Maravi

Govt sends 3 DEC officers on forced leave

Govt sends 3 DEC officers on forced leave
By Mutuna Chanda and Noel Sichalwe
Wednesday December 05, 2007 [03:01]

Government has sent three senior Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) officers on forced leave as part of the clean up exercise at the institution. This follows the arrest of DEC commissioner Ryan Chitoba, deputy commissioner Jacob Koyi and his assistant Charles Ndulumina for theft of public funds totalling over K344.8 million. The trio is due to appear in court soon.

Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja yesterday confirmed that DEC deputy commissioner in charge of operations Lottie Mpundu, principal state advocate Lufwendo Saboi and senior investigations officer Patson Chiwala had been sent on forced leave.

"The letters clearly explain why they have been sent on forced leave," Kanganja said. "I have explained to them, but I can't give you the details. The new acting DEC commissioner (Peter Chingaipe) will call them as soon as he settles."

Sources disclosed that Kanganja sent the trio on forced leave on November 30, 2007. The sources said Kanganja informed the trio that following the appointment of Chingaipe, they should go on leave to enable him adapt with the working environment at the institution.

However, some employees expressed disappointment with the decision to send the senior officers on forced leave. The sources said the three senior commissioners had worked well with Inspector General of Police Ephraim Mateyo who was overseeing the operations at DEC before the appointment of Chingaipe.

The sources said Mateyo had started to restore sanity at DEC by freezing the transfers that were targeted at suspected whistle blowers when Chitoba and Koyi were being investigated.

"The mood is very bad because some employees whose transfers were frozen fear that they would be sent away from Lusaka," the sources said.

Labels: CORRUPTION, DEC

posted by MrK @ 5:49 AM