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Kabimba calls for tribunal over Konga’s conduct on LITASCO

Kabimba calls for tribunal over Konga’s conduct on LITASCO
By George Chellah
Thu 14 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT

LUSAKA lawyer Wynter Kabimba (right) yesterday observed that energy minister Kenneth Konga’s alleged conduct on the crude oil supply contract to LITASCO warrants a tribunal.

Commenting on The Post expose’ of the government’s attempt to rig the bid for the supply and delivery of 1.4 million metric tonnes of crude oil to Zambia in favour of Russia’s LITASCO, Kabimba described the incident as an act of misconduct.

“The information that has been so far reported about the Minister of Energy Mr Konga, if that information has any substance, this is a matter for a parliamentary and ministerial tribunal under the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act, along the lines of Dora Siliya education minister,” Kabimba said.

“… Because under that Act, it is an act of misconduct for anybody who has inside information in position of a minister or a member of parliament to disclose that information to an outsider by way of giving that outsider pecuniary advantage, which is exactly what Mr Konga has done.

“So I think it will only be fair in the interest of the people of Zambia and the interest of justice that a complaint be filed before the Chief Justice for the tribunal to be constituted to probe into this matter further.”

Last week, well-placed government sources revealed to The Post that the government, through Konga, availed the original tender document to LITASCO through Hayward for the firm to suggest some changes in its favour and disadvantage competitors.

But when contacted for comment, Konga denied any linkage to LITASCO although insiders said he had been working closely with Hayward from June last year when a Zambian businessman introduced LITASCO to President Rupiah Banda at State House.

Sources revealed that Konga and Hayward met on several occasions in Johannesburg and Lusaka to discuss the oil procurement deal.

A comparison between the original tender document and the revised one showed that the Ministry of Energy and Water Development and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) made changes on all the points that Hayward disapproved.

When contacted from Dubai, Hayward declined to comment on the revelations.
Responding to a press query, Konga stated that he had no role in the tender process other than giving policy guidance at the Ministry of Energy and Water Development.

“I, therefore, did not give any tender document to LITASCO. The document can be accessed by any third parties (other than the Ministry of Energy and Water Development and Zambia Public Procurement Authority) when they buy it from ZPPA. Given the fact that the document can be sold to anyone who wants it, it is in that sense a public document,” stated Konga.

But a ZPPA source dismissed Konga's explanation.

“Just wait and see, unless something fundamentally changes, this contract is destined for LITASCO and there is enough evidence to show that Mr Konga has been in touch with Leon Hayward of LITASCO,” said the source.

Labels: KENNETH KONGA, LITASCO, WYNTER KABIMBA

posted by MrK @ 5:29 AM