(LUSAKATIMES) Justice Minister Summons Dora Siliya to answer allegations on the sale of Zamtel

Justice Minister Summons Dora Siliya to answer allegations on the sale of Zamtel
TIME PUBLISHED - Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 4:23 pm

The Commission of Inquiry tasked to investigate the sale of Zamtel and Finance Bank has asked Former Communications Minister Dora Siliya to avail herself before the commission and answer the allegations leveled against her over the sale of Zamtel.

Mr Zulu, who is also Justice Minister, said that the rule of natural justice demands that Ms Siliya appears before the Commission to give her side of the story on the sale of Zamtel.

This follows allegation by Transparency International Zambia(TIZ) that the sale of Zamtel was illegal and that there was blatant disregard for the law when disposing off the company.

TIZ Executive Director Goodson Lungu alleged that former Communications Minister Dora Siliya usurped the powers of Zambia Development Agency by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the sale of the telecommunications firm.

Mr Lungu was speaking when he made a presentation before the commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the sale of Zamtel, which started sitting in Lusaka on today.

He said that the former Minister did not get consent from the Zambia Procurement Authority to go ahead with the sale of Zamtel, which was blatant disregard for legal advice on the matter.

Mr Lungu also said that the former Minister over committed herself by agreeing on a five percent sale commission to RP Capital for the evaluation of Zamtel assets.

Meanwhile, the inquiry into the sale of Finance Bank to First National Bank will delay because the matter is in court. The Commission of Inquiry tasked to investigate the sale of Zamtel and Finance Bank, says it cannot investigate the sale of the Bank until the case is disposed off in the courts of law.

Commission Chairperson Sebastian Zulu made the ruling after Finance bank Chairperson Rajan Mahtani and his Lawyer John Sangwa has told the commission that Finance Bank Shareholders have instituted three legal suites against the Bank of Zambia over the transaction.

Mr Zulu has asked Mr Sangwa to avail the commission the details of their legal suite against the Bank of Zambia.

ZNBC