Maravi

Transfer of employees at DEC worries ACC

Transfer of employees at DEC worries ACC
By Noel Sichalwe and Sandra Lombe
Saturday July 28, 2007 [04:01]

ANTI-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Nixon Banda has expressed worry at the manner DEC Commissioner Ryan Chitoba is transferring employees suspected to be whistle blowers in the abuse of authority of office scandal. And Banda had indicated that ACC would ask Ministry of Home Affairs permanent secretary Peter Mumba to stop
transfers of DEC officers if it was established that they are possible witnesses.

Meanwhile, Banda has said investigations into Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata's abuse of office allegations have reached an advanced stage. Addressing the press yesterday, Banda said the ACC was studying the matter to see how it could help. He said the reported transfer of DEC employees suspected to have been whistle blowers could have been an administrative matter.

"The current ACC Act does not contain the provision for the protection of whistle blowers but there is an Act that provides for protection of potential witnesses," Banda said.

"Some of these people are going to be our witnesses. We are studying to see how they can be protected. If some people will be found to be witnesses, we will ask the PS (permanent secretary - home affairs) to stop the movement of these people so they can testify."

Banda also said that ACC could not at the moment recommend whether Chitoba should be sent on forced leave or not.

"The matter is still under investigation, when we reach where it is necessary, then we will make recommendations."

ACC recently started investigating Chitoba for abuse of office involving about K1 billion.

Chitoba has transferred and demoted about 10 officers suspected to have leaked information relating to financial scandals surrounding the institution.

Banda confirmed the ACC was investigating allegations of suspected abuse of office against Mulyata and Chitoba.

He said he could not provide details of their enquiries into Mulyata and Chitoba for fear of jeopardising their investigations.

He said Mulyata was being investigated because he used his office to release Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba's Germinis bus before it could be cleared for overloading.

And Banda said the investigations in the allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Lands were still continuing and that ACC expected more arrests soon.

He said in the second quarter, three suspects, who included former lands minister Gladys Nyirongo, former commission of lands Frighton Sichone and Samuel Daka who was acting head of estates and valuation in the ministry, were arrested.

"We expect more to be arrested soon. However, it would not be appropriate for me to furnish you with further details of these cases at this stage as this would prejudice the investigations," Banda said.

He also said the process of ascertaining the value of properties was continuing.

Banda said so far 146 properties of industrial, residential, farm plots and six motor vehicles had been seized from the suspects.

"Soon we will be making recommendations to the Ministry of Lands on disposal of some of these properties," Banda said.

Banda said in the second quarter the commission had registered 14 new prosecution cases.

He said the convictions remained at four and two acquittals.
Banda said during the same period the commission received a total of 523 corruption and non-corruption reports.
"Lusaka recorded the highest at 271 whilst Mongu recorded lowest at 17. Out of these, 240 were corruption related complaints whilst 283 were non-corruption related complaints and treated as information received," Banda said.

"Of the 523 cases, 110 were authorised for investigations while 413 were deemed not to be pursuable."

Banda said complaints against officials in the ministries, departments and agencies from January to July were 444 whilst complaints against the private sector totaled 222.
He said 75 cases were closed in the second quarter and said reasons for closing the cases varied from lack of evidence to non-availability of witnesses.

Banda said other cases had been recommended for administrative action by relevant authorities.
He said 14 arrests had been made in the second quarter for various corruption cases.

Banda said the commission undertook a number of programmes in efforts to enhance more stakeholders' involvement in institutionalising prevention to achieve its goal of reducing levels of corruption in the country.

He said through ACC's joint operations and exercises with other departments and institutions, the commission participated in the prevention of corruption in the enrolment of students at Zambia Enrolled Nurses schools countrywide.

Banda said the report had been sent to the Zambia Nursing Council and recommendations were yet to be discussed.
He said the commission participated in the prevention of enrolment of students at colleges of education countrywide and in the manner the recruitment of new teachers was done at the Ministry of Education.

"The programmes which are on going are the prevention exercise in the allocation of rooms to students at the University of Zambia in Lusaka, Passport Office, purchase of maize from farmers by the Food Reserve Agency and the fertilizer support programme among others," Banda said.

He said earlier reports on the above had left much to be desired.
The commission during the same period had various activities among them radio programmes, discussion fora, and youth festival and community education.

Labels: ACC, CORRUPTION, DEC, JOSEPH MULYATA, NIXON BANDA, RYAN CHITOBA

posted by MrK @ 3:25 AM