Investigative agencies must be proactive, says Mutesa
By Bright Mukwasa
Thu 22 Dec. 2011, 13:54 CAT
INVESTIGATIVE agencies must be proactive and not wait for instructions from President Michael Sata to exploit leads of investigations as revealed by the Auditor General's report, says Zambians for Empowerment and Development presdent Dr Fred Mutesa. In an interview, Dr Mutesa said there was need to make the law regarding impropriety stronger.
"The Auditor General's report on the operations of the parastatals is out. Mr Inspector General of Police Dr Martin Malama, madam director general of ACC Rosewin Wandi, madam commissioner of DEC Alita Mbahwe, what are you doing about these clear cases of defrauding the public? What are they doing? Do they have to wait for the head of state President Michael Sata to give them instructions?" wondered Dr Mutesa.
"They should take responsibility. If we have to wait for the head of state to give them instructions, we will soon be accusing him of interfering in the operations of the autonomous agencies. They should move without being told what to do."
Dr Mutesa said it was disheartening to see cases of abuse of resources by officers go unpunished.
"We need to change the law because in some countries, I think Pakistan must be one of them, when the Auditor General is presenting the report to the public accounts committee, the director of public prosecutions, and the police will all be there so that immediately they finish appropriate action is taken. They don't need any probing from outside because they know these are prosecutable cases and they have to begin the process," he said.
Dr Mutesa said currently, Parliament would summon controlling officers who basically acquit themselves of the wrongdoings and make the Auditor General Anna Chifungula look like she did not do a thorough job.
He urged civil society, the Church and opposition political parties to apply public pressure on investigative wings for them to start acting on the Auditor General's report.
Labels: ACC, FRED MUTESA, MARTIN MALEMA
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Indeni closes temporarily after fire
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Wed 24 Nov. 2010, 15:50 CAT
INDENI Petroleum Refinery was on Wednesday morning temporary shut down as a precautionary measure following a fire at the section where gases are discharged into the atmosphere.
And Copperbelt police Commanding officer Martin Malama has confirmed the fire incident but said no extensive damage has been done to the refinery.
Meanwhile, Indeni board chairman Teddy Kasonso refused to comment on the matter while managing director Maybin Noole’s office assured that a statement will be issued on the fire incident that has happened a few days after the refinery resumed production after the 45 day annual maintenance.
But sources at ministry of energy and water development disclosed that Indeni has not been gutted but there was a small fire outside the main plant area.
“Indeni has not been gutted and what happened was that there was a fire at the flare which is the point at which gases are burned before discharging them into the atmosphere as per environmental tandards,” said the sources.
“At some point, some product is suspected to have entered the blow down system, which takes gases to the flare and this resulted into a fire and was sent down the guard system at the flare and when this discharged from the system, it ignited a portion around the piping at the flare, but the ensuing fire was contained and extinguished by employees at the scene and the plant was temporary shutdown as a precaution and management will soon re-start it but for more information get in touch with PS Kasonso, who is board chair.”
And Dr Malama said the nation should not be alarmed because the fire did not cause extensive damage.
“We got a call around 04 hrs and by the time we arrived at the scene the fire had been quenched hence the nation should not be alarmed because no extensive damage was done and the incident occurred outside the main plant area,” he said.
Labels: INDENI, MARTIN MALEMA
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Kabonde orders search of journalists’ phone numbers at Zain
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 09 June 2010, 08:10 CAT
SOURCES yesterday revealed that police officers under the instructions of Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde went to Zain and searched phone numbers of some journalists in the private media to check for their sources of information about power struggles in the police.
And sources said police deputy commissioner Dr Martin Malama is a wrong person to defend the deliberations of the meeting Kabonde had with senior police officers because he did not attend.
The sources said Kabonde had instructed some junior officers to search for contacts of journalists in the private media last week.
“The police officers did the search at Zain. Since they couldn’t find the numbers of the sources of information, the IG proceeded to prepare that list of suspects whom he intends to have retired. You can even ask Zain. If management is honest and has integrity, it will not dispute this information. The search was conducted last week but it was fruitless,” the source said.
“It’s strange that the internal wrangles in the police command could lead to this kind of behaviour of searching journalists’ phone numbers; it’s strange that Zain could allow such things. I think it’s important that you as the media protest to Zain over its conduct.”
When contacted last week when The Post first learnt of the intended search, police spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso had said Kabonde told him that there was nothing like that going on.
“The IG has assured me that he has not instructed anybody to search phone numbers at Zain,” said Kapeso.
But sources at Zain confirmed a search was conducted.
“The officers got a list of numbers,” the source said.
Meanwhile, other sources said Dr Malama did not attend the meeting Kabonde had with provincial commanding officers, some deputy commissioners and senior assistant commissioners on Thursday May 27, 2010.
“We are surprised that he is the one answering when in fact he was not in that meeting at Force Headquarters. I hope this confirms to you the friction in the police high command,” said the source.
“Why didn’t commissioner of police Mr Graphael Musamba hold a joint briefing with the IG? Instead, the IG used Dr Malama to propagate his lies. These are problems you have in security wings when you have a President who is aloof; he is ever travelling.”
Recently, sources told The Post that Kabonde was grilled by provincial commanding officers, some deputy commissioners and senior assistant commissioners over the violence that rocked Mufumbwe prior to and during the by-election. The sources also said Kabonde planned to recommend Musamba, Kapeso and some other senior officers for retirement on suspicion of working against his leadership. But Malama dismissed the reports, saying there were no divisions in the police command.
Labels: CORRUPTION, FRANCIS KABONDE, MARTIN MALEMA, POLICE, PRESS FREEDOM, ZAIN
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