Maravi

Sondashi challenges Rupiah to act on deals involving his sons

Sondashi challenges Rupiah to act on deals involving his sons
Written by George Chellah
Saturday, May 30, 2009 3:52:19 PM

LUSAKA lawyer Ludwig Sondashi has challenged President Rupiah Banda to act on deals such as the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) maize and RP Capital Partners where his sons have been mentioned. And Sondashi said the nation cannot be hoodwinked by President Banda's recent zeal to fight corruption because people know 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 start this now," he said.

Sondashi, who is 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 were 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, it's 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 had been mentioned.

"His children were 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."

President Banda's children, Henry and James, were linked to the RP Capital Partners deal, a company engaged to valuate Zamtel assets as well as the importation of GMO maize by one of the companies contracted by Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to supply the commodity.

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 premises until further notice.

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

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: LUDWIG SONDASHI, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:55 PM