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Corruption, abuse of authority of office won’t be tolerated – LAZ

Corruption, abuse of authority of office won’t be tolerated – LAZ
Written by Maluba Jere
Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:52:57 AM

CORRUPTION and abuse of authority of office will not be tolerated, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Elijah Banda has warned.

Commenting on former lands minister Reverend Gladys Nyirongo's four-year jail sentence, Banda yesterday said the law had run its course and those found guilty would be punished. He said the sentence slapped on Rev Nyirongo was a well-known sentencing principal of deterrent to would be offenders and advised public officers to desist from acts of corruption.

“Those are signals that corruption and abuse of authority of office will not be tolerated and those found wanting will be punished,” he said.

Banda also said such sentences were expected given the seniority of the accused person.

Lusaka principal resident magistrate Sharon Kaunda Newa on Friday sentenced Rev Nyirongo to four years simple imprisonment after finding her guilty on two counts of abuse of authority of office.

This was in case where Rev Nyirongo stood charged with two counts of abuse of authority of office contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that Rev Nyirongo, on a date unknown but between January 12, 2006 and February 22, 2007 in Lusaka being a person employed in the public service as minister of lands, directed Daisy Mulenga M'soka, a lands officer at the ministry of lands to generate offer letters of land in Foxdale area.

The letters of offer were given to Walinase Nyirongo, Janet Isaac Nyirongo, Peter Kapolya, Peter Ngulube, Precious Ndhlovu, Doris Mulenga, Mubanga Muyunji, Mickey Mukubu, Mwelwa Kamfwa, Bruce Chipasha and Dingwall Hayden in contravention of land alienation procedures, an act prejudicial to the interests of the government of the Republic of Zambia.

On the second count, Rev Nyirongo on unknown dates but between October 2006 and April 24, 2007 in Lusaka abused her position by directing Christopher Chewe, a junior technical officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, to subdivide Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Farm F/309a in property No.L/19634/M for her and that she obtained property for herself.

The court found Rev Nyirongo guilty and sentenced her to 24 months on the first count while on the second count she was sentenced to 48 months.

Magistrate Newa said the sentences would run concurrently meaning Rev Nyirongo will be jailed for four years.

Labels: CORRUPTION, COURTS, ELIJAH BANDA, GLADYS NYIRONGO, LAZ

posted by MrK @ 7:52 AM