Maravi

Rupiah has inherited greediness, says Sata

Rupiah has inherited greediness, says Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba
Monday, February 23, 2009 4:53:48 AM

RUPIAH Banda has inherited Frederick Chiluba's greediness of persecuting political opponents, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata charged yesterday.

Sata observed that President Banda had managed to inherit all of former president Chiluba elements of greed such as condoning corruption and persecuting political opponents.

Sata said he believed that Chiluba was highly involved in President Banda's desperate activities aimed at crippling The Post.

"What I'm saying is that Rupiah Banda, when it comes to persecutions and other things, he's picking them from UNIP and Chiluba as a person, not Chiluba as MMD. He has taken up all the greedy things of Chiluba," Sata said.

"I told you during the campaign that Frederick and Rupiah Banda believe in shortcuts. So if they do so, they will work together."

However, Sata said President Banda's efforts against The Post would be fruitless because the truth could not be silenced.

According to intelligence sources, the government planned to arrest Post editor Fred M’membe and Zambian Airways chief executive officer Mutembo Nchito last weekend over the airline's debt with National Airports Corporation (NAC). The sources said the planned arrest of M'membe was aimed at weakening The Post while Nchito's arrest would enable President Banda to derail the prosecution of Chiluba.

But information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha last Friday said Zambian Airways was being investigated as a follow-up to observations made by members of parliament concerning its financial relationship with the National Airports Corporation (NAC).

Zambian Airways suspended operations due to high operational costs caused by the rise of fuel prices.

And Sata said communications and transport minister Dora Siliya should be suspended to stop her from interfering with investigations by the tribunal that would be set up.

Sata said any normal public officer would step aside when investigations were instituted against them.

Last week on Monday, former communications and transport minister William Harrington petitioned the Chief Justice to appoint a tribunal to investigate Siliya for allegedly breaching the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct.

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 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 last 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] in total disregard of the Attorney General's legal advice and her overruling of Zambia National Tender Board by 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 influential and objective 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: CORRUPTION, FRED M'MEMBE, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA, ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS

posted by MrK @ 4:53 AM