Maravi

Police, ACC seize Konga's property

Police, ACC seize Konga's property
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 23 Dec. 2011, 13:59 CAT

LAW enforcement officers have seized a luxurious Hummer and two motorcycles from former minister of energy Kenneth Konga in the ongoing investigations of the previous regime's management of public resources.

Well-placed sources separately confirmed that a combined team of investigators from the Zambia Police, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on Wednesday seized the properties from MMD Chavuma member of parliament Konga's residence in Kabulonga.

"The officers seized a Hummer and motorcycles yesterday Wednesday from Honourable Konga. They were seized in connection with the investigations on former ministers," the source said.

When contacted, Konga could neither deny nor confirm the seizure of his property but referred the query to investigators.

"You must ask the law enforcement officers themselves. Talk to the officers, they are the ones who are doing that work. I don't have any comment to make," Konga said.

Further asked when his property seized, Konga responded: "Talk to the officers, as I have indicated; they will confirm with you."

According to the sources, investigators were probing the way the previous government, at the time Konga served as energy minister, procured crude oil.

Asked about the probe of the crude oil deals his ministry entered into with two named firms, Konga responded: "I can't comment anything. I don't know if I am being probed. No one has brought it to my attention."

According to sources, investigators had discovered that some former government leaders were still getting ‘cuts' from oil tenders and some of them might be arrested over the same.

"There is overwhelming evidence in the oil deals," the source said. "Some people are still getting cuts."

In September, President Michael Sata dissolved the Energy Regulation Board and ordered an investigation into the oil supply deals.

President Sata named PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba as head of a panel inquiring into charges of corruption by the ERB in the awarding of tenders for the supply of crude to Zambia's only refinery, Indeni.

Last year, government awarded a contract of $ 1 billion fuel energy supply to London-based Glencore to supply 1.4 million metric tons of crude oil for two years, and President Sata said the deal would be investigated as part of a wider investigation into why fuel prices in the country were abnormally high as compared to other countries.

President Sata, who campaigned as a champion of the poor, has pledged to tackle corruption, and a number of ministers, service personnel and senior government officials have been questioned over alleged several irregularities committed while in government.

Labels: ACC, KENNETH KONGA

posted by MrK @ 5:06 PM