Maravi

ACC probes Mulyata

ACC probes Mulyata
By Amos Malupenga and Noel Sichalwe
Saturday July 21, 2007 [04:00]

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata for abuse of authority of office following his intervention in the irregular release of an impounded bus belonging to MMD cadre Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM). ACC sources confirmed yesterday that investigations had reached an advanced stage and an official statement would be released “as soon as one or two things are done”.

“Investigations started as soon as the story appeared in the newspaper and so far, a lot of progress has been made into the investigations,” the ACC source said.

Meanwhile, works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao said he had spoken to the RDA engineers from Livingstone concerning the matter and he was waiting to talk to Mulyata. He said after talking to Mulyata, he would prepare a report to be presented to President Mwanawasa on what transpired in the whole matter.

“What I discussed with RDA officers is just for my understanding and I can’t tell you. I will talk to the person I report to,” Simbao said.



Simbao also disclosed that he was approached by ACC officers who asked him about the same issue.

And intelligence sources yesterday criticised information minister Mike Mulongoti’s statement suggesting that Mulyata could have intervened in the GBM saga using his discretion on humanitarian grounds.

“We know the truth in this matter and it will be wrong for us to keep quiet and allow ministers like Mulongoti to mislead the nation,” the source said. “That bus was impounded for absconding the weighbridge, that is the main charge on the charge sheet. It might have been overloaded by the time it absconded the weighbridge but this cannot be proved officially because some passengers disembarked before reaching Livingstone bus station.”

The source narrated that the bus, belonging to GBM’s Germins Motorways, was impounded on July 7 around 20:00 hours.
“The bus was signalled by the Road Development Agency (RDA) officer-in-charge by the name of Siyanga Siyanga at the Livingstone weighbridge to pass through the weighbridge,” the source narrated. “But the driver of this bus who was later known as Charles Lungu ignored that signal.
So the officer-in-charge and two other officers gave chase. Along the way, the bus stopped and some passengers disembarked from the bus. The officers continued the chase and by the time the bus arrived at Livingstone station, the officers had caught up with the bus.”

The source said the bus driver was ordered to drive back to the weighbridge where the bus was weighed around 20:45 hours.

“After weighing, it was discovered that the bus was not over weight but it was impounded for absconding the weighbridge and a penalty fee of US $2,000 or an equivalent of K7.9 million for that offence was preferred,” the source said. “But around 23:00 hours, the officer-in-charge received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as a general manager for Germins Motorways.

This person offered Mr Siyanga K1 million for him to release the bus but the officer-in-charge refused insisting that he could only release the bus upon payment of the full US $2,000. Thirty minutes later, this person phoned again and raised the figure to K3 million but Mr Siyanga still refused, around 01:00 hours there was another phone call and the figure was raised further to K5.5 million but the officer-in-charge stood his ground.

“Around 06:00 hours, this person phone Mr Siyanga again but this time said he was ready to make a commitment to pay the US $2,000 except he would ask that the bus be released first. The officer-in-charge still refused saying he would only release the bus upon a full payment of US $2,000 whether or not it would be paid in instalments.”

The source said on July 9 in the afternoon, Mulyata went to Siyanga’s office and asked for the top most officer. Siyanga presented himself as the senior most officer at that time. The source said before that, Mulyata had stormed or harshly entered Siyanga’s office so Siyanga had asked who Mulyata was.

“But Mr. Mulyata said it was not important for him to know who he was,” the source said. “Mr. Mulyata then asked why there was congestion at the bridge because so many trucks were not cleared. The officer-in-charge tried to explain but he was told to shut up by the minister who later demanded to know how they were working.

“The deputy officer-in-charge, a lady by the name of Grace was by this time at the weighing scale and she told the minister to go with her so she could see how they were working. But the minister got annoyed and started blasting them saying they would lose their jobs, they didn’t know who he was.”

The source said at this point, Mulyata left the weighbridge and returned to his office.
“But the following day around 06:00 hours, Mr Siyanga’s immediate boss by the name of Ntinda who is also the deputy regional engineer phoned him to explain what transpired the previous day,” the source said. “Mr. Siyanga explained and he was told by Mr. Ntinda that the person they were talking to the previous day was minister Mulyata and that Mr Mulyata had summoned to his office at 08:00 hours all officers on duty that day together with Mr Ntinda.”
The source said Ntinda and the others officers went to Mulyata’s office at the appointed time.

“The officers found Mr Mulyata in the office, he was with Mr Gabriel Namulambe the sports minister. The minister started telling off the officers, especially the lady (Grace) whom he said she will never get married because she is uncompromising,” the source said.

“At this stage, Mr Ntinda apologised on behalf of other officers for the way the minister was treated the previous day at the weighbridge. Then they were ordered to leave. But as they were leaving his office, Mr Mulyata called back Mr Ntinda and the lady Grace who was shedding tears. The other two officers remained outside. It was at this point that Mr Mulyata asked Mr Ntinda to ensure that GBM’s bus was released.

“When he left the minister’s office, Mr Ntinda briefed Mr. Siyanga who said the bus could not be released before paying the penalty fee. Mr Ntinda did not say anything.”
When reached for comment yesterday, Namulambe confirmed he was present when Mulyata was talking to the RDA officers in his (Mulyata’s) office.

“But I cannot give the details of the discussion to the press though I am ready to talk to officials from the Ministry of Works and Supply if they approach me,” Namulambe said. “I remember finding him (Mulyata) talking to three RDA officers who were called to his office but the details of the conversation can only be given to the Ministry of Works and Supply.”

The source further said on July 11, there was no movement on this case because President Mwanawasa was in Livingstone and Mulyata was as a result busy with the President’s programme. This was the same time that finance minister Ng’andu Magande was also travelling to Livingstone and when he found congestion at the weighbridge, RDA officers told him what was obtaining including the story to do with the detained bus.

The source said last Thursday in the morning, Siyanga was at home when his boss the regional engineer and his deputy went to the weighbridge.

“But when they arrived at the weighbridge, they did not come out of their vehicles,” the source said. “This lady Grace phoned Mr Siyanga to tell him about the presence of the regional engineer and his deputy. Mr Siyanga told the lady that if the engineers were there in connection with the impounded bus, the bus should not be released until the fine was paid.”

The source said after some time, Mulyata also arrived at the weighbridge and the regional engineer together with his deputy got out of their cars to get the keys for the bus from Grace.

“She initially resisted but finally she released the key because these were her bosses. It is the engineers who later gave the key to the bus driver who later drove the bus away,” the source said. “The driver even refused to get the charge sheet and to the best of my knowledge, the US $2,000 has not yet been paid; at least as at Wednesday or Thursday the 19th. This is what all of us in the system know so when we heard Mr Mulongoti trying to protect Mr Mulyata, we were worried that justice will not be done because Mr Mulongoti speaks for the government.”

Simbao also disclosed that he was approached by ACC officers who asked him about the same issue.

And intelligence sources yesterday criticised information minister Mike Mulongoti’s statement suggesting that Mulyata could have intervened in the GBM saga using his discretion on humanitarian grounds.

“We know the truth in this matter and it will be wrong for us to keep quiet and allow ministers like Mulongoti to mislead the nation,” the source said. “That bus was impounded for absconding the weighbridge, that is the main charge on the charge sheet.

It might have been overloaded by the time it absconded the weighbridge but this cannot be proved officially because some passengers disembarked before reaching Livingstone bus station.”
The source narrated that the bus, belonging to GBM’s Germins Motorways, was impounded on July 7 around 20:00 hours.

“The bus was signalled by the Road Development Agency (RDA) officer-in-charge by the name of Siyanga Siyanga at the Livingstone weighbridge to pass through the weighbridge,” the source narrated. “But the driver of this bus who was later known as Charles Lungu ignored that signal. So the officer-in-charge and two other officers gave chase. Along the way, the bus stopped and some passengers disembarked from the bus.

The officers continued the chase and by the time the bus arrived at Livingstone station, the officers had caught up with the bus.”

The source said the bus driver was ordered to drive back to the weighbridge where the bus was weighed around 20:45 hours.

“After weighing, it was discovered that the bus was not overweight but it was impounded for absconding the weighbridge and a penalty fee of US $2,000 or an equivalent of K7.9 million for that offence was preferred,” the source said.

“But around 23:00 hours, the officer-in-charge received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as a general manager for Germins Motorways. This person offered Mr Siyanga K1 million for him to release the bus but the officer-in-charge refused, insisting that he could only release the bus upon payment of the full US $2,000.

Thirty minutes later, this person phoned again and raised the figure to K3 million but Mr Siyanga still refused, around 01:00 hours there was another phone call and the figure was raised further to K5.5 million but the officer-in-charge stood his ground.

“Around 06:00 hours, this person phoned Mr Siyanga again but this time said he was ready to make a commitment to pay the US $2,000 except he would ask that the bus be released first. The officer-in-charge still refused, saying he would only release the bus upon a full payment of US $2,000 whether or not it would be paid in instalments.”

The source said on July 9 in the afternoon, Mulyata went to Siyanga’s office and asked for the top-most officer. Siyanga presented himself as the senior-most officer at that time. The source said before that, Mulyata had stormed or harshly entered Siyanga’s office, so Siyanga had asked who Mulyata was.

“But Mr. Mulyata said it was not important for him to know who he was,” the source said. “Mr. Mulyata then asked why there was congestion at the bridge because so many trucks were not cleared. The officer-in-charge tried to explain but he was told to shut up by the minister who later demanded to know how they were working.

“The deputy officer-in-charge, a lady by the name of Grace was by this time at the weighing scale and she told the minister to go with her so he could see how they were working. But the minister got annoyed and started blasting them, saying they would lose their jobs, they didn’t know who he was.”

The source said at this point, Mulyata left the weighbridge and returned to his office.
“But the following day around 06:00 hours, Mr Siyanga’s immediate boss by the name of Ntinda, who is also the deputy regional engineer, phoned him to explain what transpired the previous day,” the source said. “Mr. Siyanga explained and he was told by Mr. Ntinda that the person they were talking to the previous day was minister Mulyata and that Mr Mulyata had summoned to his office at 08:00 hours all officers on duty that day together with Mr Ntinda.”

The source said Ntinda and the others officers went to Mulyata’s office at the appointed time.

“The officers found Mr Mulyata in the office, he was with Mr Gabriel Namulambe the sports minister. The minister started telling off the officers, especially the lady (Grace) whom he said she will never get married because she is uncompromising,” the source said. “At this stage, Mr Ntinda apologised on behalf of other officers for the way the minister was treated the previous day at the weighbridge.

Then they were ordered to leave. But as they were leaving his office, Mr Mulyata called back Mr Ntinda and the lady Grace who was shedding tears. The other two officers remained outside. It was at this point that Mr Mulyata asked Mr Ntinda to ensure that GBM’s bus was released.

“When he left the minister’s office, Mr Ntinda briefed Mr. Siyanga, who said the bus could not be released before paying the penalty fee. Mr Ntinda did not say anything.”

When reached for comment yesterday, Namulambe confirmed he was present when Mulyata was talking to the RDA officers in his (Mulyata’s) office.

“But I cannot give the details of the discussion to the press though I am ready to talk to officials from the Ministry of Works and Supply if they approach me,” Namulambe said. “I remember finding him (Mulyata) talking to three RDA officers who were called to his office but the details of the conversation can only be given to the Ministry of Works and Supply.”

The source further said on July 11, there was no movement on this case because President Mwanawasa was in Livingstone and Mulyata was as a result busy with the President’s programme. This was the same time that finance minister Ng’andu Magande was also travelling to Livingstone and when he found congestion at the weighbridge, RDA officers told him what was obtaining, including the story to do with the detained bus.

The source said last Thursday morning, Siyanga was at home when his boss the regional engineer and his deputy went to the weighbridge.

“But when they arrived at the weighbridge, they did not come out of their vehicles,” the source said. “This lady Grace phoned Mr Siyanga to tell him about the presence of the regional engineer and his deputy. Mr Siyanga told the lady that if the engineers were there in connection with the impounded bus, the bus should not be released until the fine was paid.”

The source said after some time, Mulyata also arrived at the weighbridge and the regional engineer together with his deputy got out of their cars to get the keys for the bus from Grace.

“She initially resisted but finally she released the key because these were her bosses. It is the engineers who later gave the key to the bus driver who later drove the bus away,” the source said.

“The driver even refused to get the charge sheet and to the best of my knowledge, the US $2,000 has not yet been paid; at least as at Wednesday or Thursday the 19th. This is what all of us in the system know, so when we heard Mr Mulongoti trying to protect Mr Mulyata, we were worried that justice will not be done because Mr Mulongoti speaks for the government.”

Labels: ACC, GBM, GEOFFREY MWAMBA

posted by MrK @ 3:24 AM