wish to confirm that the Anti-Corruption Commission has summoned the FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya for routine questioning. This is in furtherance to the investigations the Commission is carrying out regarding Football Association of Zambia,” Chibanku stated in response to a press query.
The ACC is investigating Kalusha for allegedly receiving money from former FIFA vice-president Bin Hammam in exchange for votes at the 2011 FIFA congress. Bwalya, however, claims the money was acquired as a debt on behalf of the association although FAZ financial statements do not reflect anywhere of receiving such income.
Last month, Mutafu revealed that the association lost kit sponsorship with Nike because an unnamed in apparent reference to Simwanza illegally engaged a Chinese company to manufacture Chipolopolo jerseys without the consent of the sponsor.
He further revealed that there was a syndicate within FAZ that was benefiting from ticketing of Chipolopolo home games by supplying the black market, adding that the association turned down a named company that wanted to offer computerised ticketing system. Mutafu, who resigned after his revelation, said he would remain silent and allow investigative wings to do their work.
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