Maravi

Sacika sees danger in Rupiah’s call for funds from diplomats

COMMENT - I think this is clearly abuse of office. The foreign embassies are part of the Zambian state, they do not belong to the MMD.

Sacika sees danger in Rupiah’s call for funds from diplomats
By Patson Chilemba
Tue 19 Apr. 2011, 03:59 CAT

RUPIAH Banda is encouraging Zambian diplomats accredited to other countries to use unconventional means to fund MMD campaigns, says Sketchley Sacika. And Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja refused to comment on President Banda’s instruction to the diplomats.

Commenting on President Banda’s appeal to Zambia’s ambassadors and high commissioners last Thursday in Chisamba that they should donate funds to his and the MMD’s campaigns in this year’s election, Sacika, said the diplomats could only use unconventional means to fund the campaigns since their personal emoluments were quite moderate to do so.

“The danger I see is that asking ambassadors and high commissioners to make donations to the MMD campaign places them in a position where they might use unconventional means which may include fidgeting with mission accounts or missions funds to raise the money that Mr Banda wants,” said Sacika, who is a former secretary to the cabinet.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already come under heavy criticism over the Auditor General’s report on the abuse of funds.

He said the diplomats who might wish to be in good books with President Banda may start misappropriating public funds.

Sacika said some may even use their positions to seek funds from foreign individuals to raise the money President Banda wanted.

“It is understood ambassadors and high commissioners are civil servants, and asking civil servants to make a contribution to campaign funds, I think it is not the right thing to do. Zambia is not a one-party state. People who work in these institutions work for all of us Zambians,” Sacika said.

He said Zambians should not allow a situation where ambassadors and high commissioners abused funds to fund President Banda’s campaigns.

He said no political party should be allowed to use public resources to fund their campaigns.

Sacika said President Banda’s instruction was not consistent with foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande’s recent admission that there was abuse of funds in foreign missions.

When reached for comment, Dr Kanganja responded: “Why should I comment? I am sorry, I can’t comment. If you were looking for factual information I can give you factual information; not asking for my comment,” Dr Kanganja said before he hung up the phone.

Labels: CORRUPTION, DR. SKETCHLEY SACIKA, EMBASSIES, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:00 AM