Konga vows not to resign over fuel crisis
By Fridah Zinyama
Sun 08 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT
ENERGY Minister Kenneth Konga yesterday declared that he would not resign from his position because he has managed to resolve the fuel crisis in the country. And Konga revealed that Cabinet will soon be meeting to discuss the sale of the 50 per cent shares in Indeni which it obtained from Total at the cost of US $5.5 million.
Meanwhile, Zesco acting managing director Cyprian Chitundu said Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) members would be assessing the progress which has been attained in the implementation of priority generation and transmission projects.
Konga, in an interview, said he would not succumb to public pressure for him to resign due to the ongoing fuel crisis in the country. He added that about 800,000 litres of fuel was being delivered on the local market on a daily basis.
“…400,000 litres of diesel and 400,000 litres of petrol are being delivered to Oil Marketing Companies daily,” he revealed.
Konga said possible shortages of fuel in some parts of the country could be as a result of transportation problems which OMCs were experiencing.
“There are also some allegations, which will be investigated by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), the director in the Ministry of Energy and Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC), that some OMCs are hoarding fuel which is being delivered to them,” he said.
And Konga said Cabinet would soon be meeting to discuss ways in which to dispose of the 50 per cent shares that it obtained when Total sold its shares in Indeni Oil Refinery.
“We have received expressions of interest in the 50 per cent shares in Indeni and we are yet to meet to discuss the sale of the shares,” he said.
“So far, we have received expressions of interest from investors and ordinary Zambians who wish to obtain shares in Indeni through the stock exchange.”
And during the official opening of the SAPP executive committee meeting in Lusaka on Friday, Konga said it had been difficult to secure financing for power projects as potential financiers reassessed their priorities and put their money in more secure and short term investments.
Konga said the Southern Africa region had consistently registered positive and sustained growth over the last few years which had led to the region being faced with the challenge of matching power supply with power demand.
“But the global financial crisis has made it difficult to access funds with which to continued the implementation of generating and expanding power projects in the region,” he said.
“But despite the downturn, Zambia has recorded some progress in the construction of two hydrogenation projects in Kariba North and Itezhi Tezhi Hydro Power projects which are due for completion in 2012.”
Konga said the SADC secretariat had met in July, 2009 as a way to attract investment in collaboration with SAPP and Regional Electricity Regulators Association (RERA) to generate interest from funders to get projects to close within two years.
“It was agreed that in order to attract investors, the projects in the region required being bankable and that there should be political will at regional level in increasing power generation,” said Konga.
And Chitundu added that SAPP members would consider ways in which to improve power generation in the region and how best to run power utilities in a profitable manner.
Labels: FUEL, KENNETH KONGA, RESIGNATIONS
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Tender Board chief loses job over Dora
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Sunday, April 26, 2009 2:59:00 PM
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has terminated the contract of Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) director general David Kapitolo, about one year before its expiration, for allegedly testifying against former communications and transport minister Dora Siliya during the tribunal sessions. Well-placed sources revealed that President Banda wrote a letter to Kapitolo, terminating his contract without stating reasons for the action.
"You know what; the director-general of the Zambia Public Procurement Authority, formerly Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB), Mr David Kapitolo's contract has been terminated by the President," the sources said. "I saw the termination letter and no reasons were given. Mr Kapitolo was one of the witnesses that appeared before the tribunal that was set up to investigate Honourable Dora Siliya, who recently resigned as minister of communications and transport."
The sources said Kapitolo's contract was supposed to end next year.
"He had a three-year contract and he had one year to go before his contract ends," said the sources.
Efforts to contact Kapitolo proved futile, as his mobile phone was not going through.
ZPPA public relations officer Hazel Zulu said she was on leave and could not comment on the matter.
"I am actually on leave so I am not aware of what is happening there. I am going back in the office on Monday," said Zulu.
But when The Post phoned the office of the director-general at ZPPA to speak to Kapitolo, the secretary said he was no longer there.
"He is no longer here; he left two days ago," answered the secretary yesterday.
When asked for the name of the new office holder and if he was in office, the secretary responded: "The new director-general is Mr Chibuye, he is not here. He is coming in on Monday."
Recently, Kapitolo testified before the judge Dennis Chirwa-chaired tribunal that he had received a letter from Siliya asking the ZPPA to suspend the tender and re-tender the radar contract that was supposed to be given to Thales Air System S.A to install radars at Lusaka and Livingstone International airports.
Kapitolo told the tribunal that he did not act on Siliya's letter because there were no convincing reasons to cancel the tender.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that the new board of the National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) is expected to fire NACL managing director Robinson Misitala for his testimony to the tribunal.
Siliya attempted to cancel the contract, which was supposed to be awarded to Thales Air System S.A in preference to Selex.
Siliya favoured the idea of getting Selex to repair the radar head of the equipment at the Lusaka International Airport despite concerns from the technocrats in the Ministry of Communications and Transport and NACL not to accept the offer from Selex.
Others expected to be fired for their testimony to the tribunal are former communications and transport permanent secretary Dr Eustern Mambwe who is now serving as North-Western Province permanent secretary, Attorney General Mumba Malila and Solicitor General Dominic Sichinga.
Labels: DAVID KAPITOLO, DORA SILIYA, HAZEL ZULU, RESIGNATIONS, ZPPA
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Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya tenders in her resignation
Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 20:08
Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya, has resigned from her ministerial position. And President, Rupiah Banda, has accepted Ms. Siliya’s resignation.
A statement issued by State House Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere says the president has also thanked Ms. Siliya for her contribution to the development of the country.
The statement says Ms. Siliya decided to step down in view of the findings of the Tribunal that probed her alleged abuse of office.
And President Banda has noted that the Tribunal did find as a fact that Ms. Siliya was somewhat misled by the confusion in the Attorney General’s chambers.
The President has accordingly decided to re-organise the Attorney General’s Chambers in a bid to prevent the reoccurance of the same confusion in future.
Mr. Banda said he will table before cabinet the MOU signed with RP Capital Partners over the evaluation of ZAMTEL assets, for determination.
He urged the nation not to lose focus on various problems facing ZAMTEL and the plight of its workers.
The President has observed that ZAMTEL has continued to acrue huge debts which need to be resolved before the situation gets out of hand.
Meanwhile, President Banda has urged people who are not happy with the findings of the Tribunal to avoid making unwarranted statements in the press.
He said the normal procedures provided for in the law should be followed as opposed to attacking the Tribunal.
He said the findings of the Tribunal showed that Zambia’s judiciary is independent and must be supported at all times.
The Tribunal found that Ms. Siliya had breached Article 54 of the constitution by ignoring the Attorney General’s Legal advise on the MOU between government and RP Capital Partners.
The Tribunal chaired by Judge Dennis Chirwa however, cleared Ms. Siliya on allegations that she breached part two of the parliamentary and ministerial code of conduct.
[ZNBC]
Labels: DORA SILIYA, PRIVATISATION, RESIGNATIONS, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS
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‘Smart’ Dora finally goes
Written by Patson Chilemba and George Chellah
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 6:17:25 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday said it is not enough for Dora Siliya to resign from Cabinet but she should go a step further by resigning as member of parliament.
And Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka challenged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take interest in the tribunal's findings on Siliya.
Commenting on Siliya's resignation from her position as communications and transport minister, Sata said Siliya took oath of office to defend the Republican Constitution both as Cabinet minister and member of parliament and that she could not continue being a parliamentarian because her morality had been brought into serious question.
"She has not only breached the Constitution as Cabinet minister but also as member of parliament, so she must go," he said.
Sata called for President Rupiah Banda and Vice-President George Kunda to apologise to the nation and resign for having defended Siliya's wrongdoing.
"She has resigned. The next person who should resign is Rupiah Banda and George Kunda. They should follow suit. Let them resign on moral grounds," he said.
Sata said it was sad that Siliya piled insults and told lies against those who called for her resignation but that now she had succumbed to the truth.
He said President Banda recklessly used taxpayers money to set up a tribunal when he could have served time and money by relieving Siliya of her duties.
"Rupiah Banda was saying she [Siliya] is smarter than all of us. Kunda was saying she was right. For us to forgive her, she must open up because she was not alone when she was committing the wrong. She must tell the people everything, otherwise she will remain with the stigma," Sata said.
"Tell Rupiah Banda and George Kunda that forcing Dora to resign does not let them off the hook. She has been forced by the people to resign. If she had morality of resigning, she would not have hired those expensive lawyers. She has been used as a sacrificial lamb by Rupiah and others who are hiding their wrongdoing."
Sata said President Banda was already embarrassed and there was no need to keep more embarrassed people in the government.
Sata said Vice-President Kunda was an embarrassment because he had consistently used his position as justice minister to mislead the government and the nation.
Sata said since President Banda had campaigned on the basis of continuation of late president Levy Mwanawasa's programmes, he should as well allow the rule of the law to prevail and not that of men.
Sata asked President Banda to show seriousness and respect for the Constitution by doing what was expected of him by majority Zambians.
And TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu welcomed Siliya's resignation, saying Zambian leaders should resign when they engaged in wrongdoing. Lungu said it was TIZ's hope that Vice-President Kunda would announce his resignation in a few days time.
He asked the law enforcement agencies to take corrective measures by following up on the many irregularities that were established against Siliya by the tribunal.
"Ourselves as civil society we have done our part, so we expect the law enforcement agencies to do their part, and we thank The Post for highlighting the matter. Without The Post a lot of things could have been hidden under the carpet. As civil society we shall continue co-operating with The Post," Lungu said.
Zambia Youth Association in the Fight Against Corruption executive director Rickson Kanema asked Siliya to resign as member of parliament because her integrity had been brought into question.
Kanema said young people had learnt a lot of things from the Siliya saga.
Earlier, Lifuka said the law enforcement agencies needed to look at the tribunal's findings on Siliya with interest.
"Now that the findings are out, we expect that every law enforcement agency will take interest in this case. If corrupt activities have been noted and are prevalent in this whole saga, we challenge the Anti-Corruption Commission and all the other law enforcement agencies connected to this matter to take interest. And we will definitely pursue them. This is something that we want to continue to raise with the ACC," Lifuka said.
Caritas Zambia executive director Samuel Mulafulafu urged the law enforcement agencies to be proactive and proceed with investigations on Siliya.
"This case was in public domain. I don't think there is any investigation agency... responsible department that has not been updated on what has been happening over this case. It was well reported according to the role of the media played," Mulafulafu said. "Why should the investigating agencies wait for us to shove this case on their throat when they are able to read and get information? They should be proactive. This information is with them, if they have to wait for us to go and make a case then they are incompetent. The information is there for them they should proceed."
The judge Chirwa tribunal found that Siliya, apart from not following tender procedures when she selected RP Capital Partners Limited to valuate the assets of Zamtel, also breached Article 54 Sub Article 3 of the Constitution for not following legal advice from the Attorney General.
Siliya was also being probed for abuse of office for cancelling a tender awarded to Thales Air Systems for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of a Zambia Air Traffic Management Surveillance Radar System (ZATM-RADAR) at Lusaka and Livingstone international airports. She was also alleged to have defrauded Petauke District Council over her claim of a refund of K12.5 million for two hand pumps for two boreholes that were sunk in Nyika ward when the actual cost of the pumps was K5 million. However, the tribunal did not find Siliya wanting on both allegations.
Labels: ACC, DORA SILIYA, GOODWELL LUNGU, PRIVATISATION, RESIGNATIONS, RUEBEN LIFUKA, SATA, THE POST, TIZ
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