Dr Musonda is not a free man, says Kapeso
By Florence Bupe
Fri 11 June 2010, 08:00 CAT
Patriotic Front president Micheal Sata on Saturday evening visited the PF cadre who was shot in the head by Health deputy minister Dr. Solomon Musonda, the cadre is admitted at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH)
HEALTH deputy minister Dr Solomon Musonda is not a free man because his conscience does not allow him, Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso has said.
Responding to a question on why Dr Musonda has not been arrested and was still free after shooting a Patriotic Front (PF) cadre in Serenje last week, Kapeso said Dr Musonda was not a free man because his conscience was not clear.
“You can’t really say Dr Musonda is a free man. He is not a free man because his conscience is not free,” he said.
Kapeso said police investigations into the shooting had reached an advanced stage and action would be taken as soon as procedural requirements were concluded.
Dr Musonda last week shot Jackson Musaka, 25, on the left side of the forehead with a pistol, which has since been seized by police.
Concerns have been raised on why police have not yet arrested Dr Musonda over the shooting, but Kapeso said attempted murder was a serious case which required thorough investigations to be carried out before convicting the offender.
“People should just give us adequate time to carry out investigations after which we will submit the docket to the DPP Director of Public Prosecutions and take appropriate action,” said Kapeso.
Labels: BONNIE KAPESO, MMD, SOLOMON MUSONDA
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Police still probing Pule’s gold scandal
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
POLICE spokesperson Bonny Kapeso yesterday said the police are still investigating a few things in the case where Dunamis pastor Reverend Dan Pule was allegedly swindled out of US$62,000. Kapeso said there was a twist from the information that was given at first and the people who were in custody had been released on police bond.
"We are investigating one or two things," he said.
Rev Pule two weeks ago claimed that he had been swindled out of US$62,000 in a transaction where he alleged that he had been sold fake gold stones.
Rev Pule later said fake gold sellers did personally not swindle him out of US$62,000 but a company in which he is a director lost $42,000 in the deal.
Rev Pula said a company called United Minerals and Energy Zambia Limited, which he formed with some South Africans, is the one that lost money amounting to $42,000 and not $62,000 as reported through the gemstones conmen.
However, one of the accused men in the matter David Mwambazi last week disclosed that Rev Pule assisted them to bring the gold into the country from the Chirundu border.
Labels: BONNIE KAPESO, DAN PULE, FRAUD
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Violence is MMD's strategy, charges Hichilema
By Joseph Mwenda
Fri 13 Nov. 2009, 13:00 CAT
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema
By Joseph Mwenda OPPOSITION United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has described the prevailing violence in Solwezi as an MMD strategy to intimidate electorates ahead of the November 19 parliamentary by-elections.
And Hichilema this morning charged that the Electoral Commision of Zambia (ECZ) was useless in its current state because there were no electoral laws being adhered to during elections in the country. Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso has assured the nation that the 50 police officers assigned to secure peace in the violence-marred campaigns are working hard to protect the electorates. Speaking in an interview with The Post On-line, Hichilema said the rulling MMD was scared of losing the parliamentary seat that fall vacant following the death of area MP Benny Tetamashimba who was also local government minister.
“They have seen the numbers of people we are attracting to our rallies and because they are scared, they have now resorted to violence. The police mobilization is being done on behalf of the MMD while we are left alone without protection,” Hichilema said.
The UPND leader whose party entered into an alliance with the Patriotic Front earlier this year, said the MMD was desperate in their campaigns and were disrupting the opposition rallies through the police.
“Yesterday, MMD vehicles disrupted a rally which I was addressing in Zambia compound, I was on the podium so I saw them coming first and urged the people to ignore them, but they drove right inside the rally attended by over 8, 000 people in full view of the police. Now if we were violent people, those people would have been killed,” he said. Hichilema further accused the Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde of helping the MMD to distribute money, food stuffs and other materials to the electorates.
“Kabonde has been giving money to his officers and chiefs in Solwezi promising them that if they help MMD win the elections, he would promote the police officers in their area. Now what kind of thinking is that?” he wondered.
Hichilema said the MMD had distributed Fertilizer and clothing materials to would-be voters and K20 million to a newly formed Pastors’ fellowship in Solwezi.
“RB (Rupiah Banda) has started distributing sugar, salt, fertilizer and mealie meal to electorates like he did with Catherine Namugala (tourism minister) in Katete last year,” he said. He further said ECZ had been reduced to a branch of the ruling MMD.
There are no electoral laws in the country, the ECZ is useless and we need an independent electoral commission to be put in place, because they are seeing what is happening but they are doing nothing,” he said. Meanwhile, Kapeso confirmed that his ofiice had received police reports of pre-election violence from Solwezi.
“There were reports of violence in Solwezi, but since we deployed those 50 police officers, no new cases have come through, the officers on the ground are working hard to protect the electorates but we are ready to send reinforcement if need be,” he said. Meanwhile, Forum for Democratic Alternatives, (FDA) president Dr. Ludwig Sondashi this morning said his party had not been affected by the violence in Solwezi.
“There is in-fighting between MMD and UPND, our party has not been affected, but we are deeply concerned with the materials that the MMD are distributing to the electorates,” said Dr. Sondashi.
Labels: BONNIE KAPESO, CADRES, CORRUPTION, ELECTIONS, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MMD, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, SATA
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Police spokesperson sympathises with beaten journalists
Written by Joseph Mwenda
Friday, July 31, 2009 3:41:53 PM
POLICE Spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso has sympathized with journalists who were on Wednesday beaten by MMD carders who went to cover President Banda’s return from Kampala, Uganda. Kapeso who was not in a position to comment further on the incident said it was sad and dangerous that The Post reporter Chibaula Silwamba and Anthony Mulowa from Times of Zambia were beaten in full view of security.
“I am not making any statements on that matter because (Lusaka Division) Commanding Officer Mr. Greenwell Ng’uni was present when that was happening and he will answer the questions.’
“But I will inform the Inspector general of Police that journalists are very emotional. I have been to Times of Zambia, and Daily mail and journalists are very angry with what happened,” said Kapeso.
Labels: BONNIE KAPESO, CADRES, POLICE
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Police pick up 9 for K6.8bn MoH fraud
Written by Mwala Kalaluka
Sunday, July 05, 2009 4:26:33 PM
THE joint investigative team mandated to probe financial irregularities at the Ministry of Health has arrested and charged nine people in connection with alleged fraudulent payments to Algonquin Management Consultancy amounting to K6.8 billion.
Zambia Police and Anti Corruption Commission public relation officers, Bonny Kapeso and Timothy Moono confirmed the arrests during a press briefing held at Police headquarters yesterday.
Kapeso said those arrested include seven Ministry of Health officials and two other individuals linked to fraudulent payments to Algonquin Management between October 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008.
“The payments relate to various workshops purported to have been conducted for the Ministry of Health employees. The payments range from K200 million to K940 million and a total of K6, 840, 547, 636 was made to Algonquin Management and Consultancy for workshops which were never held or conducted,” Kapeso said. “The Ministry of Health employees have been charged with counts relating to theft by public servant contrary to section 272 and 277 of the Penal Code, while other individuals have been charged with counts of theft contrary to section 272 of the Penal Code.”
Kapeso said the first of the list of those arrested yesterday was Dr Chrispine Sichone, 44, director of health policy at the Ministry of Health.
He said Dr Sichone resides at plot 15231/1080, Kamwala South and that he had been charged with six counts of theft by public servant involving K4, 370, 825, 000.00.
Kapeso said the second was Roy Maswenyeho, 56, of number 56 Chabisa Road Woodlands, Lusaka, who is a principal accountant at the Ministry of Health.
Kapeso said Maswenyeho was charged with two counts of theft by public servant amounting to K1, 115, 618, 850.00.
He also said Vincent Luhana, aged 35, a senior accountant at the Ministry of Health and of plot number 551, Avondale in Lusaka was the third on the list.
Kapeso said Luhana was charged with six counts of theft by public servant amounting to K4, 088, 389, 186.00.
Kapeso further disclosed that Evaristo Musaba, aged 47, a former chief accountant at the Ministry of Health and now with Accountant General’s office, Ministry of Finance was the fourth person on the list.
Kapeso said Musaba, of house number 213 Monkey Close, Ibex Hill was arrested and charged with four counts of theft by public servant amounting to K2, 151, 527, 286.00.
He said the fifth person was former Ministry of Health human resource manager, Henry Kapoko, who has been arrested and charged with five counts of theft by public servant and five counts of theft amounting to K6, 840, 547, 636.00.
Kapeso named the sixth person on the list as 39-year-old assistant director of administration at the Ministry of Health and resident of plot number 2749 Shantumbu Road, Chilenje South, Nobert Peleti.
Kapeso said Peleti has been charged with five counts of theft by public servant amounting to K3, 098, 751, 486.00.
He said Kaoma Zukas Kaoma, 38, acting Ministry of Heath principal accountant and a resident of plot number 2344, Lilayi, Chipwepwenu area Lusaka was the seventh person.
He said Kaoma was charged with nine counts of theft by public servant amounting to K6, 342, 997, 636.00.
Kapeso also said that Algonquin director Naomi Gladys Musopelo Chawinga, 51, and a resident of house number 11/12 Shimaponda road, Matero East, was charged with ten counts of theft amounting to K6, 840, 547, 636.00.
Kapeso said 27-year-old Algonquin Management Consultancy shareholder and resident to plot number 65 Makishi Road, Northmead, Lusaka, Masuzyo Kuma Chawinga, has been arrested and charged with six counts of theft amounting to K4, 017, 197, 800.00.
He said the investigations team has also recovered five motor vehicles.
“All the suspects have been remanded in custody and expected to appear in court on Wednesday the 8th of July 2009 for plea,” said Kapeso.
Kapeso said it does not mean that if someone had been suspended from the Ministry of Health then they would be automatically arrested.
He also could not comment on the issue of the missing documents from the Ministry of Health, which could have helped in the probe.
Moono said the Auditor General’s office had said other areas were being sort to compliment for the missing documents.
The two were responding to a question from the Post on why the number of those arrested in the case was still far-off from the number of those who were suspended and barred from the Ministry of Health premises.
They said the investigations would determine who would be arrested.
Labels: ACC, BONNIE KAPESO, CORRUPTION, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, TIMOTHY MOONO
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Police pick up Dr Miti to help in MoH probe
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe, Ernest Chanda and Mwila Chansa
Sunday, May 31, 2009 4:05:53 PM
FORMER health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti was yesterday picked up by the police to help in the investigations of the K10 billion corruption scam in the Ministry of Health. And about 23 officials from the Ministry of Health are currently in custody following the institution of investigations in the theft of the K10 billion from the ministry.
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso yesterday confirmed that Dr Miti, who is now science and technology permanent secretary, was interviewed. However, Kapeso said Dr Miti was not in custody.
Kapeso said several more officials from the ministry were picked up in connection with the scam last Friday and as of yesterday there were 23 employees in custody.
And well-placed government sources disclosed that according to preliminary investigations by the Office of the Auditor General, a local company Kansma investments was dubiously paid K609,101,000 involving two transactions for some supplies to the Ministry of Health.
The sources said ESU School of Nursing was also paid over K7 billion involving 10 transactions for purposes of training nurses, midwives, clinical officers and for seminars between January 2008 and December 2008.
According to the sources, Joshua Ushibantu Simpaya, one of the directors of the same nursing school, is also an employee of the Ministry of Health.
The sources said another company Hesaka Enterprises where Henry Kapoko - a former human resource manager in the Ministry of Health - is one of the shareholders and directors, was paid about K204 million in April 2008.
The sources revealed that Best Home Lodge was paid over K442 million between May and December, last year for undisclosed services.
"Algonquin Management Consultants which deals in consultancy business was paid over K7 billion involving 13 transactions last year. Nora Christine Musopelo Mataka, a former Ministry of Health employee in the human resource department, is one of the directors and shareholders," the source said.
The sources disclosed that Kahekam Limited which deals in general trading and where Kapoko is shareholder and director was paid a down payment of over K1.9 billion from a total of K2.2 billion involving one transaction in February this year.
According to the sources, this contract should have been awarded to another firm which had qualified for the contract.
"The following are the qualifications; financial capability to handle a contract of such magnitude, to avail audited financial statements for the past three years of the company's operation, its average turnover for the past three years, be three years times the contract sum, meaning that the average turnover should have been K6.6 billion. However, Kahekam Limited did not qualify on any of the above criteria despite being awarded the contract," the source said "The total value of the contract sum of K2.2 billion was bonded by Goldman Insurance Limited up to March 31, 2009 and has since expired. The Ministry of Health did not take any step to claim back the above amount from Goldman Insurance Limited before the bond expired as Kahekam Limited did not supply any of the contracted 50,000 mother baby kits,"
The sources said Royal College of Business and Management [formerly Royal Secretarial and Management College] was paid over K4.3 billion involving six transactions between February and December, 2008.
The sources said the college is involved in secretarial training, research and human resource development.
And according to reliable sources at the MMD secretariate, the image builders for President Rupiah Banda in last year's campaign were lodged at Best Home Lodge as well as part of the MMD campaign team.
The sources said some of the upkeep for the MMD campaign team was paid by the Ministry of Health.
The sources said most of the people close to President Banda were also booked there and some speeches were written from there.
"We are very disappointed because there is an attempt from the powers that be to shield some MMD and government officials involved. There is a serious attempt to frustrate investigations in order to save some people who were involved in MMD campaigns. The involvement of police is also meant to frustrate investigations. It is also believed that the sealing off of the Ministry of Health by the police last week was meant to destroy some documents which could have implicated some MMD and top government officials as well as the image builders," the source said.
The sources said the powers that be brought in the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Zambia Police to hurry Kapoko's arrest so that the case could be hurried to court, and if it failed to stand in court, Kapoko would then be acquitted.
The sources said the ACC started investigating Kapoko's issue in February and were moving systematically because a lot of people were involved.
The sources said some companies connected to Kapoko were also connected to powerful people in the government and their children.
The sources disclosed that State House was using police to save those on their side while those on the other side were being used as sacrificial lambs.
"This is why we are complaining that some people should not be sacrificed over others and we are really doubtful that President Banda will properly fight this corruption because he is a beneficiary," the source said.
Auditor General Anna Chifungula last Friday revealed that preliminary investigations at the Ministry of Health indicated that K27 billion was stolen and there was a possibility that more money might have been stolen by civil servants.
Chifungula said the amounts of money stolen from the ministry were much higher than the initially reported K10 billion.
Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja said 32 workers from the Ministry of Health had been sent on forced leave.
Dr Kanganja said the affected workers would be liable for prosecution if investigations proved that they had abused public funds.
The ACC unearthed a corruption scam in which over K10 billion government funds were suspected to have been corruptly obtained from the Ministry of Health.
The commission is investigating Kapoko in connection with the alleged corruption, theft and fraud.
The ACC has also seized and restricted property in excess of K3 billion allegedly belonging to Kapoko who now works at the Ministry of Local Government and Housing in the human resource department.
President Banda last Tuesday directed all civil servants and their agents who were currently under investigations in the K10 billion scam not to enter the Ministry of Health premises until further notice.
According to a statement issued by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere, President Banda received an interim report on the alleged financial scam at the Ministry of Health where billions of funds were alleged to have been misapplied or stolen by civil servants.
Last Wednesday, over 20 employees at Ministry of Health were suspended to pave way for investigations into the scam.
Operations at the ministry were temporarily suspended as law enforcement agents cordoned the area to ensure that people did not move evidence from the offices and some people from various departments were picked up for questioning at the police headquarters.
Following the revelations, the Swedish and Dutch governments suspended aid to Zambia's health sector.
The donors have withheld their aid pending the report of the forensic audit of the Ministry of Health.
The Swedish government, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), were to release about K59 billion while the Dutch government contributes K92 billion annually to the country's health sector
Meanwhile, agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo said he feels terrible about the K10 billion scam in the Ministry of Health.
In an interview in Kitwe, Dr Chituwo noted that the K10 billion scam expose was an indication of failure in the government systems especially in procurement.
"I felt terrible and I still feel terrible," said Dr Chituwo who is former health minister. "I don't want to blow my own trumpet but I lobbied for resources from donors to support our programmes in the Ministry of Health."
Dr Chituwo said he personally travelled with the late president Levy Mwanawasa to lobby for activities such as the roll-back malaria programme and that at one time when they [he and the late Mwanawasa] went to the United States, donors even gave them an opportunity to propound what Zambia would do if given resources for the malaria programme.
"And believe you me, resources were coming. Now to learn about this is shocking; this clearly shows a system failure, not to have detected what was going on. Our systems are perhaps not that strong," he said.
However, Dr Chituwo noted that the expose could also be an indication that not all systems were failing because if it were so, the scam would not have been detected.
Dr Chituwo observed that the suspension of funding by some donor countries to the health ministry would seriously impede Zambia's progress in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said Zambia was already struggling to be on track in attaining health MDGs even before some donors suspended their funding and that their suspension would aggravate the situation.
"This is very unfortunate and that is why thorough work in investigations should be done. I would once again like to appeal to donors to rescind their decision," said Dr Chituwo.
Labels: BONNIE KAPESO, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, SIMON MITI
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Travel consultant confirms State House made bookings for alleged imposters
Written by Staff Reporters
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:27:41 AM
A TRAVEL consultant from Cathay Pacific Lusaka office Melody Mumba yesterday confirmed that a David Banda from State House made bookings for 26 passengers to travel to New York.
And sources at State House have revealed that the seven alleged imposters that were recently arrested were actually promised jobs in the foreign service by President Rupiah Banda.
Mumba, when asked to confirm a proforma invoice from Cathay Pacific which she signed and addressed to the Head of Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), State House, confirmed that a booking was made by David Banda.
However, Mumba said Banda later cancelled the booking as one of the passengers had died.
According to the invoice, 26 passengers were supposed to have left for New York on January 6 and 7, 2009 from Lusaka en route to Johannesburg and Hong Kong.
The tickets were one-way business class amounting to US $186,000 for all the passengers.
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso on Saturday disclosed that a second magistrate from Ndola, who is now deceased, was among the group of people from the Copperbelt that were using President Banda's name to stay at a lodge in Lusaka without footing the bills.
Mumba said Banda used to go to their travel agency with a woman from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
She said the other bookings could not be made because details of the children that were supposed to travel were not made available.
But when contacted for a comment on Saturday, State House chief analyst for press and public relations Dickson Jere said the seven people could not have been arrested if what they were saying was correct.
"Why have they been arrested if what they are saying is true?" Jere asked.
And when contacted yesterday after Mumba confirmed that David Banda from State House was making arrangements for the 26 to travel to New York, Jere said The Post could go ahead and publish the trash they always publish.
"What do you want me to say? What do you want me to tell you? You write the story. You already publish trash, so you publish the story," Jere said.
MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba on Sunday disowned people that were using President Banda’s name to stay at the lodge in Lusaka without footing the bills, saying they did not belong to the party.
Tetamashimba said the MMD had noted that people masquerading as appointees had the potential of tarnishing the image of both President Banda and the party.
But sources at State House said President Banda was aware of the seven people that were accommodated at a named lodge in Chilenje.
The source said President Banda had been communicating with the families since they moved to Lusaka, but only stopped communicating after the death of one of the people who was supposed to travel with the families.
"The President was in constant touch with these families and he only stopped after the death of magistrate Tembo, so we are actually surprised that he is quiet now," the source said.
The source said the families even sold off their properties in Ndola after being promised jobs because they were supposed to leave Zambia on the January 6 and 7 this year.
Labels: ALLOWANCES, BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, BONNIE KAPESO
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Death toll in Nyimba accident reaches 27
By Masuzyo Chakwe, Lambwe Kachali and Christopher Miti
Monday June 16, 2008 [04:00]
POLICE spokesperson Bonny Kapeso yesterday said the death toll in the Nyimba accident had reached 27. And Lusaka Province minister Lameck Mangani attributed accidents in the country to
the corrupt system in the issuance of drivers’ licences. The accident, which followed a tyre burst around 13:00 hours on Saturday at Nyalugwe turnoff, an area between Kacholola and Luangwa, has also left 54 people injured. Kapeso said 26 people died on the spot while the 27th died yesterday morning. He said the bus was overloaded as it was carrying 82 passengers instead of the required maximum of 60.
Kapeso said the driver of the bus was still at large.
And Mangani said people should not solely blame the bad state of roads as the major cause of accidents but the system under which drivers’ licences were being issued to people.
He said most drivers obtained Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences through corrupt means.
He said unless such vices were curbed, the country would continue to lose lives through accidents.
Mangani called for the formation of technical groups of bus inspectors who could conduct routine checks on all long distance public buses.
He said the technical group of bus inspectors should also look into mechanical problems most buses on long routes faced.
Mangani said some of the problems that caused rampant accidents were petty but because of lack of inspection, the buses were put on roads and consequently caused accidents.
"We had the UBZ (United Bus of Zambia), although accidents were there, they were not as rampant as they are today. In Eastern Province, almost every month, lives are lost in accidents, why?" Mangani asked. "I will start lobbying the government and business community to immediately form this honourary group of bus inspectors. These professionals should be given a mandate to ensure that only a bus which is fit should be on the road."
And police sources at the scene said 17 bodies had been taken to Chipata General Hospital mortuary, five bodies to St Francis Mission hospital mortuary in Katete district while three bodies were taken to Petauke District Hospital mortuary.
Eastern Province minister Charles Shawa described the accident as a big tragedy in the province.
Labels: BONNIE KAPESO, CAR ACCIDENTS, ROADS
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DEC charges cop for planting drug on businessman
By Sandra Mulowa
Saturday December 15, 2007 [03:00]
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has charged the police officer who allegedly planted a drug on a Lusaka businessman with drug trafficking. And four police officers, a reserve officer and a southern region Zesco commandant have been arrested for alleged theft, assault and planting a drug on Christopher Malunga, a Lusaka businessman.
Recently, a Kabwata police officer, Albert Hachoose, confessed to having framed Malunga by planting drugs on him.
Hachoose recently pleaded for forgiveness from Malunga in the presence of a criminal investigations officer and other senior officers.
Malunga had explained that police beat and locked him up on September 20, 2007 around 21:45 hours when he had gone to see his brother who was detained at Kabwata Police.
Hachoose was arrested during the week and charged with drug trafficking
DEC public relations and liaison officer Rosten Chulu yesterday said Hachose was expected to appear in court soon.
“Yes, I can confirm that the ball of cannabis was surrendered to us. We also got statements from both the officer (Hachoose) and the victim (Malunga),” he said.
Chulu also said that Hachoose was now under DEC and that the drug weighed slightly over three grams.
He also said that Malunga was cautioned over his statement that DEC was rubbish.
And Malunga on Wednesday said that Hachoose, constable Munalula Liyali of Kabwata police, sub-inspector Malbin Gunduzani, sergeants Muhau Siwisha and Mathew Musumuko were arrested in connection with his case
Police spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso confirmed the arrests and added that they would wait for instructions from the command.
“We have four police officers, one reserve and a Zesco security officer. Police need to get the command to get the suspects to court,” he said.
He said the suspects had been charged with assault and theft.
“Only the one with drugs (Hachoose) has been handed to DEC,” he said.
Kapeso also confirmed that the suspects except Hachoose had been released on police bond.
Labels: BONNIE KAPESO, CORRUPTION, DEC, POLICE BRUTALITY
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