By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –
A FORMER Zambian diplomat in the United Kingdom (UK) is on the run after allegedly making off with title deeds for three properties belonging to the Zambian Government in London.
It is alleged that the former deputy High Commissioner to the UK Eva Fundafunda got the title deeds from the safe at the Zambian Embassy in London during her tenure of office in 2012.
Auditor General Anna Chifungula told the Public Account Committee (PAC) that Ms Fundafunda was reportedly seeking asylum in Tanzanian after her dismissal from the foreign Service.
Ms Chifungula told the Committee chaired by Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Luena Member of Parliament (MP) Getrude Imenda that the incident happened at the time the former diplomat was on transfer from London to China.
She revealed this yesterday after Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary George Zulu told PAC that title deeds for three properties in London were stolen.
“The three title deeds that were allegedly stolen were in fact taken by the former deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The streets in London have videos, the recording indicate that she actually took the title deeds from the safe in the Embassy and put them in the boot of her car,”  Ms Chifungula said.
She said there was need to follow up the matter because there were similar incidents in Canberry and in Canada.
MMD Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima asked Mr Zulu how the ministry was addressing the matter and if there was any stern action being taken on the officer.
Mr Zulu told the Committee that the arrangements were underway to have the title deeds replaced.
He said the ministry had since engaged a legal firm to go and pursue the matter in London.
Mr Zulu’s response prompted MMD Mumbwa MP Brian Chituwo to question why the matter was not reported to the police and how the ministry expected the title deeds to be replaced without a police report.
Mr Zulu said the Embassy was waiting for a response from Government before they could report the matter to the police.
The ministry was also pursing the officer who had since sort asylum in Tanzania to see if she could bring back the title deeds.