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I’m ready for Teta and his clique – Masebo

I’m ready for Teta and his clique – Masebo
Written by Patson Chilemba and George Chellah
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:12:41 PM

Benny Tetamashimba is grossly incompetent and has gone on a path of self-destruction, former local government and housing minister Sylvia Masebo charged yesterday.

Addressing the press at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka following her clearance by President Rupiah Banda to explain what she knew on the purchase of 100 hearses by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Masebo said it was gross incompetence for Tetamashimba to continuously claim ignorance of the procurement of the 100 hearses and to begin challenging her to explain to the public how payments on this particular transaction were made.

"This can be proved from the various correspondences which have been hereby attached," Masebo said. "There is enough evidence in the ministry which could have helped him as minister to explain this issue of the 100 hearses to the public and to His Excellency The President without him demanding that it should be me as former minister to explain.

It is sheer hypocrisy, hatred, vindictiveness, compounded with ignorance and mediocrity on the part of the Minister of Local Government and Housing Hon Benny Tetamashimba to mislead His Excellency The President and the public that he had no information on the procurement of the 100 hearses as can further still be proved by his letter of response to his Permanent Secretary Mr Coillard C Chibbonta dated 18th June 2009 [which is here attached]."

Masebo said she did her best during her tenure while Tetamashimba has not done anything new to inspire public confidence in the ministry.

"So far nothing new has been done under his leadership to inspire any confidence in the public," Masebo said. "All we see are dirty towns with this minister busy politicking. I am afraid we shall have nothing to show to the public in 2011 if this minister continues on this path of self-destruction...I am aware of all the manoeuvres aimed at discrediting the late Mwanawasa's administration and certain ministers. Unfortunately, this is being championed by the very individuals including Hon Tetamashimba who were among those praise singers of the late president and the former first lady. This is the same person who was pushing for the former first lady to stand, claiming she was the only intelligent Zambian woman fit to be president.

Today, the same man is the first one to shower scorn and malign her. He has switched positions and is now insinuating that this same intelligent presidential material has suddenly become corrupt and the public are still waiting for him to unleash the mother of corruption as promised in a document being circulated on the Internet. How cheap! Or was he referring to me in his allegations as the mother of all corruption? What type of a person is this? Anyway, the people of Zambia are all anxiously waiting for him to expose the mother of all corruption.

"Today my name is constantly being maligned with all sorts of issues bordering on corruption. Let me advise Hon. Tetamashimba that since he once told us in Parliament that he is untouchable as he is too close to the President and has become too powerful, let him use that power to find anything on me, report me to the Anti Corruption Commission or Police, get me prosecuted and arrested. I am ready for him and his clique. Let him abuse his power now while the sun shines but one day soon his day will come. He has been hurting many people since becoming minister. Power has gone to his head. He thinks he owns the party, the government and the President.

“He has been peddling too many lies and hurting many people. I have been quiet for a long time not because I cannot talk but I wanted peace. But since he decided to provoke me, he is now free to use his position as minister and I am waiting anxiously."

Masebo advised Tetamashimba to allow Mwanawasa to rest in peace.

"At least for some of us we are here to face the accusations and can respond," Masebo said.

Masebo said Tetamashimba was not normal going by his many press statements in the recent past accusing her of so many things. She said she did her best and did not deserve the kind of treatment she is getting from Tetamashimba.

“There is no way I could be compared to him. In fact, I feel if anybody compared me to him, that's an insult,” Masebo said.

Masebo wondered why Tetamashimba wasted time asking her to explain on the transactions during her tenure when reporting the matter to the relevant institutions like ACC was the correct thing to do. She said she was the one who in fact asked Tetamashimba to report her to ACC if he suspected any irregularity on her part.

“I don't think that man is normal. I am sure something is wrong in his head,” Masebo said.

She said a grown-up man administering an important ministry like local government would not handle matters in the manner Tetamashimba was handling them. Masebo said Zambia had become a laughing stock by having ministers of Tetamashimba's calibre.

“He has been making statements without thinking. His thought process is so jumbled that he doesn't know what he is talking about. What a circus!” Masebo said.

Masebo said she was waiting to be summoned by the ACC, saying her public statement would assist them in their investigation.

Asked who should be probed following her revelations during the press conference, Masebo said it would be good to investigate the matter, saying people like former permanent secretary Joe Ngo were seasoned civil servants who knew their job.

Masebo said it was surprising that Tetamashimba did not know the whereabouts of the hearses.

“How do you pay K14 billion and you don't know where they are?” she asked.

Masebo said she was in charge of policy direction when she served as minister but had nothing to do with implementation.

“Tetamashimba can say anything…nobody questions him because he is the de-facto vice-president. But we are watching, our time will come, it can take three, 10 years, but it will come,” said Masebo.

Masebo's response was prompted by Tetamashimba's challenge for her to explain to the public some transactions that took place in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing during her tenure, including the purchase of 100 hearses. Tetamashimba has since reported Masebo to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), saying he suspects corruption in the acquisition of the hearses.

Masebo yesterday responded in detail and provided documentary evidence in defending herself to all allegations from Tetamashimba. She copied this response to President Banda....

In his letter dated May 31, 2009 to Masebo and copied to Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Post editor Fred M'membe and his permanent secretary Coillard Chibbonta, Tetamashimba stated that Masebo bought 150 vehicles for the Keep Zambia Clean campaign, hearses and unfit speedboats without involving him as her deputy then.

"RE: Hearses, Speedboats, Keep Zambia clean vehicles and plot at Lusaka Girls.

There is no doubt that when you decided to buy the above-named, I did not know as it was all between you, your permanent secretary Mr. Joe Ngo, director Z. Zulu and head of procurement. I was never part to any but as current minister, all falls under me," Tetamashimba stated.

He stated that 150 vehicles were bought from Top Motors without his knowledge as deputy minister and only saw the vehicles for the first [time] when they were being handed over to Masebo.

"I have never seen any one of Top Motors managers ever since, nor do I have their cell numbers. I do not even know where their offices are," Tetamashimba stated. "Lusaka Girls: Honourable Masebo, you brought this issue in the Parliamentary committee when my permanent secretary appeared before the committee and implied that there was corruption in the way the investor got the plot."

Tetamashimba further stated that it was a well-known fact that the original file after the approval by previous minister of local government and housing, Andrew Mulenga, which Masebo requested was misplaced or hidden by her and the Lusaka City Council (LCC) was made to produce duplicate copies.

"I know that you personally, against advice of the staff wrote Lusaka City Council to tell the investor to stop building, but the investor's lawyers, namely Mr. Sunday Nkonde and Dr [Patrick] Matibini SC challenged the town clerk on reasons for stopping their client to build and both Lusaka City Council and you feared to be taken to court and the investor continued to build." Tetamashimba stated. "I challenge you to bring evidence that I have ever met Mr Sunday Nkonde, Dr Matibini SC or the investor on the development issue as implied by the 30th May, 2009 Post newspapers. I also challenge Dr Matibini SC, Mr Sunday Nkonde or the investor if I have ever been bribed by any one of them and if not, to take legal action against those accusing them [that] they bribed me."

Tetamashimba accused Masebo of buying speedboats that were not fit for the Zambian waters.

"You personally with your staff without involving me as your deputy minister decided to order speed boats and when you were still minister, you are aware that the Siavonga speed boat sunk and the report on file is that you and your director ordered boats not fit for our waters. What did you do to alert people who were to be using these boats?" Tetamashimba asked. "If one will sink and kill people like what happened in Siavonga, the people will be on my neck."

Tetamashimba stated that Masebo confessed to Vice-President George Kunda that she was the architect of the project to buy hearses.

"You never involved me in your decision to purchase the hearses. Even the tender procedures as per records at this ministry were only privy to you and not to me," Tetamashimba stated. "When The Post ran the story, you went to confess to His Honour the Vice-President that you were the architect of the hearses. On 23rd May, 2009, when you returned my call, you explained what transpired and we agreed that since I had no idea on how you decided with the directors, you brief the press to explain the issue before Thursday 21st May, 2009 but you failed to brief the press or even explain to The Post through their managing editor, Amos Malupenga."

Tetamashimba further stated that Zambians were suspecting that there was corruption in the purchase of hearses, hence Masebo could not continue hiding in a hole.

"I challenge you to tell the nation. As minister, I am responsible for all good things but for suspected corrupt or plunder, I am not supposed to swallow that. The Zambian people are suspecting that there is something fishy and you cannot stay hiding in a hole but to tell what you know," stated Tetamashimba. "The whole documentation and process was done by you and inform The Post the truth so that they do not speculate. Payment procedure was agreed by you and director Z Zulu and I was never part of the deal."

Below is Masebo's edited response to all the allegations.

PURCHASE OF 100 HEARSES

Masebo explained that she chaired a management meeting between 27th and 30th May, 2008 which had in attendance her two deputy ministers namely, Dr E Kazonga who is now defence deputy minister and Tetamashimba who is now the current Minister of Local Government and Housing. The then permanent secretary Joel Ngo, who has since been replaced by Chibbonta, was also present with directors and other senior officers.

"At the said management meetings, a number of decisions were made in order to help strengthen the operations of councils," Masebo explained. "These decisions were meant to enable councils deliver quality and efficient services, so as to raise the standard of living of the people, in line with the ministry's mission statement. Some of the critical decisions taken were as follows;

(i) Procurement of 30 x tractors with trailers/tippers for garbage removal.

(ii) 150 x Utility vehicles for health, building and planning inspections.

(iii) Equipment for road maintenance and constructions.

(iv) 16 x Multi purpose aluminium boats for passenger transport, water patrols and fishing.

(v) 100 x Hearses to carry the dead since Councils were responsible for the establishment and maintenance of cemeteries including burials.

(vi) Installation of street lights in various towns including the Lusaka International Airport to Kabwe Round About.

(vii) Construction of public toilets in all Districts.

(viii) Construction and maintenance of play parks for the children.

(ix) Establishment of District Fire Authorities and purchase of fire tenders.

(x) Construction of urban and rural markets.

(xi) Improvement of urban and peri-urban water supply through formation of water utility companies.

(xii) Drilling of boreholes in rural areas which saw the launch of the rural water supply and sanitation programme which is still under implementation.

(xiii) Drafting of the urban and peri-urban water and sanitation programme.

(xiv) The review and harmonisation of the planning legislation to stop the mushrooming of illegal settlements including upgrading of slums.

(xv) Improving collaboration with other sectors in ensuring a healthy, clean and green environment.

THE IMPLEMENTATION

Once the decisions had been taken by the ministry, the Permanent Secretary Mr Ngo as chief executive with the help of his staff began the process of implementation. In this case the implementation on the decision to buy hearses was started on 2nd of June 2008 (see attached internal memo marked as Appendix 1).

Please note that at the implementation stage, ministers ordinarily do not get involved as issues are technical and administrative, except getting reports on progress.

On 17th June 2008, in accordance with government procurement procedures, Mr Ngo sought authority from the Plant and Equipment Committee under Cabinet Office to enable the ministry purchase the 100 hearses (see attached Appendix 2).

The authority was granted by Cabinet Office (see attached Appendix 3)

On 15th July 2008, the Permanent Secretary wrote to the Director General of the Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB), requesting them to float the tender for the purchase of the 100 hearses as their total value was above the ministry's financial limit. This is in accordance with ZNTB procedures. What this meant is that the ministry ... could not be allowed by law to find a supplier for the supply of the 100 hearses. Only ZNTB is allowed to find a supplier for such a big order (see attached Appendix 4)

On 24th September 2008, ZNTB wrote back to the ministry through the Permanent Secretary (see attached Appendix 5) informing him that, they had floated a public tender in the press as per procedure and that at the close of the tender on 19th September 2008, bids from four companies had been received. These were as follows;

1. CFAO Zambia Ltd - Minimum Bid: US $3,285,100.00

2. Toyota Zambia Ltd -Minimum Bid: US $4,702,200.00

3. Southern Cross Motors Ltd - Minimum Bid: US $3,412,000.00

4. Top Motors Ltd - Minimum Bid: US $2,920,000.00

As per procedure, ZNTB requested the ministry to evaluate the bids and make a recommendation for their consideration.

On 7th October 2008, Mr Ngo responded to ZNTB's request to evaluate the bids and made recommendations for ZNTB to consider. (See attached Appendix 6).

Please note that by October 2008, President Mwanawasa had already died and was buried on 3rd September 2008, and we were in the midst of Presidential by-elections while I was still minister ... and Hon Tetamashimba was still my deputy minister and President Banda was the Acting President.

On 22nd October 2008, the Acting President directed that I travel to Chipata and Chadiza districts in ... to resolve the problems of water shortages. Thereafter, I travelled to Livingstone on 25th October 2008, to launch the handover of some of the purchased boats that the ministry had received for the selected district councils. At this handover launch, I made a public statement in which I informed the public that government has also decided to procure other equipments to help councils perform their functions and that these included tractors, utility vehicles and hearses. (See The Post article dated 26th October 2008)

I am making this point to emphasize the point that my deputy minister ...Tetamashimba was aware that government through the ministry ... was going to procure various equipment including hearses.

On 30th October 2008, elections were held and Mr Banda was elected as President of ...Zambia. Within a period of two weeks after his election, President Banda at his first press conference announced his new cabinet and I was dropped as minister...

I was replaced with ...Hon. Tetamashimba. In effect, I was by November 2008 no longer the Minister for Local Government and Housing.
On 18th December 2008, with Hon Tetamashimba as...local government minister, ZNTB wrote to Mr Ngo who was still permanent secretary informing him that authority was being granted for the ministry to award the contract for the supply and delivery of the 100 hearses to Top Motors Limited at the total cost of US $2,920,000.00 and that they could now go ahead to sign the contract. (See letter attached Appendix 7).
On 22nd December 2008, the Head of Procurement & Supplies Unit a Mrs S. S. Mukuyungwa wrote to the General Manager of Top Motors Zambia Limited informing them that they had won the tender bid to supply the 100 hearses at US $2,920,000.00 and that they should confirm if they still wished to supply. (See attached letter Appendix 8)
On the same date, 22nd December 2008, Top Motors Zambia Limited responded by accepting the offer to supply the 100 hearses at cost of US $2,920,000.00 (See attached letter Appendix 9)
On 24th December 2008, the ministry ...through Mr Ngo and Director of Local Government & Housing Ms Z. Zulu and the supplier namely Top Motors Zambia Limited signed the contract for the supply and delivery of 100 hearses to the Zambian government. The contract was signed on 24th December, 2008 when Hon. Tetamashimba was Minister of Local Government & Housing. (See attached cover of contract documents Appendix 10)
Payments in favour of the 100 hearses were to be made in accordance with the conditions agreed upon in the contract... I could not therefore be privy to the mode of payments as I was no longer minister. However, the ministry... on 29th December 2008 paid the first 40 per cent down payment of K5,958,800,000.00 (Five Billion Nine Hundred & Fifty-eight Million Eight Hundred Thousand Kwacha only) to Top Motors Zambia Limited. (See attached payment voucher Appendix 11).
On 7th January 2009 the ministry... paid the second final payment of K8,935,200,000. This was based on bank guarantee from Top Motors (See attached appendix 11).
On 14th May 2009, Top Motors Zambia Limited informed the ministry that the hearses had started arriving in Lusaka, Zambia. (See attached letter Appendix 12)
On 21st May, 2009, the ministry... wrote a letter to Top Motors acknowledging receipt of the letter from Top Motors Zambia Limited on the arrival of part of the 100 hearses and inquired on the time frame when all the remaining hearses would be in the country. (See letter attached Appendix 13)
On 31st May 2009, the minister... Hon. Tetamashimba wrote a letter to... me challenging me to explain to the public the transactions that were implemented during my tenure as minister... including the purchase of the 100 hearses. (see attached letter Appendix 14)
On 2nd June 2008, I refused to comment on past government transactions but however indicated that I had through the Office of the Vice-President Hon G. Kunda asked for Presidential clearance in accordance with the procedures in the Cabinet Handbook. Hon Tetamashimba, however, continued to insist that I should explain the purchase of hearses and other projects.
On the 24th June 2009, ...President Banda addressed his second press conference at which he announced that he had cleared me to speak on the transactions and that he too was anxious to learn what had transpired as he was not in any way involved in this transaction of the purchase of 100 hearses.
After that clearance...I went to the ministry ...on 25th June 2009, and was availed some documents and files by the minister, permanent secretary and directors to help me explain to the public on the various transactions including the purchase of the 100 hearses. (see letter attached Appendix 15)
Today 29th June 2009, I thank God that I am able to honestly and fully respond to this challenge to explain the details with supporting documentation on the purchase of the 100 hearses by government through the Ministry of Local Government & Housing. It is now left for the public to judge.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, my submissions are that Hon Tetamashimba as former deputy minister and current Cabinet minister of Local Government & Housing ought to have known that;
(a) His ministry had decided to order various equipment including the 100 hearses for use by the councils,
(b) His ministry had in fact signed a contract for the supply of the 100 hearses whilst he was the responsible Cabinet minister,
(c) His ministry made the first 40 per cent down payment on 29th December 2008 whilst he was Cabinet minister, and I was no longer minister.
(d) The second and last 60 per cent full payment was made on 7th January 2009 whilst he was fully in charge as minister,
(e) The partial delivery of the said 100 hearses is happening whilst he is still fully in charge as Cabinet minister.
Therefore, it is gross incompetence on his part to continuously claim ignorance of the procurement of the 100 hearses and to begin challenging me ... to explain to the Public how payments on this particular transaction were made. This can be proved from the various correspondences, which have been hereby attached. There is enough evidence in the ministry which could have helped him as minister to explain this issue of the 100 hearses to the public and to... the President without him demanding that it should be me... to explain. (see letter attached Appendix 16). This letter is self-explanatory.

It is sheer hypocrisy, hatred, vindictiveness, compounded with ignorance and mediocrity on the part of ... Hon Tetamashimba to mislead ...the President and the public that he had no information on the procurement of the 100 hearses as can further still be proved by his letter of response to his permanent secretary Mr Coillard Chibbonta dated 18th June 2009. (See letter attached appendix 17)

In this letter, Tetamashimba stated in part: "I received your letter dated 1 June, 2009 in which you conclude that there was nothing wrong in the purchase and I want to differ with you. I would have been happier to discuss than writing and therefore attracting my response...On 5th January, 2009, Top Motors General manager wrote to acting permanent secretary informing her that they had secured the 60 per cent bank guarantee and requested to be paid K8,935,200,000.00 and Ms. Zeles Zulu on the same day of 5th January, 2009, directed the principal accountant to pay in the absence of the guarantee which was only written by the bank on 7th January, 2009, which bank guarantee was to expire within 25 days after payment of K8,935,200,000.00. Do you believe that it was right to release such a large sum before the less than 25 days guarantee was to expire on 2nd February, 2009? I attach letter from Top Motors for you to read comments on it...Why was it easy to pay K8,935,200,000.00 on the same day on a guarantee that was to expire in 25 days the same day it was received but it took over 7 days to purchase tyres for my vehicle and I have waited now for over two months just to buy curtains in my office? See the payment vouchers and request to pay by Ms. Zeles Zulu...As my permanent secretary, I believe you need to be careful with abuse and if we do not protect government money and procedure, His Excellency the President, Mr. R.B Banda will be blamed for our failures. Let all of us protect our President by not allowing abuse. Let ACC and Auditor-General state whether my position is wrong if you are not willing to see my position."

On the Make Zambia Clean and Healthy programme, Masebo had this to explain:

"Under this programme which was initiated during my tenure... several policy decisions to support the implementation of this programme were made arising from several management meetings which were chaired by the minister, and normally attended by deputy ministers, directors and other senior officials.

If you look at the concept document that was circulated to guide all stakeholders in the implementation of this programme, the guidelines necessitated the making of decisions that would eventually ensure that councils were equipped with the necessary tools to help them execute their functions in accordance with the Local Government Act.

Some of the decisions made as earlier stated included the purchase of; [All the items listed when she addressed the question of 100 hearses].

Arising from the above decisions, the permanent secretary and his staff would proceed to ensure that budget provisions for the agreed activities although in most cases the budget ceilings were prohibitive. In some cases, donors were organised to assist with funding for some of the projects. For example, the European Union funded urban markets and the water supply projects funded by various donors such as DANIDA. All documentations on projects implemented are available at the ministry..."

On the question of speedboats, Masebo had this to explain:

"This issue is straightforward and the contract documents are there and there is nothing irregular. It is mischievous for Hon Tetamashimba to state that unfit boats were purchased and that somebody was killed in Siavonga. This is cheap propaganda meant to discredit projects undertaken during my tenure as minister. Let him initiate new projects instead of witch-hunting, harassing officers and maligning me with alarming statements that are not factual. The Siavonga boat may have had a problem but that does not mean that it is unfit as it is currently working very well and nobody was killed in the boat as alleged. Let Hon Tetamashimba give details of the person who died."

On the question of the office construction on plot 4648, Los Angels Boulevard at Lusaka Girls School, Masebo explained:

"In the late part of 2007 to early 2008, my office received complaints against the construction of an office block on Plot No. 4648 at Lusaka Girls Basic School. Following this complaint, I directed my deputy minister Dr E. Kazonga to follow up the complaints and give me a report. The deputy minister worked with the permanent secretary and the director responsible for the department of Physical Planning & Housing.

Later on a report was made to my office on the said construction. The conclusion of the report was that such a development would not be in the interest of the school as it would expose school children to traffic accidents.

The Lusaka Girls School administration had earlier been to my office seeking my intervention in the matter. They subsequently wrote a formal letter complaining against the development. After careful study of the issue at hand, it was clear in my mind as minister responsible for physical planning in the country and taking into consideration the provisions in the Town & Country Planning Act, that the said development was not ideal for the following reasons:

(i) There was no evidence to show ministerial approval of change of use of the land from general open space to office. Efforts to get any evidence from the department in my ministry, the Lusaka City Council and indeed the Developer failed.

(ii) There were attempts to mislead me that the former minister Andrew Mulenga may have approved such an application, but after going through the various documents and speaking to the officials in my ministry, it was clear that there was no evidence to prove any such approval. In fact, when I went through some of the documents given to me by the Council the much talked about approval was a simple approval recommendation from the Lusaka City Council to the minister. Note that only the minister has powers under the Act to approve such applications for change of use.

(iii) In any case even assuming the minister responsible at any given time makes an approval for change of use of land or gives approval for developing a particular structure, the minister can still stop such construction in the public interest although the ministry or council may have to pay compensation accordingly. However, the developer would have to prove that authority was legally granted for change of use and for the actual construction before any compensation is granted.

(iv) From the correspondences attached, anybody with basic education background can read between the lines that something was not right and speaking for myself I was convinced that it would be wrong for us to support such a development which would in the long run inconvenience the school children and in fact pose the danger of traffic jams and accidents.
Therefore, on 12th February 2008, I instructed the Town Clerk to advise the developer to stop construction with immediate effect. (See letter attached Appendix 1)
At the time of stopping the construction, the structure was only at foundation level or slab level. My view and conviction was that even if Lusaka City Council or ministry... had erred, government should have been prepared to pay compensation for the sake of the school children. But I was also convinced that the developer might have started construction without authority for change of use of land. If this were the position, then there would be no need for compensation.

The issue of fear of lawyers representing the developer taking us to court as alluded to by Hon. Tetamashimba in his letter dated 31st May 2009 is misleading. As earlier indicated, I was motivated by the public interest and was ready for the eventuality. I am not driven by fear but by what I believe to be right. Anybody who has worked with me will vouch for me. It is total nonsense and cheap on the part of Hon Tetamashimba to think that I could hide a file as alleged in his letter. And if indeed the Lusaka City Council were able to produce duplicate copies, why then were they also not able to produce the letter of approval by minister Andrew Mulenga?
It is clear from Tetamashimba's statement on this matter that he is ignorant on the powers of the minister to approve or refuse planning permission and change of use of land. From various attached correspondence, I see a deliberate ploy to create confusion in the procedures to grant authority for change of use. Somebody somewhere had some vested interest, no wonder it was easy to reverse my earlier decision. (See attached Appendix 2)
At the time Hon Tetamashimba was taking over the office, I did advise him in the presence of his two current deputy ministers against succumbing to approving the said construction because the public would in future blame us for being insensitive to the security of the children at Lusaka Girls School. I advised the ministers to be alert in case of misinformation on the matter and that I would be available for any further clarifications. I advised Tetamashimba to go through the file and also to take note of the letter of complaint from the school administration.
[However] I was sad to see that shortly after I left the ministry, construction works that had earlier been stopped had started moving and moving very fast from slab level to roof level within a very short time. Hon Tetamashimba therefore should not mislead the public on this matter. The facts are that it was under his authority that the developer was told to proceed with the construction. (See attached letter Appendix 3)
When his permanent secretary recently appeared before the Sports & Youth Affairs Committee of Parliament. the question posed to his permanent secretary was 'why has the ministry... failed to protect school open places from encroachment and the Lusaka Girls issue was raised as to who approved such a development next to the school with such limited space? His permanent secretary said he was not aware but he would investigate and come up with a response. No member of the committee mentioned the word corruption...

In conclusion, I want to state that I had stopped the construction but Hon. Tetamashimba decided to overturn my decision by allowing the construction to proceed and therefore he should not draw me into this issue as my position on the matter was clear to everybody including the officers concerned. So he should not try to mislead the public to believe that I authorised construction because of fear of being sued."

Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, SYLVIA MASEBO

posted by MrK @ 2:13 PM