Maravi

Harrington asks Rupiah to suspend Dora

Harrington asks Rupiah to suspend Dora
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Sunday, February 22, 2009 3:53:09 AM

FORMER communications and transport minister William Harrington has written to President Rupiah Banda asking him to suspend Dora Siliya from her official duties pending the outcome of the tribunal. In a letter dated February 21, 2009, Harrington asked President Banda to suspend communications and transport minister Siliya in the interest of the public.

Harrington stated that the suspension, in his view, was necessary and expedient to allow for a free, fair and transparent and unhindered investigative process by the tribunal.

"I have the honour to refer you, Your Excellency, to the above matter over which I am the complainant to the acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on allegations levelled against the Honourable Minister of Communications and Transport, Ms Dora Siliya MP pursuant to the provisions of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct 1994," he stated.

"However, Your Excellency, I am hereby requesting you to consider exercising your prerogative as provided in the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia to suspend, in public interest, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Transport from her official duties pending the outcome of the tribunal."

He stated that with Siliya in place at the ministry, it would not augur well for the thorough investigations to be conducted especially taking into consideration that some officials at the Ministry and outside may wish or may indeed be called upon to testify before the tribunal.

Harrington stated that such persons and witnesses might naturally feel inhibited to do so in the circumstances of her continued heading of the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

He also thanked President Banda for rendering support over the decision by the acting Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal to probe the allegations made against Siliya which he believed had been made not only in the national interest but in the interest of Siliya herself.

"Your Excellency's directive to the Treasury for you funding of the work of the tribunal is greatly appreciated and is indeed testimony of your personal commitment to fight corruption at all levels," stated Harrington.

Last Monday, Harrington petitioned the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal to investigate Siliya for allegedly breaching the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act.

In response, acting Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima stated: "I write to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 16th February, 2009. I have written to notify His Excellency the President and the Hon. Mr Speaker, of my intention to appoint a tribunal to probe allegations brought out in your letter of complaint. This will be done as soon as logistics are in place and the members selected."

And on Friday, President Banda welcomed the setting up of a tribunal by the acting Chief Justice and instructed the Secretary to the Treasury to make financial provisions for the tribunal's operations.

Harrington petitioned for the setting up of a tribunal over Siliya's engagement of RP Capital Partners of Cayman Island to value Zamtel at a contract sum of US$2 million [about K10.3 billion] with total disregard of advice from the Attorney General's office and her overruling of Zambia National Tender Board and cancelling a duly awarded contract for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of a Zambia Air Traffic Management Surveillance Radar System (ZATM-RADAR) at Lusaka and Livingstone international airports.

And ten civil society organisations also presented a petition to the acting Chief Justice over the above charges as well as Siliya's alleged claim of a K12.5 million refund from Petauke District Council Committee for two hand pumps for two boreholes in one of the wards called Nyika, when in fact the hand pumps were procured at K5 million.

Labels: DORA SILIYA, WILLIAM HARRINGTON

posted by MrK @ 3:53 AM