Maravi

Sata won't tolerate corruption - Sakeni

Sata won't tolerate corruption - Sakeni
By Allan Mulenga and Ernest Chanda
Wed 03 Oct. 2012, 13:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata is not going to spare anyone found acting corruptly or entertaining corrupt instructions, says Kennedy Sakeni. And Anglican priest Father Richard Luonde has called for the resignation of defence minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM), saying the corruption allegations against him have the potential to dent the image of PF.

Meanwhile Mike Mulongoti says the allegations that GBM had been influencing Zesco to award his company and others where he had interest, contracts for the supply and delivery of wooden poles, have serious implications.

Sakeni, who is information minister, yesterday said in a statement that President Sata had warned civil servants in particular to take note that they would not be spared if they engaged in corrupt activities or acted as conduits of corruption simply because some of their collaborators may be high-ranking officials.

Sakeni stated that President Sata's fight against corruption was not limited to the former regime and the dirt it engaged in.

"Make no mistake; no civil servant is obliged to carry out instructions that amount to corruption. If a minister or indeed anybody senior in government requests a junior officer to do something unlawful, they should not do it.

If they decide to participate in the corruption, they will only have themselves to blame when they are fired and later on prosecuted," said Sakeni in apparent reference to GBM's issue.

"Government would like to remind all national leaders and public servants that His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata's call for a spirited fight against corruption is not limited to the former regime and the dirt it engaged in.

This administration has undertaken to fight corruption whenever and wherever it is found. Therefore, the President will not spare anyone found acting corruptly or entertaining corrupt instructions."

Earlier in the day, Fr Luonde called for the resignation of Mwamba before the Zambian people begin to lose faith in government.

"The honourable thing that GBM can do is resign and concentrate on his businesses because that will tarnish the image of the PF which is in government and people will begin to lose faith in our dear government which is the PF. The honourable thing that our dear Minister of Defence should do is to resign," he said.

Fr Luonde said corruption allegations among Cabinet ministers made sad reading because the PF campaigned on the platform of rooting out corruption.

"When the PF were campaigning for the change of government, it was to end corruption and the PF was put into government for that. Corruption was the first issue, followed by health, education, poverty and so on.

When government leaders are accused of corruption, then the government must take action. Out of sincerity, such leaders should resign without even being fired by the President," he said.

"It is very saddening and it is a sad story. Because honestly, if I went as a leader and acted in a manner which is not proper such as acquiring contracts, it would be unfair to those who are not out of leadership."

And speaking earlier, Mulongoti, who is former works and supply minister in the MMD government, urged President Sata to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserved.

"What you have is a story of a Cabinet minister and for it to come out like that, it has got serious implications. It is expected that the powers that be, will take that issue with the agency it is deserved, so that the integrity of government is respected; the integrity of individuals will also be protected," he said.

Mulongoti said the Zambian people would like to see the matter investigated conclusively.

"If you rush discipline, you are declaring him guilty. I don't think that is the right way. The right way is to inquire into it and interrogate into the facts, so that you get the bottom of the matter.

The powers that be can now make an informed decision. For now in line with our Constitution there is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by the courts of law," he said.

"Allegations of corruption will always be there, it is not only one individual. There are many people in government. I will not want to see action taken before the conclusion of investigations that will protect the integrity of government."
Meanwhile, Transparency International Zambia executive director Goodwell Lungu urged President Sata to take keen interest in the matter.

"As TIZ, we are going to follow up this matter very vigorously and we would like to advise GBM and other people to avoid being found in such allegations. But of course we are following up just to ascertain that he did not involve himself in such issues," he said.

"We want to advise the President to take a keen interest also on that particular matter, so that transparency can prevail. Normally, when such things pop up, it only necessary that the state should be able to verify such serious allegations that are made against ministers."

Mwamba, when contacted over other corruption allegations which some people brought to The Post yesterday said he had never been a friend of The Post newspaper, and asked the reporter never to get in touch with him again.

"Mwana (my friend), I don't want to be dragged into such issues because I don't know anything; I'm not in the ministry of, what is that? In any case what you do in future please try and write to me, then I respond the way I'm going to respond to this article of today. I'll respond so that the public can judge who is telling the truth and who is not. So, unfortunately I'm not able to discuss anything, and anyway how come we've become friends now? When there's something negative, that's when you want to contact me.

I'm sorry I'm not your friend.
Me and The Post, we are not friends, why do you want to…? In future don't even waste your time to talk about me or to ask me anything; you should ask those that you cover," said Mwamba, who has in the past requested for coverage from The Post on several ministerial assignments.

Labels: CORRUPTION, KENNEDY SAKENI, MICHAEL SATA, POLICE

posted by MrK @ 4:29 PM