Maravi

Chiefs saved Dr Mambwe from being fired for testifying in tribunal – Sondashi

Chiefs saved Dr Mambwe from being fired for testifying in tribunal – Sondashi
Written by Patson Chilemba
Friday, May 01, 2009 2:44:39 PM

FORMER works and supply minister Ludwig Sondashi has disclosed that chiefs in Solwezi recently told President Rupiah Banda not to fire North Western Province permanent secretary Dr Eustern Mambwe for testifying in the judge Dennis Chirwa-chaired tribunal.

In an interview, Sondashi said MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba recently organised his ‘relatives’ to protest against Dr Mambwe for testifying in the tribunal that was set up to probe former communications and transport minister Dora Siliya.

However, Sondashi said chiefs in the province prevailed by asking President Banda not to listen to Tetamashimba.

He said the chiefs told President Banda that Tetamashimba was not a trustworthy person and that people would leave MMD in North Western Province if he continued to listen to the local government minister.

"The chiefs in Solwezi prevailed over Rupiah Banda. He delayed the opening of Lumwana Copper Mines for about two hours because he was locked up in a meeting with the chiefs that he should assure them that Mambwe will not be removed because of pressure from Tetamashimba, and Banda had to give in and assured them that he would not fire Mambwe," Sondashi said. "They told him that he should not be listening to Tetamashimba because Tetamashimba is not a reliable person here [Solwezi]."

Sondashi said Tetamashimba left North Western Province a disgraced person because chiefs prevailed over his weird attempts against Dr Mambwe.

He said it was sad that people were being victimised for speaking the truth under President Banda's government. Sondashi said the Zambian people expected President Banda and those surrounding him to uphold honesty and truth and not the mediocrity that they were currently displaying.

Dr Mambwe, the former communications and transport ministry permanent secretary, testified in the tribunal which later established that Siliya breached Article 54 sub Article 3 of the Constitution when she engaged RP Capital Partners Limited of Cayman Islands to valuate the assets of Zamtel before partial privatisation without following the legal advice from the Attorney General.

President Banda recently fired Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) director general David Kapitolo for testifying in the tribunal. Following Siliya's resignation from her ministerial position, President Banda announced that he would soon re-organise the Attorney General's office because the tribunal had established as a matter fact that the former communications minister was misled.

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, CHIEFS, EUSTERN MAMBWE, LUDWIG SONDASHI, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 1:45 PM