Maravi

Sondashi challenges Rupiah to act on GMO and RP scams

Sondashi challenges Rupiah to act on GMO and RP scams
Written by George Chellah
Thursday, May 28, 2009 4:36:19 PM

LUSAKA lawyer Dr Ludwig Sondashi has challenged President Rupiah Banda to equally act on deals involving his children such as the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) maize and RP Capital Partners deals where his sons have been mentioned.

And Dr Sondashi said the nation could not be hoodwinked by President Banda's recent zeal to fight corruption because it knows that he is not against corruption. In an interview, Sondashi said President Banda's current stance on the crusade against corruption was not sincere.

"The perceived U-turning of President Banda to start fighting corruption is not genuine. If he was for the crusade he should have started this immediately he assumed office as republican President. So it's too late for him to start this now," he said.

Sondashi, who is also former works and supply minister, said President Banda was zealous about the K10 billion scam in the Ministry of Health (MoH) because none of his children and relatives is involved.

"What is happening in the Ministry of Health...because no one connected to him is involved that's why he is fuming. When his children and relatives are involved its not possible that he can stand up," Sondashi said.

"But the nation knows that President Banda is not against corruption and therefore the nation cannot be hoodwinked to believe in whatever is happening now."

He challenged President Banda to equally act on scams where his children have been mentioned.

"He should act in deals where his children and relatives have been mentioned as well. His children where mentioned on the GMO maize deal and this Dora Siliya thing (RP Capital Partners deal)," Sondashi said.

"He should act on that as well. His children were mentioned that they were involved. Those are the deals I was referring to. If he is against corruption he should be friends with The Post and stop the MMD youths who are harassing Post reporters."

Recently, President Banda said all civil servants and their agents who are currently under investigations in the K10 billion scam should not enter the Ministry of Health (MoH) premises until further notice.

According to a statement issued by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere, President Banda yesterday received an interim report on the alleged financial scam at the Ministry of Health where billions of funds were alleged to have been misapplied or stolen by civil servants.

President Banda directed that all civil servants and their agents mentioned in the K10 billion [US$2 million] scam - who were currently being investigated should not enter the Ministry of Health premises to protect and secure evidence.

He said the decision was also aimed at preventing any interference with the ongoing investigations.

President Banda said the interim report indicated that the amounts involved in the scam could be higher than what was initially reported going by the number of people and companies implicated in the scam.

However, President Banda said he would wait for the final report from the Auditor General who was currently conducting a forensic audit at the Ministry of Health.

Labels: CORRUPTION, GMO, LUDWIG SONDASHI, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:39 PM