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(ZAMBIAWATCHDOG) Pro-government NGO wants Zamtel sale reversed

Pro-government NGO wants Zamtel sale reversed
January 12, 2012 |
Posted by: editor

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has joined calls by other PF supporters for government to reverse the sale of the Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel) to LAP Green networks of Libya. TIZ Executive Director Goodwell Lungu said reversing the sale will go a long way in enhancing the country’s tenets of fighting corruption.

But MMD chairman for finance Situmbeko Musokotwane has challenged the Patriotic Front Government to clearly point out the irregularities in the sale of ZAMTEL instead of generalizing the matter.

Musokotwane said that the commission of inquiry constituted to look into the alleged illegal sale of the telecommunications company to Libya’s LAP Green, should make its report public for the general public to know the truth.

He has challenged the Patriotic Front Government to refute the findings of the then audit report by Ernest and Young, an international firm of auditors which he said found ZAMTEL to be insolvent with enormous and unsustainable debt against few and obsolete assets.

But Lungu told ZANIS in an interview that the sale of Zamtel was based on irregularities that characterized the evaluation of the company by RP Capital of Cayman Island.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Lungu noted that with the country’s strong stance to fight corruption, it was imperative that government reverses the sale for the benefit of Zambians.

He explained that Zamtel was a public institution that was owned by Zambians hence the need for it to be given back to its rightful owners, who are the general citizenry.

He stated that repossessing Zamtel will also set a good precedent on government’s position of always upholding the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lungu has advised former vice president, George Kunda, to desist from making misleading statements that the law was followed in the evaluation of Zamtel assets by RP Capital.

He further said Mr. Kunda should take time and read the report of the tribunal which was set up to investigate the sale of Zamtel saying it clearly states that over seven various laws were flouted in the transaction.

Labels: CORRUPTION, GOODWELL LUNGU, LAP GREEN, PRIVATISATION, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, TIZ, ZAMTEL

posted by MrK @ 8:31 PM