Saturday, February 21, 2009

TIZ calls for Dora to step aside

TIZ calls for Dora to step aside
Written by George Chellah
Saturday, February 21, 2009 6:55:04 AM

TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) yesterday demanded that communications and transport minister Dora Siliya step aside so that she does not interfere with potential tribunal witnesses. And President Rupiah Banda has welcomed the setting up of a tribunal by Acting Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima to probe the allegations levelled against Siliya.

Commenting on President Banda's decision to welcome the setting up of the tribunal to probe Siliya, TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu stressed the need for Siliya to be relieved of her ministerial duties to pave way for the tribunal.

"The best is for her [Siliya] to step aside, even to go on leave, so that there is no interference with witnesses in this matter and also maybe the President must suspend her or something just to facilitate for the tribunal to be smooth running," Lungu said.

"It's actually good that the President has accepted the setting up of the tribunal. We are appealing to Honourable Siliya that we don't hate her, we actually like her so much. What we want is for her to use this process to clear her name if she knows that she is innocent."

Lungu advised President Banda to emulate the late president Levy Mwanawasa when dealing with matters of suspected abuse of office and corruption.

"The President has to be firm when such allegations are raised. When serious allegations are raised, he has to take appropriate action just like his predecessor Mwanawasa used to do because he [Mwanawasa] never used to take such allegations lightly," Lungu said.

And according to a statement issued yesterday by State House chief analyst for press and public relations Dickson Jere, President Banda had welcomed the setting up of a tribunal by Justice Mambilima to probe the allegations levelled against Siliya.

President Banda said it was his hope that all those involved in the ongoing debate would allow the tribunal established under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Code of Conduct to conduct its work in a professional manner.

President Banda has since written to the Acting Chief Justice Mambilima informing her that he has instructed the Secretary to the Treasury to make financial provisions for the tribunal's operations.

"I wish to say that I am happy that the tribunal has been constituted and I am confident that justice will prevail," President Banda stated in his letter to Justice Mambilima.

He appealed to all Zambians to refrain from making comments which could be prejudicial on the matter as it was now before a competent tribunal.

President Banda said the nation should wait for the final verdict of the tribunal after conducting its proceedings.

Last 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 Act.

Harrington submitted the complaint in a letter dated February 16, 2009 to Acting Chief Justice Mambilima on the alleged breach of Part II of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act, Cap 16 of the Laws of Zambia by Siliya.

"The particulars of the alleged breaches are as hereunder: That the Honourable Minister of Transport and Communications against professional advice of the learned Attorney General did award a contract in the sum of US $2,000,000 to RP Capital Partners of Cayman Islands to value the Zamtel assets without due regard and/or compliance with the provisions of the Zambia National Tender Board Act, Cap 394 of the Laws of Zambia," read Harrington's letter in part.

"That the Honourable Minister of Transport and Communications did arbitrarily cancel a duly awarded contract by the Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB) for the supply, delivery and installation of a Zambia Air Traffic Management Surveillance Radar System at Lusaka and Livingstone in favour of SELEX Sistemi Integrati Company from Italy. The ZNTB had awarded the contract to Thales Air Systems of South Africa as the successful bidder."

And on Wednesday, 10 civil society organisations also presented a petition before Justice Mambilima over abuse of authority of office allegations involving Siliya.

Addressing the press shortly after presenting the petition, FODEP president Elijah Rubvuta said civil society organisations had presented their petition over Siliya's engagement of RP Capital Partners of Cayman Island to value Zamtel; the 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 her 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.

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posted by MrK @ 6:55 AM