ECZ has engaged a corrupt printer - Lubinda

ECZ has engaged a corrupt printer - Lubinda
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 05 Aug. 2011, 14:00 CAT

GIVEN Lubinda says the company printing ballot papers for next month’s elections has a record of bribery and corruption. And Lubinda has challenged ECZ chairperson justice Irene Mambilima and Anti Corruption Commission director general Godfrey Kayukwa to explain what they know about corruption involving Universal Print Group (UPG), a South African firm engaged to print ballot papers.

In an interview yesterday, Lubinda - who is opposition Patriotic Front member of the central committee - said UPG had a proven record of corrupting public officers in its bid to get contracts from the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

“It’s extremely scandalous for us as a country to engage a South African company which has a well known and well established record of corruption. I would like to ask the director general of the ACC Mr Godfrey Kayukwa to come out in the open,” Lubinda said.

“What does he know about the previous conduct of this company?” said Lubinda, who is chairperson of African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) and immediate past member of parliament for Kabwata.

“Is Kayukwa telling the country that he, as director general of the Anti Corruption Commission, is not aware of the fact that Universal Print Group of South Africa has been in the past involved in corrupt practices?

Is he not aware that this UPG company has matters hinging on corrupting public officers to get contracts with ECZ? I challenge Mr Kayukwa to come out open on this matter. Can he tell the Zambians what he personally knows about this and what the Anti Corruption Commission knows about this company?”

Lubinda appealed to justice Mambilima to tell the nation what she knows about UPG and its involvement in corrupt practices. He demanded to know who conducted the due diligence investigation on UPG before it was awarded the contract to print ballot papers.

“One wonders why the ECZ and government are insisting on having ballot papers printed in South Africa and why are they insisting that the ballot papers be printed by UPG,” Lubinda said.

“I would like to request justice Mambilima and Mr Kayukwa to be categorical and deny that UPG have never been engaged in corruption in Zambia.”

Lubinda said the ECZ’s insistence on using UPG was sowing seeds for a disaster in Zambia.

“We can’t accept a company with a proven corruption record to be involved in any part of our electoral process. For the sake of good order, conducting acceptable elections, continued peace and harmony in our country, I would like to appeal to the ACC chief to explain to the public all that he knows about UPG and I am sure that judge Mambilima being Supreme Court judge and Deputy Chief Justice, she too, has the interest of Zambia at heart and she will not hesitate to tell the Zambian people what she knows about UPG,” Lubinda said.

“Probably, the former chairperson of ECZ judge Florence Mumba and former director general Dan Kalale might also have a word to say on UPG. Can this matter be rested before ballot papers are printed?”

Lubinda said the conduct of general elections in any democratic country was a very serious affair and required to be given due attention by all stakeholders. He said state institutions like the ACC must ensure that the outcome of the elections was the reflection of the will of the people.

He said the ECZ and government’s insistence to have ballot papers for this year’s elections printed in South Africa raised more questions than answers.

“The process that was used to identify the company that was awarded the contract also raises many questions. It is very shameful for us as a country, which is 47 years old, and has conducted elections every five years since 1964 to be debating about printing the ballot papers abroad,” said Lubinda.

But when contacted for comment yesterday, Kayukwa responded:

“Just put it in writing because I will have to research and look at it. I can’t answer on the phone like this. I normally answer written queries; they are easier to deal with. I don’t even know what Mr Lubinda has said. Tell us what he has said and if there is need then we can comment on it.”

Justice Mambilima could not be reached for comment as she was reportedly in a meeting.