Teta backtracks on Masebo

Teta backtracks on Masebo
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, June 08, 2009 2:39:39 PM

LOCAL government minister Benny Tetamashimba yesterday said he never accused his predecessor Sylvia Masebo of corruption in the procurement of 100 hearses, speedboats and other transactions that happened during her tenure.

Reacting to Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Charles Milupi’s challenge to him to explain the abuse of funds which he implied to have been committed during Masebo's tenure, Tetamashimba said he never stated that Masebo was corrupt. He said he had no problems with the hearses’ project, which was initiated by Masebo.

“Let him [Milupi] know that I have no problems with the purchase of the items which I will deliver to every province for the poor people to be taken to the graveyard decently as per responsibilities of every local authority,” Tetamashimba said.

“At no time did I state that Honourable Masebo was corrupt and since Honourable Milupi being PAC chairperson, his committee is free to learn more on the issues or he can go to the [Anti Corruption Commission] ACC or wait for the Auditor General's audit than make insinuations based on division.”

Asked whether it was necessary for Masebo to seek clearance from President Rupiah Banda for her to divulge any information on the transactions that took place during her tenure as per his challenge to her, Tetamashimba responded:

“Ask the Vice-President [George Kunda] or anybody, not me. No! I am not ready to comment on Honourable Masebo.”

Tetamashimba said he was not against the decision that Masebo took and he had not changed his position.

“I think that has been my stand all along. I have never said hearses are a bad idea. I have never said that. I have said it's a good idea. It will help the people take the people who are dead from the mortuary to the graveyard. It's as simple as that,” Tetamashimba said.

Further asked why he was challenging Masebo to give her position on the hearses while acknowledging that the project was good, Tetamashimba claimed that Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata accused him and President Rupiah Banda of sharing US $20, 000 [about K98.9 million] from each of the 100 hearses paid for by the government, hence he wanted Masebo to give her position on the matter.

“No! No! No! You see, you ba Post, I know that you have been propping up Sata to be [Republican] President. Sata accused President Rupiah and myself that we shared [US $]20, 000 out of each hearse. You ran those stories because Sata was telling you all those. All I was saying is that 'we haven't stolen. This is not an issue that has started in my period',” Tetamashimba claimed.

“For me, Honourable Masebo was very bold to me, she said she knew about these things when she was minister but she can't say anything unless she had authority from the government. And I can't challenge her statement when she said that.”

Tetamashimba said that Masebo had cleared the air on the hearses.

“It will be unfair for me to challenge her statement,” Tetamashimba said. “For me, she cleared the air by saying that she knew about all these things when she was minister. So what else do you want me to do? Nothing!”

Sata had questioned Tetamashimba and President Banda to explain the names of people who pocketed the US $20, 000 from each of the 100 hearses purchased because the price of one hearse was US $9,000 (about K44.5 million) while the government purchased the same at US $29, 000 (about K143.4 million) each.

In his letter dated May 31, 2009 to Masebo and copied to his permanent secretary Coillard Chibbonta, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and Post editor Fred M'membe, Tetamashimba challenged Masebo to explain to Zambians what transpired in the purchase of hearses, speedboats, Keep Zambia Clean campaign vehicles and other projects during her tenure.

Tetamashimba stated that Masebo bought 150 vehicles for the Keep Zambia Clean campaign, hearses and unfit speedboats without involving him as her deputy then.

But in response, Masebo said in line with the Cabinet handbook, she had applied for clearance from President Rupiah Banda to allow her as a former minister to divulge information on the transactions that took place during her tenure.

Masebo said once President Banda cleared her, she would explain everything that transpired during her tenure in relation to the concerns raised by Tetamashimba.

But on Saturday, President Banda declined to state whether or not he had cleared Masebo to give her side of the story on the 100 hearses deal and other transactions in the ministry.