Maravi

Disclose names of people that attempted bribery over Zamtel, TIZ challenges Siliya

Disclose names of people that attempted bribery over Zamtel, TIZ challenges Siliya
Written by George Chellah
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 4:57:54 PM

TRANSPARENCY International-Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwell Lungu yesterday challenged communications minister Dora Siliya to disclose the names of people or institutions that attempted to bribe her in a bid to buy Zamtel.

And Lungu advised acting Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde not to gag people that are providing information on suspected cases of abuse of office under the pretext that they are leaking state secrets.

Commenting on communications and transport minister Dora Siliya's statement in Parliament last week, claiming that some people offered her money so that they could buy Zamtel, Lungu challenged Siliya to reveal the identity and report those that attempted to bribe her to the relevant authorities.

“The procedure is that if you see an act of corruption, you are supposed to report it immediately or within 24 hours to the law enforcement agencies. She (Siliya) told Parliament that there were people who attempted to bribe her. As TIZ we are saying let her report those people to the law enforcement agencies if what she is saying is true,” Lungu said.

“We are actually wondering why she has taken so long to report those people to the law enforcement agencies. She should have reported it at the time when those people attempted to bribe her.”

Lungu advised Siliya to learn from the current abuse of office and corruption cases before the courts of law.

“Our advice to the minister is that she must not entangle herself in so many things. She must take a leaf from other people who are being prosecuted today,” said Lungu said.

Delivering a ministerial statement on the engagement of RP Capital Partners and what tender procedures were followed to valuate Zamtel assets, Siliya told Parliament last week that RP Capital Partners of the United Kingdom was the only company that expressed interest in valuating the assets of Zamtel.

When asked by PF Kantashi member of parliament Yamfwa Mukanga on how many Zambian companies were approached to value Zamtel assets, Siliya said no other company approached the Ministry of Communications and Transport other than those that wanted to buy off government shares in the company.

"...Other companies wanted to get a licence for a fourth mobile service provider, and one of them is Mr Fred M'membe himself. The majority of the companies, except for one wanted to buy the shares outrightly, but we could not proceed with the sale before knowing the true value of the company's assets. Zamtel also owes ZTE Corporation a total of US$46 million for the equipment the company has been supplying to Zamtel. In fact, some individuals had even offered me money so that they could buy Zamtel but I refused," Siliya said.

She cautioned Parliament against dwelling on issues coming from the media, saying media stories that relied on leaked unauthenticated documents and half-truths were a danger to stability and national security.

"It is dangerous if the agenda of this House is provided for by the media. Government is a true believer in press freedom but we also believe that the media must be responsible and practice self-regulation. This self-regulation must take into account our peculiar culture and norms as Zambians and our social and economic development needs. In this regard, a responsible media can play an important role in uplifting the wellbeing of our people and reduce poverty," Siliya said.

"This government also believes in the fight against corruption and we are ready and committed to interact with all individuals and institutions, including the media, to rid our society of this scourge. Therefore, media stories that rely on leaked unauthenticated documents and half truths are a danger to stability and national security."

And on Kabonde's statement that police had opened investigations on the rampant leakages of state secrets by public officers, Lungu urged the government not to hide information on alleged criminality.

“Our position is that we want to strongly advise the government to distinguish between people suspecting abuse of office and others. If anyone is suspecting abuse of office, they have every right to pass on that document to the public. Those gallant civil servants who leak documents on alleged criminality are doing the right thing,” Lungu said.

“Of course, we are alive to the fact that there are certain state secrets that cannot be disclosed to the public; but not where they are suspecting abuse of office. Those people who suspect abuse of office and provide information should be protected. To us that is not leaking, it’s patriotism of the highest kind.”

Lungu advised Kabonde not to gag people that are providing information on suspected cases of abuse of office.

“If people will be gagged under the pretext that they are leaking documents, then we are not fighting corruption. If the late president Mwanawasa was alive today, he was going to overrule Kabonde on such a move. I’m sure as we are speaking, Mwanawasa's bones are moving in his grave because this is something he wouldn't have allowed to happen,” Lungu said.

Lungu further said expressing suspicions of abuse of office has no connection with national security.

“What public officials should do is simply explain the allegations. They are there because of the public,” he said.

During a press briefing, Kabonde said the police service had opened an inquiry file on the rampant leakage of state secrets because it was an offence for public officers to leak state secrets to members of the public.

Labels: DORA SILIYA, GOODWELL LUNGU, PRIVATISATION, TIZ, ZAMTEL

posted by MrK @ 4:58 PM