Maravi

Banda’s excitement over tribunal on Dora is very suspicious - Capt Moono

Banda’s excitement over tribunal on Dora is very suspicious - Capt Moono
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Monday, February 23, 2009 4:44:47 AM

FORMER Chilanga UPND member of parliament Captain Cosmas Moono has said the excitement by President Rupiah Banda following the move by the Acting Chief Justice to set up a tribunal is very suspicious.

Commenting on Acting Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima's decision to set up a tribunal to probe communications and transport minister Dora Siliya for alleged abuse of office, Capt Moono said President Banda should actually be sad and ashamed that his government in 100 days of being in office had come under heavy criticism in the way he handled the governance of the country.

"We expect President Banda to be devoting his efforts to stimulating the economy of Zambia just like his fellow counterparts are doing in their respective countries, but instead the highest score of corruption has been scored in his stay in office," he said.

Capt Moono said one shudders to think what would happen in his three-year tenure of office. He noted that President Banda was on record saying Siliya was smarter than the people criticising her. Capt Moono said Siliya's continued stay in office as minister actually rendered the tribunal's outcome obvious.

He said President Banda and his government through the Vice-President had all defended Siliya and certainly would continue doing so during the tribunal sitting as long as she remained minister.

"If President Banda is now remorseful about the act of the minister, he should immediately suspend her pending investigations. It will not do for President Banda to devise new methods of plundering our economy by denying that there is no corruption in the act of Dora," he said "In fact, President Banda should put his image on strengthening the kwacha which is falling at a fast speed making doing business in Zambia a nightmare."

Capt Moono said he was aware that Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor Dr Caleb Fundanga and Minister of Finance and National Planning Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane recently met the business community and present at the meeting were the millers who were said to the biggest buyers of foreign exchange.

"One wonders how do millers become major buyers of forex when the government is importing the maize through companies they appointed to bring in maize and other millers will buy this maize which is being imported at a subsidised price," he said

"How then are millers the biggest buyers of foreign exchange and I am sure the government knows which millers are buying forex in bulk. They should not end up with a public relations statement but sit down with the millers and ask them where they are taking the forex otherwise we will have no option but to speculate that the MMD government is involved in money laundering."

He said they wanted to bring the same foreign exchange bulk and resell it when the kwacha depreciates and make huge profits.

Capt Moono also challenged the government to explain how the millers were able to sell their maize to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) at higher prices and later purchase the same maize from the agency at a lower heavily subsidised price.

"We are tired of MMD's acts of corruption. During the third term, we were told the country was a Christian nation and there was a lot of praying and while praying whilst we closed our eyes, they plundered our economy through security wings hence the huge number of security personnel being prosecuted now," he said.

"All President Banda has done now is change the conduits of siphoning our resources. He shouldn't be excited with the power that accompanies State House because one day at the rate he is going he will be trotting to the magistrates’ courts and as an old man that may be detrimental to his health and he will not be able to stand trial."

He said the next government after President Banda's should be prepared to remove his immunity and investigate him with his ministers so that justice could prevail.

Capt Moono said he was aware that impeachment was impossible in a Parliament dominated by the MMD and rebel groups he collaborated with. He urged all Zambians to vote in 2011 based on issues and not material gains.

Capt Moono said Zambia needed an economic manager to make the country move forward because the economic crisis was the major challenge facing the country and the whole world.

"When you have people like President Banda who are already old, the first assignment is to go for a holiday and it is ourselves to blame if we continue in this vicious cycle," said Capt Moono.

Labels: COSMAS MOONO, DORA SILIYA, RUPIAH BANDA, ZAMTEL

posted by MrK @ 4:45 AM