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Zambians justified to call for probe of Rupiah’s collapsed bank – Shamenda

Zambians justified to call for probe of Rupiah’s collapsed bank – Shamenda
Written by Patson Chilemba
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 8:35:32 PM

FORMER ZCTU president Fackson Shamenda yesterday said Zambians are justified to call for investigations to establish why African Commercial Bank (ACB) which was under the directorship of President Rupiah Banda collapsed with many people's money.

Commenting on Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata's complaint for police, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to institute investigations to establish why ACB collapsed, Shamenda said President Banda could not ask for accountability from others without asking for accountability on himself.

"This is what happens when you start pointing fingers. It's because of the way he has handled the Zambian Airways issue. That's what has caused people to say what they are saying. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. So he has asked for it. All those in public life, people are correct to ask for it [investigations over ACB]," Shamenda said.

"You can't ask for accountability when you haven't asked for accountability on yourself. So this is to generally say we have allowed certain people to be in sensitive positions when they have dubious backgrounds."

Shamenda advised Zambians to demand investigations to establish what led to the collapse of Meridian Bank, Zambia Airways, Aero Zambia and many other companies as they demand investigations into ACB.

On Monday, acting police Inspector General Francis Kabonde said police could not institute investigations on ACB because Sata had not complained formally.

He said Sata was a seasoned police officer who should know what to do.

"If he comes in person, I will record a statement personally and I will let him sign," Kabonde said.

Last Thursday, Sata challenged President Banda to explain why ACB collapsed under his directorship and ownership with people's money.

President Banda is said to have used his position as ACB director to overdraw his account with the bank by huge amounts. This prompted the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) to question ACB on the type of banking they were practicing for allowing President Banda to overdraw his account in the manner he did.

It is also said part of the reasons as to why ACB went under was inside borrowing or inside trading.

On President Banda's handling of investigations into Zambian Airways, Shamenda said he was surprised at the manner President Banda came out on the issue when he addressed MMD cadres last Thursday at State House.

"Let's not be vindictive, let's discuss issues rather than individuals. It's unfortunate that President Banda came out the way he did. When investigating, you don't first look at the directors. But where you begin condemning individuals before you even start investigations is very unfortunate," he said.

On Vice-President George Kunda's statement that government would decide whether to retain Task Force on Corruption prosecutor Mutembo Nchito following a petition from Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) and New Generation Party (NGP) that he be relieved of his duties, Shamenda said what Nchito is alleged to have done on Zambian Airways should not be connected to the work he was handling on the Task Force.

"If they are investigating certain persons who are close to the President, are you going to ask the President to step down because those people sitting on the tribunal are appointed by the President?" Shamenda asked. "We need a clear system so that we can have a just society."

Speaking when he received a petition from FLS and the NGP who are calling for Nchito to be relieved of his duties following the commencement of the investigations into the operations of Zambian Airways, Vice-President Kunda said the criminal allegations against Nchito were public knowledge and serious.

Labels: ACB, FACKSON SHAMENDA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 8:36 PM