By Jennifer Banda
A Scheme by Lusaka Businessman Valden Findlay’s rivals using the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to grab his Chisamba Farm has been exposed.
Sources close to the development have revealed how the influential business rivals are using Mary Chirwa’s lead DEC to use all means to reposes the Farm.
According to sources, DEC is allegedly fighting to effect a seizure on a property, which was purchased in 1974 by Valden’s mother, Mrs. Marjorie Findlay, in an exercise, which have reached advanced stage.
This is part of a spirited campaign aimed at damaging the image of a hard working local business marque at the mercy of his business competitors using state machinery.
The sources add the intention is purely to gift the business rivals with the facility for a song yet it has taken pain and sweat to rebuild the farm into a fortress.
Today, many years after paying back the loan, he acquired then at the tender age of 20, amid doubts and uncertainty, Valden has succeeded in making the Farm a paradise for wild animals with the aim of opening it as a luxury resort to promote tourism in Zambia.
Valden, who also bought off shares in the facility from his siblings to ensure he was a sole custodian, had to part away with a number of properties among them on Nangwenya road, which houses Toyota Zambia, Shoprite building near Downtown Mall and sold one thousand cattle to prominent businessman, Maurice Jangulo.
The intentions by the law enforcement agencies comes in the awake on intensified death threats by business rivals aligned to the governing political party advising him to prepare two graves for himself and his family.
Accordingly, Valden has been willing to justify his accumulation of wealth through legitimate means and platform and not schemes littered with malice.
By expanding his investment in the hospitality industry at the precious Chisamba Farm once owned by his mother, Mr. Findlay’s vision is to give back to the Zambian people by providing them with employment, opportunities, and a platform to be successful, especially women, in honor of his mother and first stepping stone to success.
When contacted on the report both parties were not available for a comment.