Govt has not created jobs for youth, Bingu admits
Nyasa Times 06 April, 2009 10:23:00
Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika on his way from the launch of his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) campaign bid for the Northern region has admitted that during the first term of leadership, he has not adequately created job opportunities for scores of the country's jobless young people.
The Malawi leader who has all along been on the moon boasting that his government has delivered in accordance with people's expectations during his first term of office, stunned his followers in Kasungu on Monday that he has not been able to provide for the young people in terms of job creations.
However, the President promised that besides creating job opportunities, his next administration would set up a fund to enable young people to venture into various entrepreneurship activities.
" I should admit that we we have not been able to meet the needs of the jobless people. The youth are completing education every year, but they unable to get employed either in the private or public sectors. It is very saddening to see how sons and daughters loitering up and down the towns and cities.
"We are setting up a fund so that they could access loans and embark on small-scale business entreprises. We promise to do better if you vote me back in power," said Mutharika.
Mutharika said education in the country would be meaningless if the young people have no chance to either get jobs or access loans for business entreprises.
"What is the use of education if our young people are unable to get jobs. What is the use of education if we can't create opportunities for our sons and daughters to live independent lives?"
Mutharika said his next government would make sure that all groups of people have something to benefit from his rule.
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, JOBS, YOUTHS
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Mutharika pleads with Kasungu Chiefs for support
Nyasa Times
06 April, 2009 10:19:00
Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika on Monday pleaded with traditional leaders in Kasungu to woo support for his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to win the May 19 General Elections, if the country was to be assured of "real development."
Speaking during a whistle stop in the district on his way from the North, where on Sunday he launched his campaign bid for the region ahead of the polls, Mutharika said his party has fielded aspiring legislators in all the 193 constituencies of the country's National Assembly.
Therefore, Mutharika said he was seeking support from the traditional leaders for them to make it to the National Assembly.
"All of you chiefs, you know how much I have suffered during my first term at the hands of the opposition in the August House. This has derailed my development agenda for this country. Do you want me to go through that experience again? If you don't, then you should woo support from your subjects so that we should enough legislators in parliament," said Mutharika.
"If you can't campaign for me and DPP, then you don't wish this country well," said Mutharika.
The President promised the chiefs what he described as "good life" if his government manages to have the majority required to transact business on its own in the country's legislative assembly.
"My government will reward you if you woo support for us. Your lives will change beyond this. You should go around and assist me in getting most of candidates to parliament. This is the time for you to work," he told them.
During his party's convention held earlier this year, traditional leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mutharika administration. As part of the MOU, the former would be campaigning for the DPP in return for favours.
In some areas, chiefs are refusing opposition leaders from holding rallies.
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, CHIEFS
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ATC reduces fertliser prices
Nyasa Times
07 April, 2009 02:24:00
The Agricultural Trading Company (ATC) has announced that it has reduced the prices of fertilizer in Malawi.
According to a media statement made available to Nyasa Times, ATC said Calcium Ammonium Nitrate has been reduced from MK7, 200 to MK4, 330 representing 40 % price cut.
Urea fertilizer has been reduced with 46 % from MK9, 940 to MK5, 330. ATC has also reduced 23:21:0+4S which was selling at MK11, 010 to MK5, 180 representing 53% cut.
D. Compound fertiliser will be sold at MK6, 600 from MK11, 360 while Super D. Compound will be sold at MK7, 810 from MK13, 580 representing price reduction of 42 and 445 percent respectively.
“The company has taken this noble act having noted with pleasure the general downward trend of fertilizer and oil prices on the international market,” said a media statement.
“As a local company, ATC has therefore reduced fertilizer prices in a bid to pass the benefits of price reduction to the Malawian farming community,” the statements reads.
The company said it believes the price reduction of fertiliser will enable many Malawians “access this very important farm input, improve agricultural production and productivity thereby spur further the economic growth of the country. “
Labels: FERTILIZER, INFLATION
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Malawi activists silenced --Kamlepo
Nyasa Times
07 April, 2009 02:36:00
A fervent critic of President Bingu Wa Mutharika, Kamlepo Kalua, who is leader of the Malawi Democratic Party (MDP) has said the country's Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and faith based organizations were abetting the Malawi leader to unleash a reign of terror in the country.
Speaking in the populous Ndirande Township in Blantyre on Sunday during a rally convened by former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi, Kalua noted that during Muluzi's reign, NGOs and faith organizations were very critical of his rule, but they are quite during the administration of Mutharika.
"During the time of Muluzi, these people were all over demonstrating and issuing out pastoral letters against him, but now despite the rising incidences of lawlessness and abuse of human rights by the Bingu administration, they are silent. They are pretending as if nothing is happening,” said the free-speaking politician.
"I know that they are bought. Their mouths are stashed with scones, which make them very difficult to speak out against all these abuses,” claimed Kalua who was arrested recently for remarks at another political rally and is answering charges of sedition.
He said lack of vibrant civil society and faith community’s activism is giving President Mutharika a room to bring back the oppressive regime against dissenters
“Your silence is giving room to institute a reign of terror in the country," said Kalua.
He said since 20004, the country's civil society organizations have lost credibility due to their silence on issues which are affecting the country.
President Mutharika appointed most of the NGO leaders and faith group leaders in public positions.
Labels: BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, KAMLEPO KALUA
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Saasa urges change of mindset in govt
Written by Patson Chilemba
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:42:22 PM
ECONOMIC consultant Professor Oliver Saasa has said a change of mindset must be seen to happen within the government systems and procedures as well as at individual level.
Giving the way forward on the recommendations that emerged from the just-ended indaba, Prof Saasa, who was chief rapporteur, said the change of mindset among Zambians was pivotal.
"This change must be seen to happen within the government systems and procedures as well as at individual level. This comes in different forms, including (a) attitude towards work; (b) the elimination of processes and systems that merely worsen the bureaucracy with no tangible benefits (the protracted licensing and registration protocols have been cited as examples of this); and, lastly, (c) mindset change with respect to elimination of self-doubt and the exaggerated faith in external solutions to our own internal problems," Prof Saasa said.
"This has resulted in underutilisation of our own human resources in preference of external ones."
Prof Saasa said there was need for enhancement of government capacity and political will to implement both its stated programmes and what it received through consultative processes like the indaba.
He said this was core to the restoration and consolidation of public confidence in the consultative processes.
"In this regard, the following recommendations have emerged: (a) political will calls for unreserved commitment on the part of the Executive to lend policy and resource support to what has been agreed upon. The identification of the 'Champion' within the government system is essential as such, a person or office shall serve. As reference point for policy backstopping," Prof Saasa said.
He said in most cases, resolutions from indabas and similar consultative instruments were never followed up with actionable interventions with clearly identified government structures.
Prof Saasa said consequently, the business-as-usual postures were maintained with the resultant frustration from those that would otherwise have played strategic roles in both the consultative and implementation practices.
He said there was need to significantly reduce bureaucracy and red tape so as to improve service delivery and that this had complementary effect of reducing and subsequently eliminating corrupt practices. Prof Saasa said government should strive to maintain key social services, notably education, health and social protection, including assistance to those that had lost jobs as a result of the global meltdown.
He said the government should develop a transparent and accountable system of determining who should be the beneficiaries of special support [through fiscal stimulus measures] for affected economic sectors.
Prof Saasa said indabas should be mounted periodically irrespective of whether or not there was a crisis.
"Indabas prior to the presentation of the annual national budget are recommended," Prof Saasa said. "The government should set up a task force to deal with matters arising from the global economic crisis. Complimentary to this, there is need to establish a team that would monitor the implementation of the resolutions from this indaba."
On short term recommendations for finance and doing business, Prof Saasa said the introduction of a discount window should be stepped up to enhance liquidity in the market and that government must immediately look for sources of financing to pay-off suppliers to alleviate the credit shortage.
He said there was urgent need to introduce appropriate legislation for proper functioning of the Credit Reference Bureau and need for government to look at the feasibility of reducing steep corporate tax, currently standing at 40 per cent.
On the medium to long-term recommendations, Prof Saasa said government should support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through promotion of venture capital funds targeting mainly SMEs and review of enabling legislation.
He said there was need to reduce the cost of establishing business in Zambia and this should involve the reduction in paperwork and the shortening of time it takes to approve licences.
On agriculture, Prof Saasa said there should be establishment of land/rural banks, re-opening of the Cooperative Bank and establishment of the Livestock Bank.
He also pointed out the zero-rating of selective agricultural inputs and implements so as to make the farmers competitive regionally.
Prof Saasa said livestock restocking was important and should be better managed and also there should be compulsory dipping and more investment in livestock vaccine research.
He said the management of the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) should be improved to ensure that the targeted people benefit from it, through the voucher system.
Prof Saasa said the Irrigation Revolving Fund with clear guidelines on how to access and use the facility should be implemented immediately.
He said agricultural subsidies should be well-targeted to producers not consumers.
On tourism, Prof Saasa said there was need to review the tourism and hospitality Act to put it in line with market demands.
"Create incentives that would promote domestic investment in domestic tourism. Zero-rate VAT on tour packages for domestic tourists. Remove duty and tax on imported tourism equipment. Expedite the restructuring of the Zambia National Tourism Board and strengthen tourism marketing," Prof Saasa said. "Make access to tourist attractions easier and attractive by, inter alia, revision of Visa fees, licensing procedures. Implement open sky policy and reduce landing and parking fees. Develop the requisite infrastructure: rehabilitation of air strips in national parks and GMAs [Game Management Areas] as well as major roads connecting tourists and major destinations. Simplify licensing procedures by introducing a one-stop tourism licensing centre."
On mining, Prof Saasa said there was need to set up a task force whose mandate would be to review the entire mining industry in the light of the global meltdown.
He said for the small-scale gemstone industry, there was need to enable them access affordable finance and leasing of equipment.
For large-scale mining, Prof Saasa said it was recommended that there should be a power tariff freeze and custom duty waiver on raw materials.
"It is recommended that there should be restoration and review of the Development Agreements. There is a call for the review of the mines and minerals development Act," Prof Saasa said. "Zambia should focus on 3-5 strategic minerals to ignite mineral wealth development. There is need to develop a policy that would encourage local entrepreneurship in the mining industry."
On energy, Prof Saasa said Public Private Partnership (PPP) should be encouraged in the energy sector and government should look into the feasibility of further reduction on pump price taxes.
On entrepreneurship, Prof Saasa said there was need to introduce incentives to SMEs that form joint ventures or strategic alliances, including special access to finance.
He said there was need to strengthen National Savings and Credit Bank to provide affordable credit to SMEs.
Prof Saasa said the government should support the implementation of a credit guarantee scheme for SMEs under the auspices of the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ).
On infrastructure, Prof Saasa said all infrastructure development activities should be brought under one institution, which could be called the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
He said there was need to strictly enforce standards and sanctions for non-performing contractors and consultants.
"Merge the National Road Fund Agency and the Road Development Agency and put them under the PS. Liberalise and lower the fee for the International Gateway so as to fully release the full potential of ICT [Information Communication and Technology]," said Prof Saasa.
He said the global financial crisis seemed poised to undermine Zambia's prosperity in the medium-term and is threatening to undo the developmental successes that the country had registered so far towards vision 2030.
And officially closing the indaba, Vice-President George Kunda said the indaba managed to achieve objectives on the actionable policy measures government should take to address the effects of the crisis.
He said government would present the recommendations before Cabinet.
Vice-President Kunda said the global meltdown required the Zambian people to work together.
Labels: CRB, GOVERNANCE, OLIVER SAASA
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COMMENT - Decertification of a mine in Zimbabwe for human rights violations? But not in the DRC, where there actually is something close to a genocide going on, and where major Democratic (Maurice Tempelsman, a good friend of the Clintons) and Republican (Bush supporter Danny Gertler) campaign contributors have massive diamond concessions... No hypocrisy there. This is another example of the use of The Kimberly Process as a political tool to eliminate business rivals. In this article, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights claimed:
about 5,000 people were arrested during the army operation, with three quarters of them showing signs of having been tortured severely. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Humang Right is
funded by the US government's
National Endowment for Democracy. Sourcewatch says about the National Endowment for Democracy:
According to the New York Times: "The National Endowment for Democracy is a quasi-governmental foundation created by the Reagan Administration in 1983 to channel millions of Federal dollars into anti-Communist 'private diplomacy.'" So, they are funded by a United States organisation set up by Ronald Reagan, to 'fight communism'. I'm sure they have nothing to do with the CIA or State Department. :-/
Certification body bans trade in diamond from Zim field
Written by Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
THE global diamond certification body has banned the trade of diamonds being mined at one of the diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe over concerns of human rights violations.
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) cautioned its affiliate diamond bourses against trading directly or indirectly in diamonds originating from the Chiadzwa fields in Marange district.
"In reaction to numerous reports of violations of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, Avi Paz, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, has called on the members of the 28 affiliated bourses to take all measures necessary to ensure that they do not trade, directly or indirectly, in diamonds originating from the Marange deposit in Zimbabwe," a statement reads.
However, the ban does not extend to the precious stones mined at the Murowa deposit since the production from this source is in compliance with the Kimberly Process.
The WFDB only allows its members to trade in diamonds that are accompanied by a Kimberly Process certificate, meant to guarantee that the gems are not fuelling conflicts.
The Kimberley Process is a regulatory body that was set up in order to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds.
In order to differentiate between the banned and unbanned stones from Zimbabwe, comprehensive data, descriptions and photographs of the rough diamonds mined at the Marange deposits have been widely circulated by the Working Group of Diamond Experts of the Kimberley Process, making identification of these illicit diamonds easier.
"The WFDB and its membership worldwide are committed to do all it can to prevent conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe or from any other source for that matter to be traded by our members," Paz stated.
"As founding members of the World Diamond Council and as signatories to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), it is our duty to remind not only our own members but all those who operate in the diamond industry and trade of the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts."
He warned that any bourse member who trades in rough diamonds without Kimberly Process certification would be liable for expulsion from his bourse, which in practical terms means the exclusion from the entire diamond business community.
The WFDB action follows a recent damning report by a Canadian NGO, involved in stopping the trade of conflict diamonds.
The group, Partnership Africa Canada (PAC), last month released the report titled Zimbabwe, Diamonds and the Wrong Side of History, and accused the Kimberley Process of being unwilling and unable to deal with Zimbabwe's diamond crisis.
The PAC report came in the wake of widespread accounts of killings in the Chiadzwa area, which has been the centre of controversy since October 2008 when the army was called in to disperse thousands of illegal diamond panners.
The government had originally seized the Chiadzwa diamond claim in 2007, and set off a diamond rush when it encouraged locals to help themselves.
But the arrival of the army last year resulted in alleged violence and murder after the area was sealed off with military roadblocks and soldiers.
There were reports of ground and air military attacks on civilians attempting to enter the diamond area.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have said about 5,000 people were arrested during the army operation, with three quarters of them showing signs of having been tortured severely.
Labels: DIAMONDS, HYPOCRISY, KIMBERLEY PROCESS, MINING
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Judged by kangaroos
Written by Editor
The Zambian people may not rank high among the most militant people in the world, but they have a very high sense of justice when they are made to understand things, when their hearts are moved.
This is a useful reminder that all people, even the most seemingly cold-blooded, have a core of decency, and that if their hearts are touched, they are capable of opposing, standing up to injustice.
The mercenaries, political or otherwise, we are today seeing in our country, are not necessarily evil people; their inhumanity has been foisted upon them by an inhuman system. They behave like that because they are rewarded for being mercenaries. Mostly, these are poor, unemployed youths or failed businessmen struggling to earn a living.
And this desperation usually pushes them to hire themselves out for dirty political jobs. And those with money, those with political power like Rupiah Banda and his friends will always find some to hire, to speak for them, to denounce those they don’t like, their political opponents.
Some of us don’t have much to give in terms of money and appointments. Money and appointments in this country are under the control of Rupiah and his friends. But this doesn’t bother us. We have enough decent poor people to fight on our side. And these have been our true friends and allies. We have never needed money or power to earn their support. It is said that there is little to be said in favour of poverty, but it was often an incubator of true friendship.
Many people appear to befriend you when you are in control of resources and power is in your hands, but precious few will do the same when you are poor, when you are out of power or you are powerless. If wealth and power are magnets, poverty and powerlessness are a kind of repellant. Yet poverty and powerlessness often bring out the true generosity in others. We are seeing this today. It is not the wealthy, the politically powerful that have come to our defence. It is humble politicians, clergymen and the most ordinary of our people.
Those with political power or near it have been quiet. They don’t want to lose their privileges for supporting us. Those with business contracts don’t want to lose them for indentifying with us. But privately, all these people have been saying they know we are innocent, they know we have not stolen anything as Rupiah claims, they say it’s all politics. But this is just in privacy. They can’t say this in public. And the most decent of them have chosen to remain quiet on the issue. That’s probably why it’s only Rupiah and shameless political opportunists like George Kunda, Dora Siliya who have been attacking us publicly. The rest are silent. Why? It’s simply because they know we have done nothing wrong; it’s all dirty politics.
Corruption and truth are incompatible. Corrupt people don’t like the truth; they don’t like even to hear it. And today the Police, Drug Enforcement Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission officers Rupiah sent to try and find cases of theft, money laundering and racketeering against us have difficulties going back to him to tell him they found nothing. We have no doubt that even Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde knows very well, has been briefed, that they have found nothing wrong that we have done. But he too doesn’t know how to break that type of news to Rupiah because he doesn’t believe his boss wants to hear the truth about this matter.
If you are honest, truly honest, you won’t be corrupted, you won’t fail to tell the truth. If you are unassuming and have a clear understanding of the worth of people and of yourself, you won’t be corrupted. We have maintained eternal vigilance about this throughout the 18 years of this newspaper’s existence, and we have been very self-critical. We have always examined everything we have done, checking to see whether it was correct or not, whether or not we let ourselves be carried away, whether or not pride had anything to do with it, and we think we have learnt to control ourselves. We think this has helped us remain the same as always, ever since this newspaper was launched.
There is need to be honest and truthful in life, especially in public life, in politics. And the political leaders who fail to see the need for honesty and truthfulness will one day have to answer for it. We hope they will accept their responsibility. They must always choose honest and truthful ways and not head for Calvary.
We think we have been struggling uphill long enough. We have suffered not only the torment of Calvary but also that of Sisyphus, who had to keep pushing a boulder up a hill and every time he was about to reach the top, it would roll back down, and he would have to start all over again. Our situation is worse than Calvary because Calvary was climbed quickly; we have been climbing our hill for a long time, and we keep on having to start over. Calvary is preferable to Sisyphus’ torment, and if we have had our Calvary, we should also have a resurrection.
What we want is to find a dignified end to the lies, the smear and false accusations that Rupiah and his friends have subjected us to. But whenever we seek a more fair, just and objective way of dealing with their claims, accusations against us, what happens is that they always try to prevent that from happening so that we remain with our Calvary – and not even a Calvary, but with the agonising torture of pushing the boulder up a never-ending hill. But it’s clear that one day, as we are starting to witness, the people of Zambia will ask them to bring this issue to a fair and just ending. And they will have to find a dignified ending to this whole issue. And we would prefer an orderly ending to their lies.
As Bishop John Mambo has correctly observed, we have been charged, tried and convicted by Rupiah without a hearing. Rupiah accused us of stealing US $30 million through Zambian Airways from state institutions and that we used that money to buy and build mansions, strange cars and aeroplanes. And that he was going to ensure that we pay back this money to the government so that he can use it to build schools and hospitals. This is what Rupiah told the nation. Clearly, Rupiah was not merely raising an allegation against us. He was confidently publicly sentencing us. The issue of us being investigated by the Police, DEC and ACC was merely an afterthought that arose out of the need to legally, and not just politically, nail us to the cross. The investigations were not about establishing the truth. They were about validating Rupiah’s judgment against us. Is this the way leaders of a country that claims to be Christian, that seeks to adhere to the rule of law should behave?
The truth is the investigators have failed to validate Rupiah’s judgment against us. And the only thing that remains is for them to gather the moral and professional courage to tell him so – that we have done nothing wrong. That’s the only thing remaining for them to do. But this will not be an easy thing for them to do. They would rather drag us to court if this was an easy option for them. But it isn’t. What are they going to say in court as arresting officers, as investigators? They are in a near catch-22.
We want this matter to end in court. And we hope they will be decent enough to give us the opportunity to clear our names in court, by answering every allegation, every claim, every charge they have made against us. We again beg them to arrest us so that we can also have a fair hearing before a tribunal where propaganda and lies have no place, where only truth reigns.
That’s the way we see things. That is our stand on this issue. And we say this with confidence because we have done nothing wrong. Yes, we have made many mistakes and we make many mistakes every day, but none of them can be said to be criminal. We are proud of being honest, proud of having the public spirit and the honesty to discuss our errors publicly.
We believe that consistently practiced political honesty is a road that leads a politician’s mind and will to fairness, justice and humaneness.
And what we are seeing today in our country is what happens when a corrupt and arrogant clique is able to take over the ruling party, destroy, humiliate and crush the best members and impose its will on an entire nation.
The facts that are emerging about us stealing US $30 million speak for themselves; they are convincing facts which explain the falsity of the charges levelled against us by Rupiah. And there is no way Rupiah and his friends are going to manage to conceal or permanently distort the truth about this issue. The truth will always prevail over falsehoods. What they should start doing is to look for ways to embrace the truth about this whole issue and abandon their lies, their falsehoods. Trying to send us to Calvary on lies, on false charges won’t do. They may manage to get us there but our resurrection will definitely come, and come to haunt them.
Again, we are grateful to all our friends, all our fellow citizens who are every day braving it to speak for us and for justice. We don’t have much to give in return for this support. All we can assure them is that we will never do anything that will today or tomorrow embarrass them. And with all honesty and sincerity, we can assure them that we have not done any wrong and no one will find any crime in the way we related with or to Zambian Airways. And not even the best fabricator, concocter will manage to come up with a charge against us that will stand in any honest court.
Labels: RUPIAH BANDA, THE POST
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It’s a pity Banda has allowed kangaroo courts to probe The Post - Bishop Mambo
Written by Katwishi Bwalya
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:12:33 PM
IT is a pity that President Rupiah Banda has allowed jungle kangaroo courts to probe The Post and its involvement in Zambian Airways, former Church of God overseer Bishop John Mambo has said.
In an interview yesterday, Bishop Mambo said the dealings of The Post and Zambian Airways had already been judged looking at several pronouncements that had been made by the government so far.
However, he said a constitutional court was better placed to look at The Post and Zambian Airways' affairs.
"The Zambian Airways issue and The Post have been judged already. So whatever comes [out] has been compromised," Bishop Mambo said. "How come the interest, other people trying to set up an airline? It shows there are some people who worked against this."
He said government's pronouncements over Zambian Airways had already influenced the minds of many people.
"Pronouncements influence people's minds. So until you are proven that you are wrong or right, that's when people should talk," he said.
He said it was not right for people to judge The Post and its involvement in Zambian Airways before investigations could be concluded.
Bishop Mambo said it was unfortunate that some people had even reached an extent of calling for the removal of Task Force on Corruption prosecutor Mutembo Nchito.
"That is why under the CRC [Constitution Review Commission] where I was a member, the average people cried for the establishment of a constitutional court. The calling of the removal of Nchito by people who can't even be a pressure group is unfortunate."
He said there were proper procedures that could be followed in an event that The Post was found wanting.
"If The Post is found wanting, there are laws in this country and they are registered under the laws of this country, you [The Post] submit your annual returns and so forth but, they don't want to follow the law," Bishop Mambo said. "Now, how do you punish them using a kangaroo court? How many people has The Post written about? Haven't they written about Mambo, [Patriotic Front president Michael] Sata and many others?"
He noted that all the statements that were issued by President Banda on The Post were emotional.
Bishop Mambo said President Banda should not use his political power to fix some sections of the press like The Post.
"The Post has always been there and he [President Banda] should just understand [Post editor Fred] M'membe," he said.
Bishop Mambo said State House was now invaded by call-boys who were advising President Banda with lies.
"We are headed for a disaster as a country because people are not advising the President correctly and it's people surrounding the President who are to blame," he said.
Bishop Mambo said the harassment of The Post by the government would scare away investors because they would not want to be treated in the manner they were treating the newspaper.
Labels: JOHN MAMBO, RUPIAH BANDA, THE POST
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COMMENT - " Dr Situmbeko said
this was actually the best time to make investments that would yield good returns once the global economic recession subsided. " I think the hardest thing to change is ones mindset. This is not just a global economic recession. The worst bubbles are likely still yet to burst, which means that no matter how cheap things are now, they will be cheaper. However what is worse, is that the dollar may still collapse, in which case the donor aid ($600 million in 2004) to run this bloated state machinery, may not be worth what it is worth now. This has dire implications for the price of food (fertilizer, fuel costs) and the government's priority has to be to secure the food supply. Maybe this is beyond the Finance Minister, but it is incredibly important that the amount of land under cultivation is increased to food prices are reduced by massively increasing the volume of corn and other food grown. Food may become more valuable than gold, let alone copper. And I don't see any kind of urgency from the Minister, in massively increasing the production in agriculture. That has to be done, or people will die.
Musokotwane cautions against complacency
Written by Florence Bupe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:03:54 PM
FINANCE minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has cautioned against investment complacency in the midst of the global financial crisis. During the Barclays Bank Medium Term Note Investor Forum at Pamodzi Hotel on Monday, Dr Musokotwane said there were still viable investment opportunities despite the current economic challenges.
“While I appreciate the gravity of the current economic recession, the world cannot come to a state of rest; we must continue to forge ahead and invest for future growth. The prospects for the growth of this economy remain bright albeit with challenges,” he said.
Dr Situmbeko said there were still many investors seeking business opportunities even with the current challenges facing the global economy.
“There are still a large number of investors, both local and foreign, that continue to look for potential investment opportunities. It is in this context that I am pleased with Barclays Bank Zambia to come to the market and engage the investor community,” he said.
Dr Situmbeko said this was actually the best time to make investments that would yield good returns once the global economic recession subsided.
He said government would continue to partner with the private sector to create a more conducive investment climate.
Dr Situmbeko commended Barclays Bank Zambia for its role in development through the provision of financial services to the Zambian community.
“This is the second time that Barclays Bank Zambia is coming to the market with a bond issue. Therefore, the current bond issue is a positive step towards the development of the capital market,” Dr Situmbeko said. “I would like to urge more companies to come to the market through a bond or equity issue for us to realise the goals of the Financial Sector Development Plan and make debt raising a common feature in our financial market.”
He further urged the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) and the investor community to be proactive in coming up with innovative products that were responsive to Zambia’s investment needs.
Dr Situmbeko said this would ensure responsive financing solutions for the industry.
And Barclays Bank Zambia chairperson Jacob Sikazwe urged stakeholders in the banking sector to help create investment confidence in the business community.
Sikazwe said there was need to restore and maintain investor confidence in the banking sector.
“It takes courage and commitment for banks to bring new products at a time like this, when everyone is scared to invest,” he observed.
Sikazwe called on the public sector to support initiatives being implemented by the banking sector for enhanced national development.
“The public sector must be seen to be supporting such moves to stimulate and encourage others to come forward,” said Sikazwe.
Barclays Bank Zambia later held a closed door meeting with potential investors on the bond issue.
Labels: SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE
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Regional integration vital for food security, says Namachila
Written by Florence Bupe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:01:01 PM
AGRICULTURE permanent secretary Bernard Namachila has observed that regional integration is vital to the attainment of food security at every level.
During the regional Conservation Agriculture Tour at Pamodzi Hotel yesterday, Namachila called on African countries to unite and collectively adopt farming methods that would foster increased agricultural productivity.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is committed to working with other stakeholders to ensure that we implement policies that will promote healthy farming methods. At regional level, conservation farming can greatly be promoted through integration,” he said.
The Conservation Agriculture Tour has been organised by cooperating partners supporting the sector, including the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and has drawn participants from Malawi, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.
Namachila said the Ministry of Agriculture planned to scale up a sustainable approach to increase agricultural productivity through the promotion of conservation farming.
He complained that there was currently inadequate information and technology to spread the use of conservation farming among small-scale farmers.
“There is limited awareness of technology and sharing of documentation showing the benefits of conservation farming among our small-holder farmers,” said Namachila.
“We need to identify policies to further the practicing of conservation farming.”
And FAO representative Dr Noureddin Mona stressed that proper and efficient use of land and water resources was cardinal for sustainable farm productivity.
“It is time that the region critically looks at an approach such as this one which recognises that proper and efficient use of land and water resources is cardinal for sustainable farm productivity as new quality land for agricultural expansion is getting more scarce, coupled with the need to preserve enough forest land to act as sinks and reservoirs for greenhouse gases that would otherwise contribute to climate change and rainfall variability,” said Dr Mona.
Meanwhile, Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Jervis Zimba called for stronger ties between small-scale farmers and the private sector in promoting conservation farming.
Labels: BERNARD NAMACHILA, CONSERVATION FARMIING, FOOD, REGIONAL INTEGRATION
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Govt should intervene in illegal sale of ECU assets – Kalindawalo
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 3:55:47 PM
SENIOR Chief Kalindawalo of the Nsenga people in Petauke has appealed to the minister of agriculture and co-operatives to intervene in the alleged illegal sale of the Eastern Corporative Union (ECU) assets in the district.
In an interview yesterday, Chief Kalindawalo said he was disturbed to learn that an ECU hammer mill and a large portion of land had been illegally sold in the district.
"I just learnt last week when I went to see the chairman of Petauke
District Corporative Union Mr Banda who confirmed to me that a hammer mill has been sold by some people from Chipata. Now I’m concerned because these assets were partly in my area and Chief Nyamphande's area," Chief Kalindawalo said.
He said the land and the hammermill were believed to have been sold to a Zambian based in Chipata.
"I think the minister of agriculture should intervene and seriously look into this matter. Why did these people sell the assets? I’m very much concerned about this issue," said Chief Kalindawalo.
And well-placed sources at the Eastern Province Agricultural office confirmed that the land in question and the hammermill were sold by former ECU board members in 1997.
"The issue at hand is that we have a new board of directors for ECU. The people who were there have been clinging on to the offices for some time now so the things that are happening are that the former board members have continued to do certain things, the case in point is that they have sold a building in the Show grounds in Chipata, then in Petauke. There is a very big plot belonging to the corporative now part of that plot, there was a very big hammermill machine, so they sold that," the source said.
The sources said the Petauke asset was sold at K14 million but the buyer only paid K7 million.
"Here in Chipata, they sold the building in December last year. These people (ECU former board members) had a credit of K17 million so they said the money we owe you, we give you the place in Show grounds together with the building then that person had to add an extra K10 million," the source said.
The source also said the Task Force on Corruption was currently investigating the sale of ECU assets in the province.
Labels: CHIEF KALINDAWALO MNDIKULA, CORRUPTION, EASTERN COOPERATIVE UNION, PETAUKE, TASK FORCE
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Ezekwesili urges developing countries to transform economies
Written by Florence Bupe
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 3:54:44 PM
WORLD Bank vice-president for Africa Obiageli Ezekwesili has challenged developing countries to use the global economic downturn as an opportunity to rapidly transform their economies.
Ezekwesili said African countries had the capacity to convert their economies through diversification of growth sources, reforming policies and strengthening governance.
“I hear leaders tell me that their countries would develop faster if they had more resources. I believe that resources without the right policies will not work,” she said.
Ezekwesili observed that in order to effectively transform their economies, developing countries required political will, accountability and conducive policies.
She said countries needed to reform and create an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors.
“After this crisis ebbs, foreign investors will return but they will be cautious and invest first in those countries that have kept to the reforms they had initiated. Investors will also be interested in countries that have demonstrated a willingness to strengthen governance and embrace the rule of law,” she said.
She said diversifying sources of growth was a more certain way to sustainable development.
Ezekwesili called for serious investment in infrastructure development as a means of enhancing development in key sectors such as agriculture that would lead to viable economic diversification.
Labels: ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION, OBIAGELI EZEKWELISI
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Procuring of radars began before I became minister, Dora tells tribunal
Written by Maluba Jere and Mwala Kalaluka
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 3:53:47 PM
Continued from yesterday.
Silwamba: I intimidated to State Counsel Mutale this morning and he said he had no objection and Mr Mwitwa too.
Mutale: I can confirm that is the position, my lord.
Mwitwa: My lord, that is the position.
Judge Chirwa adjourned the sitting to Monday March 23, 2009.
On Monday, communications and transport minister Dora Siliya opens her defence at the on-going judge Dennis Chirwa tribunal that is probing her alleged corruption and abuse of authority of office. The lawyers representing the petitioners are Bonaventure Mutale, Wynter Kabimba, Willie Mubanga and Eddie Mwitwa. The defence lawyers are Eric Silwamba, Keith Mukata and Lubinda Linyama.
Judge Chirwa: Yes, State Counsel.
Silwamba: The respondent is ready my lord.
Judge Chirwa: She will be IW 1.
Silwamba: Yes.
Judge Chirwa: Swear her.
Siliya takes oath.
Silwamba: I had indicated that we were going to file a bundle of documents. I don't know if we will mark them individually or collectively.
Judge Chirwa: I think we identify them first.
Silwamba: With your permission my lord my client is not too well. I seek your permission if she can sit down?
Judge Chirwa: Yes.
Silwamba: Tell the tribunal your full names.
Siliya: My full names are Dora Siliya.
Silwamba: Age?
Siliya: I am 38 years old.
Silwamba: Residential address?
Siliya: I reside at House number 343, Independence Avenue.
Silwamba: Occupation?
Siliya: Currently, Minister of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: You are also member of parliament for Petauke Central?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Tell the lordships when you were elected.
Siliya: In September 2006 as Petauke Central MP.
Silwamba: Is this the first time you were attempting elections in that particular constituency?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: When did you first attempt?
Siliya: In 2001.
Silwamba: So you know the constituency fairly well?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Now, there is an allegation before this tribunal that you minister did cancel a tender for the procurement of radar equipment. You recall that allegation?
Siliya: I do my lord.
Silwamba: Now, tell their lordships when did you move to the Ministry of Communications and Transport
Siliya: February 2008 my lord.
Judge Chitengi: So, you don't want her to tell us what her reaction is to the allegation or you will do that later?
Silwamba: Later my lord. Honourable would you recall the date in February?
Siliya: If I am not mistaken my lord it’s 25th-26th February.
Silwamba: My lords, with your permission, I am showing the witness document number 1, in Volume 1.
Judge Chirwa: Yes.
Silwamba: Now, Ms Siliya you have seen that document.
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Tell the lordships what that document is.
Siliya: Records of a meeting to consider Selex offer to supply radar equipment at Lusaka and Livingstone international airports held at National Airports Corporation board room on 15th February 2008 at 14:30 hours.
Judge Chirwa: Yes.
Silwamba: My lord...
Judge Chirwa: Mark it ID 1.
Silwamba: My lord, ID 1 was on the dossier. I do recall it should be ID3, my lord.
Judge Chirwa: Marked ID3 in Volume 1.
Silwamba: Most obliged. Ms Siliya, please read slowly.
Siliya: The document is headed record of meeting....[Siliya then lists the names of people who attended the said meeting].
Silwamba: Just pause. Those minutes indicate the people who were in attendance including Mr Msitala, Chishala and Sitali are of National Airports?
Siliya: Yes, they do my lord.
Silwamba: Just read the letter...purpose of the meeting.
Siliya: The meeting was called as a follow up to an earlier meeting held at the ministry headquarters at which Selex consultants briefed the minister on their findings in Lusaka on the air traffic control radar and their proposal to provide a new radar system for Lusaka and Livingstone International Airport. The main purpose of the meeting was
a) to discuss and analyse the offer
b) propose the way forward ...
Silwamba: I want you to read on page four of that document, the observations and recommendations.
Siliya reads the observations and recommendations in the document.
Silwamba: Just confirm to the lordships on 15th February you were not the minister being referred to. Were you?
Siliya: No, my lord I was not.
Silwamba: So are you telling the lordships and the tribunal that the process of procuring radars began before you became minister?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Would you like to produce ID3 as part of your evidence?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Judge Chirwa: I thought we agreed that the documents should be identified first and later...
Mutale: I thought I should raise a little query, perhaps the witness needs to say a bit more. The minutes clearly show that she was not minister so...
Judge Chitengi: Does the respondent know who the minister was?
Judge Chirwa: How she got the minutes...when you went to the ministry?
Silwamba: Did you have an occasion to study the file regarding the radar?
Siliya: Yes, that's how I came across these minutes.
Silwamba: You came across these minutes. Look at page five of volume one. Are you able to...Do you see that document there?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: What is that document?
To page 14
From page 13
Siliya: The document is a letter, the reference number is MCT/103/1/05. It is a letter dated 25th February, 2008 and it is addressed to the minister of finance Honourable Magande.
Silwamba: Who is the author?
Siliya: My lord it is authored by Sara Sayifwanda, minister of communications and transport.
Silwamba: So, as at 25 February 2008, the minister responsible for communications and transport was Sara Sayifwanda?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: My lord mark it ID4.
Judge Chirwa: Yes, please.
Silwamba: Most obliged. Ms Siliya, please read that letter.
Siliya reads the letter to Magande, which was a request for funding for radar equipment and indicated that the ministry had invited a supplier of radar equipment to come and assess the condition. The letter stated that the team recommended the installation of a new radar system at an estimated cost of Euro 13 million and that the ministry was requesting for more funds since the K600 million estimate in the 2008 budget was meant for the rehabilitation of the equipment which was not feasible.
Silwamba: You had an occasion to read that letter?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Just confirm to the lordships. This letter, when you look at page six, the three paragraphs, just read them again.
Siliya reads the paragraphs in question.
Silwamba: So, that letter confirms that there was a budget for the rehabilitation?
Siliya: Yes, my lord it does confirm.
Silwamba: That letter also says Selex is the supplier of equipment?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord it does.
Silwamba: My lord, with your permission, I am showing the witness the document on page seven on volume one. What is the reference number?
Siliya: My lord the reference number is MCT/103/1/5.
Silwamba: Compare with the one on page five.
Siliya: My lord, they are the same.
Silwamba: What is the date on that document?
Siliya: 14th March 2008.
Silwamba: Addressee?
Siliya: My lord, the letter is addressed to Evans Chibiliti, Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Silwamba: And who is the author?
Siliya: It is signed by Mukuka Zimba the permanent secretary.
Silwamba: Is it copied to anybody?
Siliya: It is copied to Honourable Magande and Dora Siliya Minister of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: Please read the letter to their lordships [Siliya reads the letter].
Silwamba: Did you receive a copy of that letter?
Siliya: Yes, I did my lord.
Silwamba: I want you to compare ID4 and ID5.
Siliya: My lord, ID4 is letter written by Sara Sayifwanda and ID5 is written by Mukuka Zimba.
Silwamba: The question was compare ID4 and ID5 minister.
Siliya: Apart from the differences in the dates, addressees and authors, everything is the same.
Silwamba: Everything is the same?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Judge Chitengi: In fact, in the academic world, it would be plagiarism?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Is ID4 copied to anybody?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: But ID5 is copied to Honourable Magande and yourself?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: With your leave my lords, I am showing the witness ID5 of Volume one. Are you able to see the reference number there?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: What is it?
Siliya: MCT/103/1/5C.
Silwamba: The date?
Siliya: 10th April, 2008.
Silwamba: Who is the addressee?
Siliya: Evans Chibiliti Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Lusaka.
Silwamba: Who is the author?
Siliya: Mukuka Zimba permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Judge Chirwa: Mark it ID6.
Silwamba: Most obliged. Please read the letter marked ID6.
Siliya reads the document to the tribunal.
Silwamba: You confirm that on 10th April 2008, you were minister?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord I was.
Silwamba: Were you shown a copy of this letter?
Siliya: I do recall discussing the matter with the permanent secretary, I think I was.
Silwamba: Did you subsequently read that letter?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: My lords I am showing the witness a document at page 10 in Volume one.
Siliya: Who is the addressee?
Siliya: The permanent secretary Minister of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: Date?
Siliya: 23rd April, 2008.
Silwamba: The author?
Siliya: C Evans Chibiliti, Secretary to the Treasury Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Silwamba: Is that letter copied to anybody?
Siliya: Yes, my lord, it is copied to the permanent secretary DEA Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the permanent secretary defence Lusaka, director general Zambia National Tender Board Lusaka.
Judge Chirwa: We mark that one ID7.
Silwamba: Please read the subject for ID7.
Siliya reads the document.
Silwamba: Now, look at page nine of the letter, it is replying to what letter?
Siliya: It was in response to a letter dated 13 March and April 10 on the same matter.
Silwamba: Were you briefed on the contents of that letter?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord I did.
Silwamba: Did the Treasury indicate to the ministry how much they were reserving for the procurement of equipment?
Siliya: There was no actual reference but supported in principle...
Judge Chitengi: Answer the question.
Siliya: No, they didn't indicate.
Silwamba: But they supported the acquisition in principle?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: With your leave, I am showing the document at page 12 of Volume one. Have you seen that document Ms Siliya?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: What is the reference number?
Siliya: MCT/1/3/2C.
Silwamba: Addressee?
Siliya: The letter my lord is addressed to the director general, Zambia National Tender Board, Lusaka.
Silwamba: The author?
Siliya: It is signed by Dr E Mambwe permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Honourable Dora Siliya MP minister of communications and transport Lusaka.
Judge Chirwa: Exhibit ID8.
Silwamba: Ms Siliya please read the contents of that letter.
Siliya reads the letter whose subject is the purchase of radar equipment for Lusaka and Livingstone international airports.
Silwamba: Now, I want you to look at page 21 of Volume one. Have you seen that document?
Siliya: Yes, I have.
Silwamba: What is the date?
Siliya: 13th May, 2008.
Silwamba: What is the reference number?
Siliya: MCT/1/3/2C.
Silwamba: The addressee and author?
Siliya: My lord, it is addressed to the director general ZNTB Lusaka the author is E Mambwe permanent secretary ministry of communications and transport.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Honourable Dora Siliya, MP, Minister of Communications and Transport, Lusaka.
Silwamba: My lord, may the document be marked.
Judge Chirwa: ID9
Silwamba: Now read ID9 page 21
Siliya reads the document.
Silwamba: Can you compare ID8 and ID9.
Siliya: My lord, the documents seem the same...the other one is on a letterhead while the other one is not but the contents are the same.
Silwamba: The contents are the same?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: That was a letter copied to you?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Silwamba: Look at page three of ID9, the letter copied to you just read it again.
Siliya reads a letter to the tribunal.
Silwamba: So, Dr Mambwe is advising the tender board and also informing you that only one firm ...regarded?
Siliya: According to this letter yes, my lord.
Silwamba: In that letter in paragraph five, read to the lordships [Siliya reads that paragraph].
Silwamba: Does he indicate how much money the treasury has give for the purchase of radars?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: Now, this tribunal is interested to know what role you played as minister in this process. So, look at page 20 of Volume one. Have you seen that document?
Siliya: Yes, I have.
Silwamba: What is that document?
Siliya: It is a letter addressed to the director general Zambia National Tender Board.
Silwamba: Is that letter dated?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: There is a stamp of your office there?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: What is the date of that stamp?
Siliya: 13th November 2008
Silwamba: Who is the author?
Siliya: My lord, it is only signed concerned taxpayer.
Silwamba: It is copied to?
Siliya: My lord, the letter is copied to the minister of communications and transport and the Anti Corruption Commission.
Silwamba: What is the subject matter?
Siliya: Tender no. TB/ORD/045/08/ZATM-RADAR.
Judge Chirwa: Yes, marked ID10.
Silwamba: Most obliged my lord. Ms Siliya, did you receive that letter?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Silwamba: Please read the typed contents to the honourable tribunal.
And Siliya reads the concerns of the concerned taxpayer.
Silwamba: Upon receipt of that anonymous letter, what did you do as minister?
Siliya: My lord, my immediate reaction was to bring the matter to the attention of the permanent secretary and the director of procurement.
Silwamba: How did you communicate your instructions?
Siliya: I wrote an internal memo on the same letter to the permanent secretary and the procurement department.
Silwamba: Are you able to read what your instructions were?
Siliya: Yes, I wrote...please update me on this and who is the source of this letter.
Judge Chirwa: On 17th November?
Silwamba: The letter reached your office on 13th November and you dealt with it on 17th November. Is there anything else on that letter?
Siliya: Yes, another internal memo to Mr Mukupa the head of procurement signed by the permanent secretary.
Silwamba: Are you able to see the date?
Siliya: 24th November 2008.
Silwamba: Just read that memo to their lordships.
Siliya then reads to the tribunal.
Silwamba: So, the permanent secretary is saying it is a serious matter and requests a report, failure to which he will re-advertise the tender?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Now, look at page 33 of Volume One. My lord it's a long report maybe we can break at this stage.
Judge Chirwa: We take our usual 15 minutes break.
After the break the tribunal resumes sitting.
Judge Chirwa: Yes, State Counsel you were showing the witness a document.
Silwamba: With your permission, before I come to that page. Ms Siliya, you have read ID10 the document on page 20 in volume one. Apart from the written instruction, did you invite them to discuss the matter with you?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Judge Chitengi: Who are they?
Silwamba: The permanent secretary and the head of procurement. Please tell their lordships their names.
Siliya: The permanent secretary is Dr E Mambwe and the head of procurement is Mr Mukupa.
Silwamba: Explain to the lordships what transpired.
Siliya: When I read the letter, I called for the permanent secretary and the secretary informed me that he was out of the country, if I recall, and then I called for Mr Mukupa. I showed him this letter and told him I was quite concerned and my concern was because I had been receiving a lot of information from within the ministry that they felt there was something going on as far as the radar tender was concerned.
Silwamba: At this stage, were you minister actively involved in that process, the tribunal would like to know?
Siliya: Not at all my lord. I specifically asked Mr Mukupa on the accusations in the letter... Mr Mukupa actually expressed shock that somebody knew about this certificate which he said to me that it had just been delivered to his office, if I recall, the previous day. And again I told him that people within the ministry had been coming to my office to make allegations pertaining to the tender of the radar and that how this letter from the concerned taxpayer was confirming to me as the minister that certain people felt that there was something wrong whether true or not. I explained to him that I was going to meet with the director general to whom the letter was addressed to so that we could discuss this letter and maybe find out who actually sent this letter to the tender board.
Silwamba: Did you meet with Dr Mambwe to discuss this letter?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: Why not?
Siliya: As I said at the time it happened, I was not aware that he had travelled and when he came back he was either not always around or not in the office. I did make an effort to try and meet with him because I took this matter very serious but on one or two occasions he was either out of town or the country but he never got back to me.
Silwamba: But you met with Mr Mukupa?
Siliya: Yes, I did meet with Mr Mukupa.
Silwamba: What about the addressee, did you find out whether he had a record...
Siliya: Yes, my lord. I invited Mr Kapitolo towards the end of November 2008 and he did come to my office.
Silwamba: You told their lordships that you had done something before. So this was not the first time?
Siliya: No, my lord, I had met him over the e-governance tender and Mchinji Rail line construction tender.
Silwamba: So, regarding that letter, did Mr Kapitolo come to your office?
Siliya: Yes, my lord, he came to my office.
Silwamba: Tell the lordships what transpired.
Siliya: My lord, I told Mr Kapitolo in our meeting that I was concerned about this letter and my concern was as a result of the experience in history...we have had in the ministry particularly regarding e-governance tender and also various information I kept receiving in my office relating to the radar and accusations on the permanent secretary Dr Mambwe. I informed Mr Kapitolo that our ministry had for a long time been perceived as corrupt because of the information that I was receiving and so it was important that we provide confidence in the process as far as the radar tender was concerned and especially because of our experience with the e-governance tender. I informed Mr Kapitolo that I will be directing the permanent secretary and the procurement department to hold on or suspend the process until we established why there were a lot of people within the ministry feeling very uncomfortable about the process and the letter from him was the last straw on the camel's back.
Silwamba: What was his reaction?
Siliya: He was not averse to my suggestion and that's how we ended the meeting. I followed up with a letter addressed to Mr Kapitolo director general ZNTB then.
Judge Chirwa: Just clarify. All this was at a meeting, or before the meeting?
Siliya: At the meeting my lord.
Silwamba: We want to understand more on e-governance, go to page 125 of volume one. My lord, I will be showing the witness four short letters which I'll ask to be marked collectively. What is the date on the first one?
Siliya: 20th March, 2007.
Silwamba: Addressed to who and who is the author?
Siliya: The permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport and the author is D Kapitolo director general ZNTB.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Myself.
Silwamba: Just read that letter [Siliya reads the letter to the tribunal].
Silwamba: So, the tender authority was asking the ministry to re-evaluate that tender?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: And in his letter Mr Kapitolo to the permanent secretary copied the letter to you?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Go to page 126. What is the date?
Siliya: 9th April, 2008.
Silwamba: The addressee?
Siliya: The director general ZNTB.
Silwamba: The author is?
Siliya: Mukuka Zimba, permanent secretary, Ministry of Communications and Transport, Lusaka.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Myself.
Silwamba: Please read that letter.
Siliya reads the letter on the evaluation of the e-governance tender to the tribunal.
Silwamba: The date?
Siliya: 21 April, 2008. Authored by Muya, board secretary ZNTB. The subject matter is the e-governance tender...
Silwamba: Yes, witness go to page 128. What is that document?
Siliya: Internal memo from the permanent secretary to the minister's office.
Silwamba: The date?
Siliya: It is dated 24th April, 2008.
Silwamba: Addressee?
Siliya: It is addressed to D Siliya from the permanent secretary and the reference number is MCT/71/3/2C. The subject is the expression of interest for e-governance project.
Silwamba: Please read.
Siliya reads the internal memo before the tribunal.
Silwamba: Lastly, look at page 129. What is the date?
Siliya: 13th January, 2009.
Silwamba: Please tell their lordships the author and the addressee.
Siliya: E Mambwe permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport authored by F K Muya the board secretary Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA).
Silwamba: Please read that letter.
Silwamba: I now ask that they be marked collectively my lords.
Judge Chirwa: The documents are marked ID11.
Silwamba: Now, we have seen the documents regarding the e-governance, which was cancelled. Explain briefly.
Siliya: I was approached by one State House official that there was a tender and a certain company had not been shortlisted and that we as a ministry consider this company that was not shortlisted...
Silwamba: When you say shortlisted, was there a tender?
Siliya: I was not aware.
Silwamba: The tribunal would like to know.
Siliya: I was not aware I had just reported to the ministry... and I was told by this official that he wanted the ministry to consider this company and my lord, I responded that I had just reported. The following day, I called the permanent secretary to inquire about this tender... In the company of the director of planning, they told me that they too had been experiencing the same pressure from this gentleman and at that meeting, I learnt that in February or March 2008 and at that meeting they told me that he told them on phone that he had already spoken to the tender board. I asked to look at the shortlisted companies, and there were six companies if I recall, and indeed the company in question was not on the shortlist. We agreed at that meeting that we are going to ignore the gentleman.
Silwamba: Did you ignore?
Siliya: We did and then we received a letter from the tender board on 20th March.
Judge Chitengi: Mr Silwamba, we are not supposed to know this company and the gentleman?
Silwamba: With your indulgence my lord, no.
Silwamba then tells the tribunal that perhaps that could be done in camera.
Judge Chirwa: Suppose we want to know them?
At this point one of the petitioners' lawyers Bonaventure Mutale interjects and says "Shouldn't the witness be encouraged to be, a bit factual in her evidence? I don't know why my brother has to have it in camera."
Judge Chirwa then says that it was on certain conditions, evidence could be adduced in camera.
Silwamba: Obliged my lord.
Siliya: On 20th March, I received a letter addressed to the permanent secretary from ZNTB signed by Mr Kapitolo the director general informing the minister that a wrong procedure had been followed and that a wrong sourcing procedure had been followed to evaluate the bids and that he was asking the ministry to revaluate.
Silwamba: First you ignore, then you receive a letter from the tender board telling you that the selection was wrong?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Judge Chirwa: Yes.
Silwamba: Proceed.
Siliya: My ministry through the permanent secretary's office responded positively to this request and over the second revaluation...results came out. We met at the ministry and realised that the first six companies shortlisted in the second evaluation if I recall correctly the company that was number one was number six and the company that had not been shortlisted was now number one.
Silwamba: To be factual, do you remember the company?
Siliya: ZTE.
Silwamba: What was your reaction?
Siliya: We agreed that we request the tender board.
Silwamba: Had you heard this name before?
Siliya: From the initial meeting with the gentleman from State House who was asking that we consider a gentleman from ZTE and from within my ministry, I had heard that ZTE literally lived at the ministry because they were always visiting officers from the ministry. I was aware that the company that first listed were always competing for projects in the ministry. That I was made aware.
Silwamba: Who made you aware?
Siliya: The permanent secretary, directors.
Silwamba: Did this include the director of procurement?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord. In fact at a meeting where we agreed to cancel, there was the permanent secretary [Mukuka Zimba], the director of planning and the director procurements. And at this meeting, I recall the director of procurement telling us that two companies ZTE and Hua Wie...
Silwamba: Both are Chinese companies?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Just confirm, did Mr Mukupa have a role in e-governance?
Siliya: He provided the shortlistings at the meeting in my office and informed us about the competition.
Silwamba: What did you do after shortlisting?
Siliya: We proposed that we write to the tender board...
Silwamba: Were you requesting for the cancellation?
Siliya: We did in a letter on 9th April, 2008 to the director general ZNTB from the permanent secretary's office.
Silwamba: What was the response of the tender board?
Siliya: My lord, the response was positive.
Silwamba: So, for the second time this tender was cancelled?
Siliya: That is correct, my lord.
Silwamba: So, is this the experience you were referring to when you told the tribunal that with the experience from the e-governance tender?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: When you met Mr Kapitolo, did you remind him of e-governance?
Siliya: Yes, my lord, I made reference to it.
Silwamba: Are you telling their lordships that you only got involved when there was undue influence?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: For this tribunal, the concern is on the radar. Did you receive a written report?
Siliya: Yes, indeed it was authored by the director of procurement.
Silwamba: In the light of the document on page 20 which is ID10?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Just look at page 33. You recognize that document?
Siliya: I do, my lord.
Silwamba: What do you have to say, the document is a report prepared by Mr Mukupa on the tender of radar dated 26 November, 2008? The memo from the permanent secretary is dated 24th November 2008.
Siliya: Indeed my lord.
Silwamba: The report is fairly short four pages, please read to their lordships.
Siliya then reads the report before the tribunal.
Judge Chirwa: The document is marked ID 12
Silwamba: Most obliged my lord. What is the date?
Siliya: 26 November, 2008.
Silwamba: Please read to the honourable tribunal.
Siliya reads the documents.
Silwamba: Just confirm that the chief purchasing and supplies officer, do you know the name of that officer?0
Siliya: Yes, my lord. Mr Mukupa.
Silwamba: The officer confirmed that there was no contract with bidders?
Siliya: According to the report.
Silwamba: And the last paragraph 8.2.
Siliya reads the particular paragraph to the tribunal, which stated that the alleged rumors were baseless.
Silwamba: Do you know which rumours they are referring to?
Siliya: It must be the allegations in the letter by the concerned taxpayer
Silwamba: Please look at page 44 Volume one. Can you compare page 44 and P20.
Siliya: It is the same letter my lord.
Silwamba: I pray that page 44 be marked. So Ms Siliya, look at that document, you recognise it, P20?
Siliya: Yes, I do.
Silwamba: Date?
Siliya: My lord, the letter is dated 11 December, 2008.
Silwamba: Addressed to?
Siliya: D Kapitolo director general Zambia National Tender Board.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: It is copied to the permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport, director procurement department ministry of communications and transport.
Silwamba: Please read that letter.
Siliya is made to read the letter.
Silwamba: Now, when you said, you intend to restore confidence in the process, weren't you happy with the process?
Siliya: No, the allegations in the anonymous letter were very specific and if you recall, I said earlier this morning that I invited Mr Mukupa to my office to discuss the allegations and he confirmed that one of the bidders had just delivered the authorisation certificate and was surprised how somebody would have know about that since it had just been delivered and yet in his report, he says there was no contract. And secondly my lord, there was a serious allegation against a very senior official in the ministry, the permanent secretary. I had felt the permanent secretary needed to exonerate himself. My lords, at this point, this was just a process and considering the amounts of monies involved, I felt that any perception of corruption in this matter or undue influence will not go away because before this letter I continued to get information from within the ministry volunteered to me by various officers.
Silwamba: When you wrote the letter on 11 December, were you aware that the tender had been awarded?
Siliya: Not at all my lord.
Silwamba: Please show the witness...
Judge Chirwa: In your letter to the director general ZNTB, you indicated that the ministry had identified one company already?
Siliya: As soon as I went to the ministry in February 2008, the issues of radars came up in Parliament and at that point from the records, the ministry had identified an Italian company to provide the tender. Reference to that was made this morning by Sara Sayifwanda ID4 page five.
Silwamba: Can you refer to that letter?
Siliya: The name of the company was Selex. As stated by the minister, there had been a lot of concern over the lack of radar at the airports and based on that, gave a statement in Parliament that the ministry had identified this particular supplier as advised by experts in the ministry and now discussing funding with the ministry of finance.
Silwamba: Their lordships would like you to confirm that does ID 4 identify the company?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Silwamba: On that basis does not request for funding?
Siliya: Yes, it does my lord.
Silwamba: Is it your evidence that when addressing the National Assembly, you had in mind that letter by honourable Sayifwanda?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: At that stage, I was referring the witness to P14. Is that letter dated 11th December?
To page 16
From page 15
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Silwamba: I would like you to look at page 42 of volume one. Have you seen that document?
Siliya: Yes, I have my lord.
Silwamba: Have you compared the two?
Siliya: Yes, they are the same letter.
Silwamba: Are the features the same on page one especially?
Siliya: My lord, P14 has no date stamp while the one in volume one has a date stamp.
Silwamba: I want you to look at P14. What is the date?
Siliya: The date my lord is 11th December, 2008.
Silwamba: Who is the addressee?
Siliya: The vice-president Thales Air Systems.
Silwamba: And the subject matter?
Siliya: Notification of Award of Contract.
Silwamba: Who is the author?
Siliya: Dr E Mambwe permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: Is it copied to anybody?
Siliya: Yes, the Secretary to the Cabinet, the deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Secretary to the Treasury, permanent secretary ministry of finance, Attorney General, director general ZNTB, director department of Civil Aviation and the managing director National Airports Corporation.
Silwamba: Now, is that letter copied to you?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: Please read the contents of that letter.
Siliya then reads the letter of notification to Thales.
Silwamba: Did Dr Mambwe brief you about the existence of that letter of notification?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Judge Chitengi: Should you have been briefed?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Please look at page 10. You have seen that document?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Date?
Siliya: 6th January, 2009.
Silwamba: Addressed to who?
Siliya: E Mambwe permanent secretary.
Silwamba: Authored by?
Siliya: Myself.
Silwamba: I'll request for this document to be marked.
Judge Chirwa: This will be ID13.
Siliya: The document is a letter, the reference number is MCT/103/1/05. It is a letter dated 25th February, 2008 and it is addressed to the minister of finance Honourable Magande.
Silwamba: Who is the author?
Siliya: My lord it is authored by Sara Sayifwanda, minister of communications and transport.
Silwamba: So, as at 25 February 2008, the minister responsible for communications and transport was Sara Sayifwanda?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: My lord mark it ID4.
Judge Chirwa: Yes, please.
Silwamba: Most obliged. Ms Siliya, please read that letter.
Siliya reads the letter to Magande, which was a request for funding for radar equipment and indicated that the ministry had invited a supplier of radar equipment to come and assess the condition. The letter stated that the team recommended the installation of a new radar system at an estimated cost of Euro 13 million and that the ministry was requesting for more funds since the K600 million estimate in the 2008 budget was meant for the rehabilitation of the equipment which was not feasible.
Silwamba: You had an occasion to read that letter?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Just confirm to the lordships. This letter, when you look at page six, the three paragraphs, just read them again.
Siliya reads the paragraphs in question.
Silwamba: So, that letter confirms that there was a budget for the rehabilitation?
Siliya: Yes, my lord it does confirm.
Silwamba: That letter also says Selex is the supplier of equipment?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord it does.
Silwamba: My lord, with your permission, I am showing the witness the document on page seven on volume one. What is the reference number?
Siliya: My lord the reference number is MCT/103/1/5.
Silwamba: Compare with the one on page five.
Siliya: My lord, they are the same.
Silwamba: What is the date on that document?
Siliya: 14th March 2008.
Silwamba: Addressee?
Siliya: My lord, the letter is addressed to Evans Chibiliti, Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Silwamba: And who is the author?
Siliya: It is signed by Mukuka Zimba the permanent secretary.
Silwamba: Is it copied to anybody?
Siliya: It is copied to Honourable Magande and Dora Siliya Minister of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: Please read the letter to their lordships [Siliya reads the letter].
Silwamba: Did you receive a copy of that letter?
Siliya: Yes, I did my lord.
Silwamba: I want you to compare ID4 and ID5.
Siliya: My lord, ID4 is letter written by Sara Sayifwanda and ID5 is written by Mukuka Zimba.
Silwamba: The question was compare ID4 and ID5 minister.
Siliya: Apart from the differences in the dates, addressees and authors, everything is the same.
Silwamba: Everything is the same?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Judge Chitengi: In fact, in the academic world, it would be plagiarism?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Is ID4 copied to anybody?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: But ID5 is copied to Honourable Magande and yourself?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: With your leave my lords, I am showing the witness ID5 of Volume one. Are you able to see the reference number there?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: What is it?
Siliya: MCT/103/1/5C.
Silwamba: The date?
Siliya: 10th April, 2008.
Silwamba: Who is the addressee?
Siliya: Evans Chibiliti Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Lusaka.
Silwamba: Who is the author?
Siliya: Mukuka Zimba permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Judge Chirwa: Mark it ID6.
Silwamba: Most obliged. Please read the letter marked ID6.
Siliya reads the document to the tribunal.
Silwamba: You confirm that on 10th April 2008, you were minister?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord I was.
Silwamba: Were you shown a copy of this letter?
Siliya: I do recall discussing the matter with the permanent secretary, I think I was.
Silwamba: Did you subsequently read that letter?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: My lords I am showing the witness a document at page 10 in Volume one.
Siliya: Who is the addressee?
Siliya: The permanent secretary Minister of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: Date?
Siliya: 23rd April, 2008.
Silwamba: The author?
Siliya: C Evans Chibiliti, Secretary to the Treasury Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Silwamba: Is that letter copied to anybody?
Siliya: Yes, my lord, it is copied to the permanent secretary DEA Ministry of Finance and National Planning, the permanent secretary defence Lusaka, director general Zambia National Tender Board Lusaka.
Judge Chirwa: We mark that one ID7.
Silwamba: Please read the subject for ID7.
Siliya reads the document.
Silwamba: Now, look at page nine of the letter, it is replying to what letter?
Siliya: It was in response to a letter dated 13 March and April 10 on the same matter.
Silwamba: Were you briefed on the contents of that letter?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord I did.
Silwamba: Did the Treasury indicate to the ministry how much they were reserving for the procurement of equipment?
Siliya: There was no actual reference but supported in principle...
Judge Chitengi: Answer the question.
Siliya: No, they didn't indicate.
Silwamba: But they supported the acquisition in principle?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: With your leave, I am showing the document at page 12 of Volume one. Have you seen that document Ms Siliya?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: What is the reference number?
Siliya: MCT/1/3/2C.
Silwamba: Addressee?
Siliya: The letter my lord is addressed to the director general, Zambia National Tender Board, Lusaka.
Silwamba: The author?
Siliya: It is signed by Dr E Mambwe permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Honourable Dora Siliya MP minister of communications and transport Lusaka.
Judge Chirwa: Exhibit ID8.
Silwamba: Ms Siliya please read the contents of that letter.
Siliya reads the letter whose subject is the purchase of radar equipment for Lusaka and Livingstone international airports.
Silwamba: Now, I want you to look at page 21 of Volume one. Have you seen that document?
Siliya: Yes, I have.
Silwamba: What is the date?
Siliya: 13th May, 2008.
Silwamba: What is the reference number?
Siliya: MCT/1/3/2C.
Silwamba: The addressee and author?
Siliya: My lord, it is addressed to the director general ZNTB Lusaka the author is E Mambwe permanent secretary ministry of communications and transport.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Honourable Dora Siliya, MP, Minister of Communications and Transport, Lusaka.
Silwamba: My lord, may the document be marked.
Judge Chirwa: ID9
Silwamba: Now read ID9 page 21
Siliya reads the document.
Silwamba: Can you compare ID8 and ID9.
Siliya: My lord, the documents seem the same...the other one is on a letterhead while the other one is not but the contents are the same.
Silwamba: The contents are the same?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: That was a letter copied to you?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Silwamba: Look at page three of ID9, the letter copied to you just read it again.
Siliya reads a letter to the tribunal.
Silwamba: So, Dr Mambwe is advising the tender board and also informing you that only one firm ...regarded?
Siliya: According to this letter yes, my lord.
Silwamba: In that letter in paragraph five, read to the lordships [Siliya reads that paragraph].
Silwamba: Does he indicate how much money the treasury has give for the purchase of radars?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: Now, this tribunal is interested to know what role you played as minister in this process. So, look at page 20 of Volume one. Have you seen that document?
Siliya: Yes, I have.
Silwamba: What is that document?
Siliya: It is a letter addressed to the director general Zambia National Tender Board.
Silwamba: Is that letter dated?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: There is a stamp of your office there?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: What is the date of that stamp?
Siliya: 13th November 2008
Silwamba: Who is the author?
Siliya: My lord, it is only signed concerned taxpayer.
Silwamba: It is copied to?
Siliya: My lord, the letter is copied to the minister of communications and transport and the Anti Corruption Commission.
Silwamba: What is the subject matter?
Siliya: Tender no. TB/ORD/045/08/ZATM-RADAR.
Judge Chirwa: Yes, marked ID10.
Silwamba: Most obliged my lord. Ms Siliya, did you receive that letter?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Silwamba: Please read the typed contents to the honourable tribunal.
And Siliya reads the concerns of the concerned taxpayer.
Silwamba: Upon receipt of that anonymous letter, what did you do as minister?
Siliya: My lord, my immediate reaction was to bring the matter to the attention of the permanent secretary and the director of procurement.
Silwamba: How did you communicate your instructions?
Siliya: I wrote an internal memo on the same letter to the permanent secretary and the procurement department.
Silwamba: Are you able to read what your instructions were?
Siliya: Yes, I wrote...please update me on this and who is the source of this letter.
Judge Chirwa: On 17th November?
Silwamba: The letter reached your office on 13th November and you dealt with it on 17th November. Is there anything else on that letter?
Siliya: Yes, another internal memo to Mr Mukupa the head of procurement signed by the permanent secretary.
Silwamba: Are you able to see the date?
Siliya: 24th November 2008.
Silwamba: Just read that memo to their lordships.
Siliya then reads to the tribunal.
Silwamba: So, the permanent secretary is saying it is a serious matter and requests a report, failure to which he will re-advertise the tender?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Now, look at page 33 of Volume One. My lord it's a long report maybe we can break at this stage.
Judge Chirwa: We take our usual 15 minutes break.
After the break the tribunal resumes sitting.
Judge Chirwa: Yes, State Counsel you were showing the witness a document.
Silwamba: With your permission, before I come to that page. Ms Siliya, you have read ID10 the document on page 20 in volume one. Apart from the written instruction, did you invite them to discuss the matter with you?
Siliya: Yes, indeed my lord.
Judge Chitengi: Who are they?
Silwamba: The permanent secretary and the head of procurement. Please tell their lordships their names.
Siliya: The permanent secretary is Dr E Mambwe and the head of procurement is Mr Mukupa.
Silwamba: Explain to the lordships what transpired.
Siliya: When I read the letter, I called for the permanent secretary and the secretary informed me that he was out of the country, if I recall, and then I called for Mr Mukupa. I showed him this letter and told him I was quite concerned and my concern was because I had been receiving a lot of information from within the ministry that they felt there was something going on as far as the radar tender was concerned.
Silwamba: At this stage, were you minister actively involved in that process, the tribunal would like to know?
Siliya: Not at all my lord. I specifically asked Mr Mukupa on the accusations in the letter... Mr Mukupa actually expressed shock that somebody knew about this certificate which he said to me that it had just been delivered to his office, if I recall, the previous day. And again I told him that people within the ministry had been coming to my office to make allegations pertaining to the tender of the radar and that how this letter from the concerned taxpayer was confirming to me as the minister that certain people felt that there was something wrong whether true or not. I explained to him that I was going to meet with the director general to whom the letter was addressed to so that we could discuss this letter and maybe find out who actually sent this letter to the tender board.
Silwamba: Did you meet with Dr Mambwe to discuss this letter?
Siliya: No, my lord.
Silwamba: Why not?
Siliya: As I said at the time it happened, I was not aware that he had travelled and when he came back he was either not always around or not in the office. I did make an effort to try and meet with him because I took this matter very serious but on one or two occasions he was either out of town or the country but he never got back to me.
Silwamba: But you met with Mr Mukupa?
Siliya: Yes, I did meet with Mr Mukupa.
Silwamba: What about the addressee, did you find out whether he had a record...
Siliya: Yes, my lord. I invited Mr Kapitolo towards the end of November 2008 and he did come to my office.
Silwamba: You told their lordships that you had done something before. So this was not the first time?
Siliya: No, my lord, I had met him over the e-governance tender and Mchinji Rail line construction tender.
Silwamba: So, regarding that letter, did Mr Kapitolo come to your office?
Siliya: Yes, my lord, he came to my office.
Silwamba: Tell the lordships what transpired.
Siliya: My lord, I told Mr Kapitolo in our meeting that I was concerned about this letter and my concern was as a result of the experience in history...we have had in the ministry particularly regarding e-governance tender and also various information I kept receiving in my office relating to the radar and accusations on the permanent secretary Dr Mambwe. I informed Mr Kapitolo that our ministry had for a long time been perceived as corrupt because of the information that I was receiving and so it was important that we provide confidence in the process as far as the radar tender was concerned and especially because of our experience with the e-governance tender. I informed Mr Kapitolo that I will be directing the permanent secretary and the procurement department to hold on or suspend the process until we established why there were a lot of people within the ministry feeling very uncomfortable about the process and the letter from him was the last straw on the camel's back.
Silwamba: What was his reaction?
Siliya: He was not averse to my suggestion and that's how we ended the meeting. I followed up with a letter addressed to Mr Kapitolo director general ZNTB then.
Judge Chirwa: Just clarify. All this was at a meeting, or before the meeting?
Siliya: At the meeting my lord.
Silwamba: We want to understand more on e-governance, go to page 125 of volume one. My lord, I will be showing the witness four short letters which I'll ask to be marked collectively. What is the date on the first one?
Siliya: 20th March, 2007.
Silwamba: Addressed to who and who is the author?
Siliya: The permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Transport and the author is D Kapitolo director general ZNTB.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Myself.
Silwamba: Just read that letter [Siliya reads the letter to the tribunal].
Silwamba: So, the tender authority was asking the ministry to re-evaluate that tender?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: And in his letter Mr Kapitolo to the permanent secretary copied the letter to you?
Siliya: Yes, my lord.
Silwamba: Go to page 126. What is the date?
Siliya: 9th April, 2008.
Silwamba: The addressee?
Siliya: The director general ZNTB.
Silwamba: The author is?
Siliya: Mukuka Zimba, permanent secretary, Ministry of Communications and Transport, Lusaka.
Silwamba: Copied to?
Siliya: Myself.
Silwamba: Please read that letter.
Siliya reads the letter on the evaluation of the e-governance tender to the tribunal.
Silwamba: The date?
Siliya: 21 April, 2008. Authored by Muya, board secretary ZNTB. The subject matter is the e-governance tender...
Silwamba: Yes, witness go to page 128. What is that document?
Siliya: Internal memo from the permanent secretary to the minister's office.
Silwamba: The date?
Siliya: It is dated 24th
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