Maravi

Lubinda challenges govt to disclose findings of Dr Miti’s investigations

Lubinda challenges govt to disclose findings of Dr Miti’s investigations
By Ernest Chanda
Wed 24 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda has challenged the government and law enforcement agencies to disclose the findings of their investigations into the matter involving Dr Simon Miti and other Ministry of Health staff who were sent on forced leave last year.

And Fackson Shamenda has said accountability should start with controlling officers because they should live by example in their conduct.

Dr Miti, who is former health permanent secretary, and about 39 other officers were sent on forced leave in April last year following a huge financial scandal at the ministry of which nine are currently appearing in court for charges that include theft of public funds.

In an interview on Monday, Lubinda who is also chairperson of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Zambia chapter questioned the morality of law enforcement agencies in keeping quiet after causing a stir at the ministry.

“I remember that early last year, the nation saw a serious scandal unearthed at the Ministry of Health where huge sums of money were embezzled. And we also saw the Secretary to the Cabinet suspend about 39 workers including then PS Dr Simon Miti. Not only that, police cordoned the Ministry of Health. And the nation was assured that police and the Anti Corruption Commission would soon release the findings,” Lubinda said.

“But next month we are clocking a year since those pronouncements were made and we don’t know what the findings are.We are questioning because there are only about nine people facing court charges. What has become of the other 30 employees who were sent on forced leave? I think the Zambian taxpayer deserves to be updated on this issue. The government and law enforcement agencies should not play diplomacy on a serious issue such as this one.”

He wondered what had happened after Dr Miti wrote a letter to President Rupiah Banda in which he explained his personal problems.

“After his letter of clemency to President Banda we haven’t heard anything about Dr Miti; his issue simply went quiet. Can the nation also be told about who is paying Dr Miti and all those sent on forced leave. And do our labour laws allow someone to be on forced leave for close to a year and draw a salary? I think this is a serious issue on which the nation deserves to be updated,” demanded Lubinda.

And Shamenda said financial discipline should start with people at the top before it flows to the bottom.

Shamenda, who is former Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, questioned the rationale behind following what he termed small fish and leaving out the big fish.

“Accountability should start from the top; that’s why you have those you call controlling officers. Human beings have got weaknesses, and temptations at the bottom are higher than at the top. Those at the top face fewer temptations because they are well-looked after by the system. They are given various incentives so they should be more accountable because they have no reason to abuse public resources. I’m not saying those at the bottom have a reason to abuse public resources, no,” explained Shamenda.

“So, since the big fish are expected to be more disciplined accountability should start with them. Why concentrate on the small fish and leave out the big fish? And what’s the use of controlling officers if they are not accountable? When you look at the parliamentary public accounts committee, it’s the big boys who appear before that committee. You will never find an accounts clerk because the committee knows that there are controlling officers in all government institutions. So, I insist that accountability should start with the big boys at the top.”

Labels: FACKSON SHAMENDA, GIVEN LUBINDA, SIMON MITI

posted by MrK @ 2:45 PM