Maravi

Sata warns new FIU board over oath of secrecy

Sata warns new FIU board over oath of secrecy
By Roy Habaalu
Fri 16 Nov. 2012, 09:20 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has warned the new Financial Intelligence Unit board members of dismissal if they defy the oath of secrecy. And economist Prof Oliver Saasa says the unit is a body that will allow the President make correct and informed decisions.

Meanwhile President Sata has reiterated government's commitment to deliver development inclusively across the whole country.

Swearing in the five board members of the unit in the Ministry of Finance at State House yesterday, President Sata said he was aware that there would be people who would claim to be more intelligent than them.

"Where you are going, there will be so many critics who will claim to be more intelligent than you are and more especially those who have acquired wealth without working for it. So you have to be very brave and where you are not sure of what to do, consult; you have the permanent secretary, minister and the deputy and Members of Parliament and the most important thing in this job which you have been given is secrecy. What you know keep it to yourself, don't tell your husband or wife because once we know, we will fire you without swearing-in ceremony," President Sata said.

Those sworn in as board members were Caritas Zambia executive director Samuel Mulafulafu, former DEC commissioner Raphael Mungole, Cecilia Banda, John Kasanga, Joseph Chikolwa and North Western Province minister Steven Masumba.
And President Sata has urged Masumba to be a man of the people.
"And you Mr minister (Stephen Masumba), you can go to Kipushi and dance. That's part of politics. You must go and dance with everybody and you must be a man of the people,"

After the swearing-in ceremony, President Sata asked Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Lesa Kasanda why newly-appointed labour and social security permanent secretary Trevor Kaunda was absent.

"Mr. Kasanda where is Mr. Kaunda, the permanent secretary? You are checking but we have finished swearing in ceremony, what are you checking? Where are you going to check?" President Sata asked after Kasanda said he was checking for a person who was absent.

And commenting on President Sata's swearing in of five board members of the unit, Prof Saasa said it was a body that should consider decisions made at policy and Cabinet levels.

"It's an honourable thing which enables the President to think through the implications of the country. It's long overdue that government opened up to the brains of this country to be able to assist him on how to govern. It's an independent mind that ensures that policies are taken independently and see whether policy choices taken are right or wrong and are workable," said Prof Saasa.

He said the mandate of the body should go beyond economic issues and extend to other fields so that the President is privy to what's going on in the country
"There is no question about the value of that body. It happens everywhere in the world .The Americans are more notorious. By the time you hear the President makes a statement, know it has gone through beyond those that are known state advisers. That's the way to go. It's a body that will check the inefficiency of the civil service that looks beyond individuals," said Prof Saasa.

And President Sata said government had undertaken to construct and complete secondary schools in all the 10 provinces of Zambia in order to enhance access to quality education for all.

In a statement released by his press aide, George Chellah, President Sata said during the period 2011 to 2012, a total of 83 schools had been under construction countrywide.

"Out of the 83 schools; 44 are almost finished and are scheduled for commissioning in January 2013. A further 35 secondary schools have been earmarked for construction countrywide in the period 2012 to 2013. The number of secondary schools earmarked for construction in the period 2012 to 2013 province by province is as follows: Three of the schools are in Central Province, Copperbelt (4), Western Province (3), Lusaka (3) and Luapula Province (5). The rest are Eastern Province (3), Northern Province (4), Muchinga (4) North Western (3) and Southern Province (3)," read the statement in part.

President Sata revealed that for the year 2013, the government had further earmarked the construction of four colleges to specifically train teachers in Mathematics and Sciences. The four colleges will be located in Kabompo, Nchelenge, Senanga and Katete.

"Our aspiration is to put together a well-organised, valuable and reliable public education system through substantial investments in educational infrastructure. As government we have an obligation to structure and shape the future of our general populace, particularly the younger citizens, who constitute a greater part of our population," said President Sata.

"This government will not leave out any part of the country in distributing development and will work towards unifying our people even in the share of resources, and this is but only the beginning of tremendous efforts directed at rebuilding Zambia as a prosperous and inclusive nation, whose people will work hard together in unity across their diverse backgrounds."

Meanwhile, President Sata has transferred Lusaka Province minister Colonel Gerry Chanda to Northern Province in the same capacity.
Col Chanda has swapped with Freedom Sikazwe.
And President Sata has also swapped Eastern Province minister Charles Banda with his Muchinga Province counterpart Malozo Sichone.

Labels: FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT (ZM), MICHAEL SATA, OLIVER SAASA

posted by MrK @ 5:31 PM