NGOCC calls for scrutiny of appointees
By Kombe Chimpinde
Thu 17 Nov. 2011, 13:59 CAT
NGOCC has called for serious scrutiny and consultation over people that are being appointed to the public service by President Michael Sata.
Commenting on President Sata's revocation of the appointment of former ministry of health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti, as ambassador designate to Switzerland, Non-Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC) board chairperson Beatrice Grillo said that the appointment of people with questionable track records would dent the fight against corruption.
"As women movement, we have to state categorically that these appointments have been revoked because they were not in line with the government's fight against corruption," Grillo said.
"The President has come out clearly that he is allergic to corruption. Now appointing people with issues that are still before the courts would dent his image as a fighter against corruption."
She said there was need for President Sata to scrutinise every appointment
before it was done and announced.
"We are also concerned because it is sending the wrong message; it's like there is no consultation and reflection on these appointments and I think this is not good. We are hoping the process of consultation is streamlined, it should be before they come to the public because it is embarrassing that people are appointed and later dropped after people have cried out," Grillo said.
"We are saying the appointments must be screened before they have been made and announced."
Grillo said NGOCC was saddened with the appointment of Dr Miti who is a key witness in a serious corruption scandal.
President Sata on Tuesday revoked the appointment of Dr Miti as Zambia's ambassador to Switzerland.
In revoking the appointment, the President directed the Secretary to the Cabinet to furnish him with a full report regarding Dr Miti's employment status in the civil service.
Dr Miti has been on forced leave since 2009 following investigations into the K27 billion corruption scam which occurred at the Ministry of Health during his tenure as permanent secretary.
Soon after being put on forced leave, Dr Miti wrote to then president Rupiah Banda explaining himself over the investigations on public funds embezzlement. In his letter dated May 24, 2009 to Banda through presidential principal private secretary Austin Sichinga, Dr Miti gave his reflections and observations on the financial scam in the Ministry of Health and his family ties to the head of state.
Labels: MICHAEL SATA, NGOCC, SIMON MITI
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Court hears how Dr Miti signed Kahekam contract
By Namatama Mundia
Thu 10 June 2010, 04:01 CAT
FORMER Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti on Tuesday told the court that he was misled into signing the Kahekam contract for the extra 50,000 mother-baby-kits by the head of procurement at the ministry, Abel Katongo
This is in a matter before Lusaka magistrate Kenneth Mulife where former human resources manager Henry Kapoko and eight others are facing theft charges relating to a contract awarded to Kahekam Limited for the supply of mother-baby-kits to the Ministry of Health.
Testifying in the matter after the state prosecutor asked why he signed the contract when there were a lot of anomalies, Dr Miti said he was misled into signing the contract by then contract manager Katongo, one of the accused persons.
Dr Miti recollected that the ministerial tender committee (MTC) meeting was held on January 21, 2009 and not September as earlier said on Monday.
He said the tender committee meeting was initially chaired by then permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga.
Dr Miti said he did not attend the meeting but upon return from official duty as a presidential doctor to late president Levy Mwanawasa, he was briefed in his capacity as the substantive permanent secretary.
“What actually happens when somebody was acting, upon my return, that person will give me hand over notes that would also be discussed in the ministerial meeting. I would also be informed during the ministerial meetings, which were held every Mondays and Wednesday. We used to hold MTC meetings during which I would also be informed,” Dr Miti explained.
“Yes, I would like to state to this court when I endorsed the contract on 23rd January, 2009, it was on the same day in the evening when there was an announcement from State House that I was transferred from Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training and that is how I could not have been briefed.”
He said the letter from Melcome Limited dated January 22, 2009 was critical because it influenced the decision in the MTC and was addressed to the health ministry permanent secretary at Ndeke House.
He said the letter informed his office that Kahekam had been awarded the contract to deliver mother-baby-kits within six to eight weeks. Dr Miti told the court that the letter from Kahekam was never received by his office and therefore not acted upon.
“If it had been received by the office of the PS, it would have had a date stamp stamped on the document with clear instructions as to how the office of the PS would have been viewed this letter and the office of the PS would have assessed the contents of the letter and would have referred it to competent authority within the ministry,” he said.
Dr Miti said he was not aware of a letter from Melcome, which was shown to him at ACC, a response to a letter from health ministry on a proposal to supply an extra 50,000 kits.
“…All letters which are going out are supposed to go through the PS so I was wondering as to what Melcome was responding to. The other discrepancy is when I requested to be shown the evaluation report in which the extra 50,000 kits was discussed and analysed for the MTC to make that decision to offer Kahekam the 50,000 kits…there was no evaluation report in relation to the extra 50,000 kits,” he said.
Dr Miti said in the absence of an evaluation report, there was no way according to the procedure that Kahekam could have been awarded the contract to supply the extra 50,000 kits.
Labels: CORRUPTION, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, SIMON MITI
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Lubinda challenges govt to disclose findings of Dr Miti’s investigations
By Ernest Chanda
Wed 24 Mar. 2010, 04:01 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda has challenged the government and law enforcement agencies to disclose the findings of their investigations into the matter involving Dr Simon Miti and other Ministry of Health staff who were sent on forced leave last year.
And Fackson Shamenda has said accountability should start with controlling officers because they should live by example in their conduct.
Dr Miti, who is former health permanent secretary, and about 39 other officers were sent on forced leave in April last year following a huge financial scandal at the ministry of which nine are currently appearing in court for charges that include theft of public funds.
In an interview on Monday, Lubinda who is also chairperson of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Zambia chapter questioned the morality of law enforcement agencies in keeping quiet after causing a stir at the ministry.
“I remember that early last year, the nation saw a serious scandal unearthed at the Ministry of Health where huge sums of money were embezzled. And we also saw the Secretary to the Cabinet suspend about 39 workers including then PS Dr Simon Miti. Not only that, police cordoned the Ministry of Health. And the nation was assured that police and the Anti Corruption Commission would soon release the findings,” Lubinda said.
“But next month we are clocking a year since those pronouncements were made and we don’t know what the findings are.We are questioning because there are only about nine people facing court charges. What has become of the other 30 employees who were sent on forced leave? I think the Zambian taxpayer deserves to be updated on this issue. The government and law enforcement agencies should not play diplomacy on a serious issue such as this one.”
He wondered what had happened after Dr Miti wrote a letter to President Rupiah Banda in which he explained his personal problems.
“After his letter of clemency to President Banda we haven’t heard anything about Dr Miti; his issue simply went quiet. Can the nation also be told about who is paying Dr Miti and all those sent on forced leave. And do our labour laws allow someone to be on forced leave for close to a year and draw a salary? I think this is a serious issue on which the nation deserves to be updated,” demanded Lubinda.
And Shamenda said financial discipline should start with people at the top before it flows to the bottom.
Shamenda, who is former Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, questioned the rationale behind following what he termed small fish and leaving out the big fish.
“Accountability should start from the top; that’s why you have those you call controlling officers. Human beings have got weaknesses, and temptations at the bottom are higher than at the top. Those at the top face fewer temptations because they are well-looked after by the system. They are given various incentives so they should be more accountable because they have no reason to abuse public resources. I’m not saying those at the bottom have a reason to abuse public resources, no,” explained Shamenda.
“So, since the big fish are expected to be more disciplined accountability should start with them. Why concentrate on the small fish and leave out the big fish? And what’s the use of controlling officers if they are not accountable? When you look at the parliamentary public accounts committee, it’s the big boys who appear before that committee. You will never find an accounts clerk because the committee knows that there are controlling officers in all government institutions. So, I insist that accountability should start with the big boys at the top.”
Labels: FACKSON SHAMENDA, GIVEN LUBINDA, SIMON MITI
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Kapoko questions probe team’s delays in arresting former health PS Miti
Written by Jane Mwakasungula
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 3:17:46 PM
FORMER human resource manager in the Ministry of Health Henry Kapoko has questioned the joint probe team investigating the alleged theft of over K10 billion at the health ministry why his former boss Dr Simon Miti has not been arrested yet over the scam.
Speaking from the holding cell at the Magistrates’ court, Kapoko said he had decided to break his silence despite the matter being before the courts because Dr Miti, the then controlling officer at the ministry when the theft was allegedly committed, was still a free man despite being implicated in the matter.
“I can assure you that none of us in here will be convicted if the proceedings continue the way they are because there is no corruption involved. Now, let us come to Miti. Why has it taken long for the joint investigations team to arrest him when there is overwhelming evidence that he is involved in corruption that had rocked the ministry during his tenure? When they arrested me, I carried along the whole ministry and I wonder why he has been left out?” Kapoko asked.
He said he was forced to speak out though the matter was before the court of law because of unfair coverage by some media institutions and questions that begged answers over the handling of the matter by the joint probe team.
This is in a matter where Kapoko is charged with one count of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Facts before the court are that Kapoko on an unknown date but between January 22, 2009 and February 28, 2009 in Lusaka whilst acting together with other persons unknown with intent to defraud did defraud the Ministry of Health of K1.9 billion by falsely pretending that he had ordered and shipped 50,000 mother-baby kits when in fact not.
He has since been granted an K800 million bail.
Dr Miti was earlier picked up for questioning over the Ministry of Health scam but was not charged. He later wrote a letter to President Rupiah Banda exonerating himself of the charges.
Labels: HENRY KAPOKO, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, SIMON MITI
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Destruction of evidence
Written by Editor
There was a licence for corruption, for abuse in the Ministry of Health. And it will not be easy to investigate and successfully prosecute wrongdoers in that ministry because things are very deep-rooted and involve too many people. It is
not by accident that well connected people working in that ministry are much better off than other public workers.
The simple explanation for this is that there has been too much unearned income going into individuals’ pockets in that ministry. But again the question is: how has this been possible? It is simply because those in charge of government have been abusing this ministry, using these same people, these same officers.
We shouldn’t forget that it is the Ministry of Health that was used in 2001 to siphon money from government and fund Levy Mwanawasa’s campaign. And it was Ministry of Health staff that were at the centre of diverting government resources to Levy and the MMD’s campaign.
This opened the floodgates. It was free for all and it became very difficult for anyone to have full control of what was going on in that ministry. When convict Kashiwa Bulaya was permanent secretary of that ministry, he was untouchable. He was only answerable to Frederick Chiluba. Nobody could touch him or question what he was doing. Why was this? It was simply because Bulaya had special assignments. This practice did not end with the Chiluba regime.
It continued under the Levy regime. Dr Simon Miti, the permanent secretary of that ministry, had special access to the president and other state agencies. Dr Miti had a lot of power because he moved too many things. Why? It is simply because he was running a ministry that was doing a lot of things for those in power. And invariably, where things are done in this way, accountability is somehow somewhere lost. Things only come to surface much later when the chain breaks. It cannot be denied that last year, this same Ministry of Health was abused in the campaign for Rupiah Banda. Ministry of Health resources were channelled to Rupiah’s campaign. And who was doing all this? It is these same Ministry of Health staff who were moving things to aid Rupiah’s campaign. If they can steal public resources for Levy’s campaign, for Rupiah’s campaign and for all sorts of things for others, why can’t they steal for themselves?
The truth is that that whole ministry is rotten. But it is also true that it is not the only rotten ministry. The whole government system is reeking with corruption in every pore. This is a government whose business is designed for the benefit of individuals’ pockets. Workshops are arranged for the simple purpose of benefitting individuals. This is the government whose president confessed to have benefitted greatly from travel allowances. Clearly showing that foreign trips are designed to put money into people’s pockets, including the president so that he can have money to spend on girlfriends, including buying them houses. We are not inventing this. It all came from the mouth of a former president of this country trying to explain the source of his money.
We have no doubt the Ministry of Works and Supply is equally rotten. If one was to critically scrutinise every contract that has been awarded for this or that work, all the flies in this country would die from the stench of corruption.
So there are so many people in this country whose only discernible source of income is crooked deals with government. And this is what is causing a lot of problems because government is no longer much at the service of its people but it’s now a vehicle for those who are well connected and well positioned to enrich themselves.
What has been unearthed so far at the Ministry of Health is nothing but a tip of the iceberg. And people shouldn’t get too excited about it because it’s really nothing when compared to what is still under the carpet. Those who are investigating these matters need to do so with level heads. The excessive politicisation of their investigations will not yield much. It may even make them lose some of these cases they are taking before court because politics is creeping too much into their work, and shoddy jobs are being done.
The destruction of documents to destroy the audit trail should have been expected because there was a lot of collusion in what was going on in that ministry. It’s not simply a Kapoko issue. The corruption in that ministry goes far beyond the case of Kapoko. Those who have been arrested are far much fewer than those who have stolen but are still lying safe in that ministry. We wish the investigators success in their work. But we don’t think their work will yield much other than a few sensational headlines in the media. We say this because the corruption that rocked that ministry is too deep, too extensive and involves too many people. We also don’t believe the Auditor General’s office has the capacity to undertake the work required unless they suspend everything else for the next two years and simply concentrate on the Ministry of Health. Even then, they will still meet a lot of challenges.
There is a lot of collusion in the stealing of public funds in Zambia. And as we have seen in the cases before our courts of law, sometimes this collusion has involved the highest echelons of power – the presidency. We have also seen that even law enforcement agencies have been part of this collusion. We even have a case where even the Auditor General’s office became part of the scam. And even members of the judiciary were not spared in these schemes. This country lost a chief justice because of corruption, because of a desire by our people to live on unearned income. We could have lost more judicial officers if care had not been taken to put a stop somewhere.
Where there are such high levels of collusion, controls – no matter how sophisticated and elaborate they may be – become useless. Government money will still be stolen in all sorts of ways. Dubious contracts will be awarded to members of the ring. There is very little government business in this country that is clean. Very few government contracts in this country are straightforward. And the art of stealing public funds in this country is being perfected by the day. It is very difficult to detect that something here or there is not right.
The only thing that shows up all the time is the poor quality of work or service that the public gets from these contracts. It will be impossible to develop this country if we don’t change our approach towards government resources and business. You can’t have a country where the richest people are public servants. This can only happen if they are directly stealing public funds or they are selling favours.
As chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Charles Milupi, has correctly observed, when a nation is gripped by corruption, corruption has got its own attendant vices; it’s not just the abuse of public resources and the like. Even the politics are contaminated. Even the way we worship is corrupted. Everything becomes corrupt.
And a corrupt society cannot be expected to have good governance, rule of law or even to hold free and fair elections – elections that are not manipulated or rigged. These are the dangers. This is the organised crime Milupi is talking about. These are the things that should move Zambians to zero tolerance on corruption because if they don’t, the future of this country will be a sad one.
Labels: KASHIWA BULAYA, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, MINISTRY OF WORKS AND SUPPLY, SIMON MITI
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Miti’s plea is a corrupt act - TIZ
Written by George Chellah
Saturday, June 13, 2009 4:09:26 PM
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka has described former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti’s plea to President Rupiah Banda as a corrupt act. And Lifuka has strongly advised President Banda to be quite careful in such matters as his name may easily be brought into disrepute if he starts meddling in such investigations.
Reacting to Dr Miti's letter to President Banda over the K10 billion scam at the Ministry of Health, Lifuka said TIZ has noted with great dismay, the levels of patronage exhibited by Dr Miti in his letter to the President pleading for leniency.
"The tone of the letter fails to inspire confidence that the intentions of Dr Miti are noble. It would seem that the letter is intended to solicit for forgiveness from the Republican President," Lifuka said.
"While the concept of forgiveness cannot be frowned upon, we clearly see this as a corrupt act itself intended to induce President Banda to act in a particular manner."
Lifuka said his organisation's position was that Dr Miti's letter to President Banda was misdirected.
"It is misdirected in the sense that the President is not an investigator. What Dr Miti should do is to wait for an appropriate time to give the investigating agencies all the required answers on his side of the story, which we are sure, will be accorded to him if this has not yet been done. We respect his views whether right or wrong but they should be directed to an appropriate authority at a right time," Lifuka said.
"The mention of family linkages smacks of crass patronage and in a way shows the low levels that senior government officers have reached to simply maintain their jobs or win favours from the appointing authority. It is this type of patronage, which has made professionals and technocrats serving as permanent secretaries or senior government officials from exercising independent judgment in the discharge of their duties."
Lifuka said the leadership itself had partly created the environment of patronage.
"TIZ would like to urge President Banda not to be swayed by the letter from Dr Miti. President Banda committed himself to allow the investigations into scandals at the Ministry of Health to proceed without interference and he should dismiss the act of patronage from Dr Miti with the contempt it deserves. We find it unfortunate that Dr Miti wants to utilise his family circumstances to dig himself out of a hole," Lifuka said.
"Dr Miti should take responsibility of his actions and he should not rush to seek a solution outside the ongoing investigation process. He should allow the due process to be followed and if necessary he will have his day in court to clear his name."
Lifuka said the-behind-the-scenes manoeuvres were inappropriate and should be roundly condemned.
"This kind of approach may somehow jeopardise investigations especially now that there are reports that this matter was even accorded an opportunity by high offices to be considered. This is normally a negative effect on requests for sympathy," Lifuka said.
"We strongly advise the Republican President Mr Rupiah Banda to be quite careful in such matters as his name may easily be brought into disrepute if he starts meddling in such investigations. As we know that law enforcement agencies have in the recent past found it difficult to investigate cases where the President has publicly supported officials that are accused of abuse of office."
He said TIZ considers the happenings today where numerous cases of corruption, fraud and gross abuse of authority are being reported to be 'a sign of the times.'
"We want to be clear that some of the corruption occurred in the Mwanawasa era but unfortunately President Rupiah Banda's government are the ones in office today and need to resolve these issues. They cannot simply abdicate their role," said Lifuka.
Labels: RUEBEN LIFUKA, SIMON MITI, TIZ
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Miti's plea to Rupiah is corrupt act - TIZ
Written by George Chellah
Friday, June 12, 2009 8:22:30 PM
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka has described former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti's plea to President Rupiah Banda as a corrupt act.
And Lifuka has strongly advised President Banda to be quite careful in such matters as his name may easily be brought into disrepute if he starts meddling in such investigations.
Reacting to Dr Miti's letter to President Banda over the K10 billion scam at the Ministry of Health, Lifuka said TIZ has noted with great dismay, the levels of patronage exhibited by Dr Miti in his letter to the President pleading for leniency.
"The tone of the letter fails to inspire confidence that the intentions of Dr. Miti are noble. It would seem that the letter is intended to solicit for forgiveness from the Republican President," Lifuka said. "While the concept of forgiveness cannot be frowned upon, we clearly see this as a corrupt act itself intended to induce President Banda to act in a particular manner."
Lifuka said his organisation's position was that Dr. Miti's letter to President Banda was misdirected.
"It is misdirected in the sense that the President is not an investigator. What Dr. Miti should do is to wait for an appropriate time to give the investigating agencies all the required answers on his side of the story, which we are sure, will be accorded to him if this has not yet been done. We respect his views whether right or wrong but they should be directed to an appropriate authority at a right time," Lifuka said.
"The mention of family linkages smacks of crass patronage and in a way shows the low levels that senior government officers have reached to simply maintain their jobs or win favours from the appointing authority. It is this type of patronage, which has made professionals and technocrats serving as permanent secretaries or senior government officials from exercising independent judgment in the discharge of their duties."
Lifuka said the leadership itself had partly created the environment of patronage.
"TIZ would like to urge President Banda not to be swayed by the letter from Dr. Miti. President Banda committed himself to allow the investigations into scandals at the Ministry of Health to proceed without interference and he should dismiss the act of patronage from Dr. Miti with the contempt it deserves. We find it unfortunate that Dr. Miti wants to utilise his family circumstances to dig himself out of a hole," Lifuka said.
"Dr. Miti should take responsibility of his actions and he should not rush to seek a solution outside the ongoing investigation process. He should allow the due process to be followed and if necessary he will have his day in court to clear his name."
Lifuka said the-behind-the-scenes manoeuvres were inappropriate and should be roundly condemned.
"This kind of approach may somehow jeopardise investigations especially now that there are reports that this matter was even accorded an opportunity by high offices to be considered. This is normally a negative effect on requests for sympathy," Lifuka said.
"We strongly advise the Republican President Mr. Rupiah Banda to be quite careful in such matters as his name may easily be brought into disrepute if he starts meddling in such investigations. As we know that law enforcement agencies have in the recent past found it difficult to investigate cases where the President has publicly supported officials that are accused of abuse of office."
He said TIZ considers the happenings today where numerous cases of corruption, fraud and gross abuse of authority are being reported to be 'a sign of the times.'
"We want to be clear that some of the corruption occurred in the Mwanawasa era but unfortunately President Rupiah Banda's government are the ones in office today and need to resolve these issues. They cannot simply abdicate their role," said Lifuka.
Labels: MINISTRY OF HEALTH, RUPIAH BANDA, SIMON MITI
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Miti’s plea has put investigative agencies, DPP on serious trial, observes Lubinda
Written by George Chellah
Thursday, June 11, 2009 12:32:53 PM
KABWATA PF member of parliament Given Lubinda has said Dr Simon Miti’s plea to President Rupiah Banda has put the investigative agencies and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in a quandary and on serious public trial. And Lubinda said it was scandalous for State House officials to even spend taxpayers' time to debate such a straightforward matter as Dr Miti's letter to President Banda.
Reacting to former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Miti's letter to President Banda over the K10 billion scam, Lubinda said action on Dr Miti was required urgently.
"Without doubt the prostration of Miti before Rupiah Banda has put Miti himself, Rupiah Banda, State House special assistants, the police, the Drug Enforcement Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the DPP in a quandary and on serious public trial. Whether or not this is the right time to arrest Miti has become irrelevant in the eyes of the watchful Zambian public," Lubinda said. "Miti just has to be arrested and now for that matter. If Miti is not arrested and charged for whatever reason, the watchful Zambians will have no reason but to believe that Rupiah has used public office to protect one of his own in exactly the same way that he and his arch advisor Vice-President George Kunda protected Dora Siliya. The die is cast."
He said it was certain that there was more that Dr Miti knows about the scandal at the Ministry of Health than he was able to accept in his letter.
"Had that not been the case, he would have quietly waited for him to answer questions from the relevant authorities without having to sink that low as to make references as to how his mother and so on and so forth died. How he was with Rupiah when the latter's mother died and how he was taking care of the health of the late President," Lubinda said. "His having run to literally crawl before Rupiah like a puppy caught with a piece of steak in its mouth does before its owner, is indicative of his guilt. He needs to be arrested promptly. His plea for compassion is an indictment against himself. Investigating wings of government must be prompted by his admission of guilt to move in quickly and arrest and charge him."
He said Dr Miti's behaviour showed how Zambia had been reduced to a society that depended on patronage.
"He has been in this government long enough and no doubt he has seen it function. He must know some whose necks were spared purely because they knew which powers to rub shoulders with and which ones to patronize and glorify," Lubinda said. "Miti having worked with Rupiah and having interacted with him also at family and personal level over these years, as he indicated in his letter of appeal for compassion knows that Rupiah relishes patronage. In fact, he knows that RB is himself a patroniser. That is what gave him the courage and confidence to write his letter of appeal to the President referring to him patronizingly as 'father of the nation'. What cheeky from a man who otherwise would not be expected to use such metaphor!"
He said Dr Miti's letter reveals that systems of governance in Zambia today evolved around the Presidency.
"He is telling us that for an arrest to be effected the President has to approve," he said.
Lubinda said it was scandalous for State House officials to even spend taxpayers' time to debate Dr Miti's letter to President Banda.
"This is a serious impeachment of the rule of law. Rupiah and his advisors at State House or even his MMD should not be determining over who and when an arrest should be effected," Lubinda said." The role of the President on such matters comes into effect only in executing his prerogative of mercy and this is only after a conviction and not before."
Lubinda said the PF demands that the investigations be extended from 2001 and they should cover expenditures at provincial and district administrations.
Labels: DPP, GIVEN LUBINDA, SIMON MITI
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Dr Miti is panicking, says Sata
Written by Patson Chilemba, Jane Mwakasungula and George Chellah
Tuesday, June 09, 2009 8:50:54 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has observed that former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti is panicking. And UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said President Rupiah Banda will give Dr Miti's letter of sympathy a receptive ear because he has been blackmailed.
Commenting on Dr Miti's letter to President Banda over the K10 billion scam in the Ministry of Health, Sata said Dr Miti should allow the due process of the law take its course on him. He urged Dr Miti to be calm and not panic if he were innocent over the matter.
Sata said the law should be seen to be applied equally regardless of whoever was implicated in certain scandals.
"That letter of my brother is very complicated. I don't know whether he is pleading guilty and asking for some sort of litigation. I don't know whether he wants Rupiah Banda to interfere with investigations. Let him be man enough and face the allegations," Sata said. "Miti is panicking, and is he complaining or pleading for his leave? Is he saying Rupiah Banda should be lenient and should not be sent on forced leave? That would have been something else. I don't know what he's asking for, is he asking for favour to be treated fairly? Is he already being treated harshly?"
Sata said it was good that several ministers that were appointed in late president Levy Mwanawasa's regime had been moved to serve in other ministries because the scandals that were being disclosed now could have been hidden under the carpet.
Sata said it was good that Dr Brian Chituwo had been shifted from Ministry of Health (MoH) to Ministry of Agriculture while Kapembwa Simbao was appointed to serve at MoH from Ministry of Works and Supply.
And Hichilema said the letter was a clear confirmation that there was some prior dubious understanding between Dr Miti and President Banda over the happenings in the Ministry of Health.
Hichilema said President Banda would have no other alternative but to reasonably shield Dr Miti for fear of being exposed of his corrupt involvement in the saga.
Hichilema alleged that there was a long-term understanding between Dr Miti and President Banda that he would get away with the scandals and that the letter was just a reminder to him [President Banda].
He explained that Dr Miti's observations on the abuse of funds during his time as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health was tantamount to submission of guilt.
He said the financial scandals at the Ministry of Health were a clear indication of a collapse of government system under the MMD leadership.
"The scams in the Ministry of Health are deeper than what the eyes can see. Basically Miti's admission that the funds were abused is submission of guilt but again you can tell that Rupiah is being blackmailed by Miti. There is more to that letter," Hichilema said in an interview. "Basically, this is a confirmation of a collapse in the government system under the MMD. There is an understanding between Banda and Miti that he can get away with it because there was a deal made earlier."
Dr Miti had written to President Banda explaining himself about the on-going investigations over the K10 billion scam.
In his letter dated May 24, 2009 to President Banda through presidential principal private secretary Dr Austin Sichinga, Dr Miti gave his reflections and observations on the financial scam in the Ministry of Health.
According to his report entitled "Report on the K10 billion scam in MoH: My Observations and Reflections", Dr Miti pleaded with President Banda to treat him fairly and with compassion.
But State House sources have disclosed that a meeting was held over Dr Miti's letter to President Banda.
"When that letter was received, there was a meeting by some senior State House officials, they met to discuss the same. The meeting was divided. There was one group that felt that Dr Miti needed to be answerable to the law," the source said. "While others felt that he had done so much helping leaders in the country especially when it comes to evacuations to South Africa and other destinations for them to seek medical attention and treatment.
"But later on there were instructions from high offices that he should not be arrested but to buy time they should say they can't move on that issue because they were waiting for an opinion from the Director of Public Prosecutions."
Well-placed sources at the DPP's office revealed that they were of the view that Dr Miti should not be arrested.
Meanwhile, Sata advised parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga to keep calm because the hour had come for the MMD to go whether he likes it or not.
Sata asked people to give the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PF and UPND time to develop, saying there would be a lot of talking between now and 2011.
He said there would be enough time to set aside selfish differences especially over the presidency.
"You see, our colleagues, when they formed UDA, they went to register UDA and abandoned their own political parties but that pact [PF, UPND pact] is going to be guided by the geographical strengths of each party," Sata said.
He said the PF/UPND pact would shock the critics in the next elections.
He urged the MMD not to be scared over the PF/UPND agreement.
"Mr VJ and his friends must not panic, let them keep calm. You see they want to pluck holes in the PF/UPND agreement so that it fails but they will be surprised. We will show them. We will shock them during the coming elections. Let them just wait," Sata said. "My message to them is let them just keep calm, the busier the junction, the easier the job. We will show them. The hour has come for the MMD to go whether they like it or not."
Sata said the MMD survived on divide and rule.
"Remember that I was in MMD myself so I know them, I was national secretary. What has always been in MMD is division, that's what they always do. So even on this agreement with UPND they want to divide," Sata said. "Last year, they went to bring fragmented small political parties to campaign for Rupiah. You know the parties, Edith Nawakwi's FDD, Sakwiba Sikota's ULP, Ken Ngondo and Ben Mwila's nashalaneka party. That's why Rupiah got the 35,000 votes. Rupiah lost those elections."
Sata advised critics of the PF/UPND pact not to be scared.
He further took a swipe at President Banda, saying the President was more pre-occupied with State House and seeking endorsement from paid up party cadres at the expense of national development.
Sata said it was sad to see the lack of professionalism exhibit its ugly head in the Police service.
He said some PF cadres were currently under police custody for allegations that they beat a rebel party member but nothing had been done to MMD cadres who were beating journalists.
"And we are still waiting for the arrest of those who beat our youth chairman, Kampengele," said Sata.
Labels: SATA, SIMON MITI
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Dr Miti is not sacred, charges Kabimba
Written by George Chellah
Monday, June 08, 2009 6:51:54 PM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary general Wynter Kabimba on Monday charged that former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti must be arrested if he is involved in the K10 billion scam. And instructions have been issued from high offices that Dr Miti should not be arrested but instead have his matter referred to the Director of public Prosecutions (DPP) to buy time.
Reacting to Dr Miti's letter to President Rupiah Banda, Kabimba, who is also a lawyer, said it was utter nonsense for a man at Dr Miti's level to think that he can be shown compassion through this type of patronage.
"Rupiah Banda must keep his word when he says he wants investigating agencies to get to the root of this matter and if Miti is at the bottom of this whole thing he must be brought to book. It is my hope that the donors will not accept this nonsense," Kabimba said.
"The police should arrest Miti whether or not he has met Rupiah's mother. I pay tax myself, this is my money, its not Rupiah's money. The President doesn't even pay tax himself. So Miti must be arrested if he is involved."
He said the K10 billion scam at the Ministry of Health was a matter of public interest.
"The K10 billion involved in this scam is the money of the people of Zambia. It is not an individual's money. There is no doubt that Miti is treating this matter as a personal issue between himself and Mr. Rupiah Banda as President," Kabimba said.
"The mitigating factors he is putting forward about the death of his mother, the death of his brother, health condition of his wife, his having known Rupiah Banda's mother are all irrelevant to this issue. It is this type of patronage which has killed the sense of responsibility in public officers in Africa particularly in Zambia."
He said it must be known by everyone that the funds in question are not President Banda's personal money.
"This money is not Rupiah Banda's money and Henry Kapoko (former Ministry of Health human resources manager) and whoever is involved have not stolen from Rupiah Banda's pocket. They have stolen from Zambians that is if it's established that they stole," Kabimba said.
Kabimba said to patronize the President in the manner Dr Miti is doing was something unacceptable.
"The President is not an investigating agency. He is not a police officer or Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) commissioner. He is also not the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general," Kabimba said. "Miti should wait for his chance to give his statement on what happened to this money when he was controlling officer at the Ministry of Health."
He said Dr Miti should not pre-empty the investigations by patronizing the President.
"Miti should just wait until he has been called upon to give his side of the story. It is also my hope that the police, the DEC and the ACC will not be distracted by this patronage shown by Miti to the President," Kabimba said.
"They must ensure that Miti is brought to book if and when it has been established."
He reminded Dr Miti that there were more people that had lost loved ones in hospitals and clinics countrywide but were crying quietly.
"People that do not have a contact to write to the President using Dr Sichinga as a conduit. These are the silent majority and the voiceless that the investigating agencies and people of Zambia could be concerned about," Kabimba said.
"Miti is crying about the death of his mother he doesn't know how many Zambians have lost their mothers through the theft of that nature. He doesn't know how many people have lost sisters due to lack of adequate health care when money was being stolen at Ministry of Health. This is how selfish public officers can be."
And State House sources disclosed that a meeting was held over Dr Miti's letter to President Banda.
"When that letter was received there was a meeting by some senior State House officials they met to discuss the same. The meeting was divided there was one group that felt that Dr Miti needed to be answerable to the law," the source said. "While others felt that he had done so much helping leaders in the country especially when it comes to evacuations to South Africa and other destinations for them to seek medical attention and treatment.
"But later on there were instructions from high offices that he should not be arrested but to buy time they should say they can't move on that issue because they were waiting for an opinion from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)."
But DPP sources revealed that the DPP's offices' position was that Dr Miti should not be arrested.
"We are of the view that Dr Miti should not be arrested unless it can be shown or proved that he had pecuniary advantage from some of the issues he is being investigated on," the source said.
Dr Miti has written to President Rupiah Banda explaining himself about the on-going investigations over the K10 billion scam. In his letter dated May 24, 2009 to President Banda through presidential principal private secretary Austin Sichinga, Dr Miti gave his reflections and observations on the financial scam in the Ministry of Health.
"Dear Dr Sichinga, please find attached a report on the ten billion kwacha scam in the Ministry of Health. My observations and reflections. You may wish to share this information with His Excellency the President," stated Dr Miti, who was recently sent on forced leave as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training pending investigations in the Ministry of Health.
According to his report entitled "Report on the K10 billion scam in MoH: My Observations and Reflections", Dr Miti pleaded with President Banda to treat him fairly and with compassion.
"Your Excellency Sir, first and foremost, I would like to apologise for taking time off your busy schedule to write to you as the President and as the father of our nation," Dr Miti stated. "You have come to know my family, particularly my mother whom you met before she passed on. I was also privileged to meet your mother before she passed on. I write this report with a broken heart having lost my dear mother and after a month my young brother whilst my wife is in a wheelchair. It has been a distressing year indeed."
Dr Miti stated that after the death of his mother and some his siblings, he had a huge responsibility to look after orphans.
"I am very stressed at the moment following the death of my mother and brother through a road traffic accident and my wife who is incapacitated and currently in a wheelchair. Mr President, following the demise of my mother and my brother, my responsibility over the orphans has become bigger. You may wish to note that seven out of 12 of my brothers and sisters have all died and left orphans," Dr Miti stated.
"I am the sole breadwinner and custodian of all these orphans. My surviving brothers and sisters are unfortunately the youngest in the family thereby increasing the burden on me as the sole breadwinner. My plea is that let me be treated fairly and with compassion."
He informed President Banda that he was on compassionate leave because he was distressed with what had happened in such a short period of time after moving to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training.
Dr Miti denied knowing former Ministry of Health human resources manager Henry Kapoko. He stated that the ministry was heavily audited in the seven years he served there.
Labels: MINISTRY OF HEALTH, SIMON MITI, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Miti writes Rupiah over K10bn scam
Written by Jane Mwakasungula
Monday, June 08, 2009 2:36:47 PM
FORMER Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti has written to President Rupiah Banda explaining himself about the on-going investigations over the K10 billion scam.
In his letter dated May 24, 2009 to President Banda through presidential principal private secretary Austin Sichinga, Dr Miti gave his reflections and observations on the financial scam in the Ministry of Health.
“Dear Dr Sichinga, please find attached a report on the ten billion kwacha scam in the Ministry of Health. My observations and reflections. You may wish to share this information with His Excellency the President,” stated Dr Miti, who was recently sent on forced leave as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training pending investigations in the Ministry of Health.
According to his report entitled “Report on the K10 billion scam in MoH: My Observations and Reflections”, Dr Miti pleaded with President Banda to treat him fairly and with compassion.
“Your Excellency Sir, first and foremost, I would like to apologise for taking time off your busy schedule to write to you as the President and as the father of our nation,” Dr Miti stated.
“You have come to know my family, particularly my mother whom you met before she passed on. I was also privileged to meet your mother before she passed on. I write this report with a broken heart having lost my dear mother and after a month my young brother whilst my wife is in a wheelchair. It has been a distressing year indeed.”
Dr Miti stated that after the death of his mother and some his siblings, he had a huge responsibility to look after orphans.
“I am very stressed at the moment following the death of my mother and brother through a road traffic accident and my wife who is incapacitated and currently in a wheelchair. Mr President, following the demise of my mother and my brother, my responsibility over the orphans has become bigger. You may wish to note that seven out of 12 of my brothers and sisters have all died and left orphans,” Dr Miti stated.
“I am the sole breadwinner and custodian of all these orphans. My surviving brothers and sisters are unfortunately the youngest in the family thereby increasing the burden on me as the sole breadwinner. My plea is that let me be treated fairly and with compassion.”
He informed President Banda that he was on compassionate leave because he was distressed with what had happened in such a short period of time after moving to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training.
Dr Miti denied knowing former Ministry of Health human resources manager Henry Kapoko. He stated that the ministry was heavily audited in the seven years he served there.
“I would like to assure you Mr President from the bottom of my heart and in remembering my mother that I am not in any way connected to the scam that has happened in the Ministry of Health and I am not and have never been in any way connected to Mr Kapoko either formally or informally,” Dr Miti stated.
“Generally, he has been a junior member of staff who never reported directly to my office. I am as disappointed and frustrated as you are and look forward to appropriate disciplinary action to be meted out to all those that have been involved in this financial scam which has eroded donor confidence with some of them withholding future funding to the Ministry of Health which is extremely unfortunate.”
Dr Miti stated that some people had been questioning his wealth without realising that he acquired his wealth before he was appointed permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and that the other portion of his wealth was from his late brother Dr Emmanuel Miti's estate.
Dr Miti explained that the seven years he served as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and as presidential physician to the late Levy Mwanawasa was a source of pain and criticisms in whatever he did.
“People have only concentrated on negative criticisms but they don't look at the many positive things that have taken place in the Ministry of Health during the period,” Dr Miti stated.
“I have been traumatised and sometimes embarrassed over things I had not done and people always jumped quickly to wrong conclusions. These kinds of criticisms and insults similar to the ones you are currently experiencing as father of the nation. The beginning of our late president's term of office was just as rough and I see a similar trend towards you Mr President.”
Dr Miti stated that he had an opportunity to peruse through an audit on the K10 billion scam masterminded by Kapoko who happened to a junior officer in the ministry.
“However, going by my quick perusal of the documents on this matter, they have revealed the following: (1) Mr Kapoko never declared conflict of interest that he was the owner of Best Home Lodge and so it took some time for me to find out. I immediately took action by stopping the use of Best Home Lodge for use as a venue for workshops. I gave these instructions in the full senior management meeting where all directors, deputy directors and donor representatives were present. I was however surprised to note that when the [Anti Corruption Commission] ACC recently went to Best Home Lodge after I had left the MoH, it was still being used for workshops contrary to management resolution that it should not be used,” Dr Miti stated.
“(2) I have also observed and generally made a conclusion that all the payments that were going to other institutions and were linked to Mr Kapoko and a one Mrs Mataka (who also did not declare conflict of interest for use of colleges such as the Royal College, ESU School of Nursing and Algonquin Management Consultants) were not approved by me as controlling officer as per normal procedure. My serious observation was that I only saw those letters at the first instance when these institutions were writing to the Ministry of Health through my office.
“My only involvement in this was that I wrote 'FYA' which is an abbreviation for 'For Your Attention' which is generally used in the civil service whenever one is referring to a new document to a subordinate officer in this case my directors and does not in any way mean approval of payment.”
Dr Miti also noted that the fundamental principle of trust was seriously flouted and frustrated by his then junior staff at the Ministry of Health.
“Mr President, heads of institutions such as permanent secretaries run institutions based on trust that the directors and accounting staff are giving them the best advice and that they are following procedure to the latter (sic). In this case, going by the documents I have perused through, this fundamental principle of trust was seriously flouted and frustrated,” Dr Miti stated.
“Mr President, Your Excellency Sir, there are some prophets of doom who would like to implicate me in this financial scam. You as the father of the nation may have already received adverse reports on me. Surely, if it was my intention to be part of this financial scam (God forbid), I would have been the first one to make sure that such payments and tender procedures were approved and followed to the latter (sic)”
Dr Miti stated that in this case, he was completely sidelined.
“I have also noticed that some payments had been made much earlier even before the documents came to my office for my attention. In other words, payments were corruptly made before I even had a glance at the letters from these corrupt institutions. This is extremely irregular,” Dr Miti stated.
“I have only been able to discover these because now the supporting documents and payment vouchers have been attached and when I look at the dates, payments were made before I marked these documents for the attention of the directors to review and advise me accordingly.”
Dr Miti stated that his juniors abused public funds when he was busy sustaining the health of the late president Mwanawasa.
“I have also noted that these payments and saga or scam took place when I was seriously engaged in sustaining the health of our late president and it was during the time our late president was indisposed in Egypt and finally in France at Percy Military Hospital where he finally passed on. Mr President you would recall that at that time I was frequenting and meeting with you at Government House when you were our Vice-President,” Dr Miti stated.
“It would appear that these senior greedy officials took advantage of my busy schedule to bleed the Ministry of Health. Words cannot describe how embarrassed and annoyed I am and I am sure the same applies to you going by the public criticisms you have been subjected to in the recent past.”
Dr Miti pledged his support to President Banda's fight against corruption.
“Finally, I pray to the Almighty God to continue blessing you in your work as President and father of our nation and indeed the First Lady,” stated Dr Miti. “I also pledge my total support and loyalty to your administration and zero tolerance to corruption for now and in the future.”
Meanwhile, well-placed sources disclosed that Kapoko is being sacrificed because of his perceived links with the opposition Patriotic Front.
“There is an attempt to shield other people involved in the scam,” the source said. “Kapoko is just being sacrificed. Now they are treating him badly in prison, he is sleeping next to the toilet.”
Labels: AUSTIN SICHINGA, RUPIAH BANDA, SIMON MITI
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Police detain Kapoko
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe and Ernest Chanda
Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:32:14 PM
FORMER human resource manager in the Ministry of Health Henry Kapoko was last Saturday picked up and detained at Woodlands Police Station in connection with the ongoing investigations in the K10 billion scam.
And Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja has sent former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti on forced leave pending investigations into the corruption scandals at the ministry.
Kapoko's lawyer Nicholas Chanda yesterday confirmed that his client was picked up by the police on Saturday and spent a night at Woodlands Police Station.
Chanda said Kapoko was later moved to police force headquarters where he was still detained by press time.
"He was picked up yesterday [Saturday] and is currently at force headquarters. He was detained at Woodlands police where he spent a night," Chanda said.
The law enforcement agencies are investigating Kapoko in connection with the alleged corruption, theft and fraud.
The Anti Corruption Commission (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.
And Dr Kanganja, when asked if he would suspend Dr Miti following the latter's questioning by police on Saturday, confirmed having served Dr Miti with the suspension letter.
"I already did it, I did it the same day that I served the others with suspension letters. We want the law enforcement agencies to carry out smooth investigations, so I did my part," said Dr Kanganja.
Dr Miti, who is currently science and technology permanent secretary, is on the list of people being investigated by the ACC over a corruption scam involving about K10 billion from the Ministry of Health.
When contacted yesterday, Dr Miti said he could not comment on the matter.
"I don't think I can comment on that," Dr Miti said.
Last Saturday, police picked up Dr Miti to help in the investigations of the corruption scam at the Ministry of Health.
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso confirmed that Dr Miti was interviewed but that he was not in custody.
Kapeso said several more officials from the Ministry of Health were picked up in connection with the scam last Friday and as of Saturday, there were 23 employees in custody.
And Zambia National Union of Health and Allied Workers (ZNUHAW) president Ozias Banda said Zambians could see light at the end of the tunnel in the K10 billion scam.
"This is good, we are getting somewhere and that is why I said no one should be shielded. We need to commend the Police, the ACC and DEC [Drug Enforcement Commission] for the job they are doing and as Zambians, we need to back them up with whatever we know so that at the end of the day, the country can be helped," Banda said.
International Fellowship of Christian Churches (IFCC) president Bishop Simon Chihana said the revelations of the plundered billions of kwacha were terrifying, stinking and very disturbing considering the amounts and the number of people involved in the plunder.
Bishop Chihana said one wondered how these people could have the strength, courage and the ability to go ahead in the manner they had been doing it in the face of other plunder cases going on in the courts of law.
"Is it not amazing that, when we are just testifying and setting the standard before the fellow African nations that such shame is getting back to us and around us? We wonder whether the law is weak and is not being felt by the predators, either people's consciousness have simply collapsed and are dead completely or they are following the footsteps of their masters," he said.
Bishop Chihana said the stealing of public money had developed into a cancer and could only be stopped if all Zambians came together and agreed to fight this big demon called plunder and corruption.
Bishop Chihana said these plunderers were sometimes the ones who caused their fellow workers to down tools because of non-increment of salaries and suspending of wages awarded to them.
He said hospitals and clinics were not well equipped because of the wicked behaviour of the people occupying honourable offices.
"We cannot sit by and watch our own future being taken away from our hands without doing anything about it. These people that are involved it may seem they hate the nation, the people, and their own families to be doing such unthinkable things. As a church, we want to encourage all the law enforcing agencies to be brave and face the culprits without fear or favour and we highly commend the government for the job done and we encourage them not to relent but pursue the fight to all ministries questionable," he said.
Bishop Chihana urged President Rupiah Banda to allow the investigations to be extended to every ministry.
He said President Banda must allow the offices of the Auditor General, ACC, the police and the Office of the President to do their job effectively and efficiently without interference and intimidation.
"We need sanity in our country. We are disgusted by the behaviour of some of these government officers and only if a broom can be allowed to sweep and cleanse through and through to all ministries, otherwise the stinking shall continue and the wickedness shall increase and multiply a hundredfold," said Bishop Chihana.
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.
President Banda later 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.
Last week, over 20 employees at Ministry of Health were sent on forced leave 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.
Labels: HENRY KAPOKO, JOSHUA KANGANJA, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, NICHOLAS CHANDA, SIMON MITI
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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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Police pick up Dr. Simon Miti
Saturday, May 30, 2009, 15:50
Police have picked up former Health Permanent Secretary, Dr. Simon Miti to help with investigations into the financial scandal at the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Miti, who is now Science and Technology Permanent secretary, was picked up Saturday morning for questioning at police headquarters in the Zambian capital, Lusaka. Police Spokesperson Bonny Kapeso has confirmed the development.
Investigations have intensified in the K10 billion scam at the ministry of health with 32 people now sent on forced leave. Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja has confirmed that the 32 officers have been written to. Dr. Kanganja said cabinet office will not suspend any officers until the probe is completed.
The Secretary to the Cabinet said there will be need to take administrative action against the officers implicated in the scam once investigations have been completed.
And in another development K4 billion released by the ministry of health last year for completing the construction of Shangombo District Hospital, has been diverted to unrelated activities by the western province administration.
This has enraged Sinjembela Member of Parliament Mubika Mubika.
Mr. Mubika says the Shangombo district hospital project that was started in 2004 has remained a white elephant for five years.
Mr. Mubika says critically ill patients suffering from Tuberculosis and those on Anti Retro Viral drugs continue to be inconvenienced by travelling to Senanga district to access the drugs.
He has called on Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao to ensure that the K3 billion budgeted for this year is not diverted.
The incomplete Shangombo district hospital project also includes construction of 14 staff houses, but only 6 have been completed.
Labels: JOSHUA KANGANJA, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, SIMON MITI
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Health PS admits improper handling of doctors' car loans
By Jack Zimba
Friday April 04, 2008 [04:00]
THE car loan scheme for doctors was not properly handled, health Permanent Secretary Dr Simon Miti has admitted. Appearing before the parliamentary committee on health, Dr Miti, who was answering a question from Patriotic Front Kantanshi member of parliament Yamfwa Mukanga on Tuesday, said proper guidelines in administering the loans were not being followed.
He told the committee that the scheme was being administered by the Resident Doctors Association under the defunct Central Board of Health. He said the programme could have been handled better.
Mukanga wondered why the scheme was “mismanaged” when it was managed by doctors, who are supposed to exhibit high levels of professionalism in their work. Dr Miti said his ministry was still conducting a verification exercise to help recover money from those who benefited from the car loan scheme. He could not, however, specify the amount of money the government might have lost through the scheme. He said the ministry managed to recover one vehicle from a doctor who had relocated to South Africa.
Dr Miti also disclosed that the Ministry of Health was planning to extend the car loan scheme to nurses and other health personnel. Under the scheme introduced by the government in 2005, about 500 doctors were supposed to benefit.
Labels: PERMANENT SECRETARIES, SIMON MITI
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Health ministry ready for K24bn expired drugs queries - Chituwo
By Noel Sichalwe
Thursday April 26, 2007 [04:01]
HEALTH minister Dr Brian Chituwo yesterday said his ministry is ready to clarify queries by Auditor General Anna Chifungula on the K24 billion worth of expired drugs. During a tour of Medical Stores Limited (MSL) in Lusaka, Dr Chituwo said the figure of K24 billion was presumably taken from the Ministry of Finance report of the board of survey on the inspection, verification and disposal of expired stock of drug and medical supplies for a period of October to November 2005.
Dr Chituwo said given the problem of accumulated expired and damaged drugs, his permanent secretary Dr Simon Miti requested the permanent secretary at Ministry of Finance to constitute a board of survey to inspect, determine value of expired drugs and recommend the best means of disposing of the expired stock at MSL.
He said the Ministry of Finance, as a government institution responsible for public assets and executing public and finance Act, constituted a board of survey comprising of competent people in November 2005 to quantify the expired drugs before the Auditor General made inquiries.
Dr Chituwo said the need to verify the cost of expired drugs and to come up with disposal options arose in 2004 when the government engaged a new management contractor at MSL who needed space for its logistical operations.
He said the board of survey was also aware that Central Board of Health was in the process of being dissolved and in accordance with the public and finance Act, the assets and liabilities to be passed on to government had to be determined.
“The drugs that largely contributed to the K24 billion expired drugs are those that expired between 1997 and 2004 and were supplied between 1994 and 2000 at an estimated cost of K17 billion and constituted unplanned donations from donors which had short shelf life and those that failed quality control tests for various reasons such as damages and breakages,” Dr Chituwo said. “The balance of approximately K7 billion from the K24 billion is due to drugs that were donated directly to various hospitals and health centres by service clubs, churches and NGOs. These drugs were mopped upon expiry and stored at Medical Stores Limited for safety pending disposal and destruction.”
Dr Chituwo said his ministry had in the past four years developed a guideline on donation of drugs, as donations were major contributors to the K24 billion expired drugs.
He said the emphasis in the guideline was on donated drugs having a longer shelf life upon receipt at MSL and to be donated in consultation with Ministry of Health.
Dr Chituwo said to minimize wastage of drugs, his ministry has also embarked on the improvement of drug procurement and management systems and capacity building of health staff.
“It is unfortunate that an impression has been created that these drugs have not been accounted for and were allowed to expire,” Dr Chituwo said. “On the contrary and as already alluded to, the board of survey that was constituted by Ministry of Finance did in fact verify and qualified the stock of expired drugs in 2005 as a proactive action by government.”
Dr. Chituwo said in order to safeguard public health, disposal of expired drugs followed the procedure of the board of survey, notification of intended disposal with Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority and that the Environmental Council of Zambia also has to witness the disposal.
He said the issue of the expired drugs would be presented to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) where the Auditor General would verify some information that his ministry has prepared in response to the audit queries.
Dr Chituwo brushed aside comments by Auditor General Chifungula that she would stop auditing MoH transactions if the officials made it difficult for her office to conduct audits.
He was also happy with the operations of Crown Agents Services which is managing MSL. He said the ARV programme was focused with the stock of about US $60 million.
He wondered how his officials in the distribution process were causing artificial shortages of ARVs in areas like Western Province when they had enough stock.
“What people want to see is service delivery,” he said.
Crown Agents Services country director Misheck Kaoma said they had signed a contract with the government worth US $4.5 million for the provision of medical drugs and equipment for Eastern Western and North Western provinces. He said they were currently renovating the building.
Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, CORRUPTION, HEALTHCARE, SIMON MITI
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Remove PSs with bad track records, Simenda urges Levy
By Chibaula Silwamba and George Chellah
Friday April 20, 2007 [04:00]
Former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Francis Simenda has urged President Levy Mwanawasa to remove all permanent secretaries with a track record of not accounting for public funds. And Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president William Mweemba has called for the punishment of people involved in the K24 billion worth of expired drugs case at the Ministry of Health.
Commenting on the thefts and misappropriation of public funds in government ministries, departments and foreign missions as highlighted in the Auditor General's report through the PAC, Simenda said it was surprising that permanent secretaries such as Dr Simon Miti of the Ministry of Health had continued to appear before PAC since his Simenda's chairmanship.
Simenda, who served as PAC chairman for five years in the last Parliament, said this should not be allowed to continue.
"For me, I'm surprised that, when I read the Auditor General's report, the same controlling officers have continued appearing. The previous meeting we had they appeared and now they are still appearing. I think drastic measures should be taken,"
Simenda said. "Dr Miti appeared last year and the PAC requested that measures should be taken in his ministry to control the situation but nothing has happened. All controlling officers with a track record of not properly accounting for public funds in their ministries should be removed so that competent people come in to control."
Simenda said Zambia was losing a lot of money because the same controlling officers that have been failing to account for public funds in the previous years had continued serving.
"The only thing is to get rid of those controlling officers that fail to perform, and I have confidence that President Mwanawasa can do that," Simenda said.
He wondered why the controlling officers that had appeared for the last three years were still struggling to account for public funds to date.
"Last year, PAC recommended that action should be taken against them but nothing has been done to them," Simenda said.
He said although he could not say which permanent secretaries should be removed, the onus was on President Mwanawasa, as the appointing authority, to get rid of them to save billions of public funds.
"We are losing a lot of money that can go to national development. If you go through the report and add the amounts of money that is missing, you will see that a lot of billions have been lost. We desperately need this money to develop the country," Simenda said. "When I think about the billions that have been swindled, my heart breaks."
He said the Auditor General and her officers were doing a commendable job and should be supported by all. Simenda urged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the police to attend the PAC sittings so that they start following up prosecutable cases.
"They should not wait until someone reports to them," he said. "In other countries, the police and ACC sit in as observers and when they are not satisfied with the response of the controlling officers they start investigating."
And Mweemba emphasized the need for accountability of public resources.
"If you are going to use the taxpayers' money, you should ensure that whatever you procure is in usable form and is distributed," Mweemba said. "People who are negligent should be taken to book. This K24 billion case... it should be thoroughly investigated, all those people who will be found wanting should be punished."
Mweemba said the rampant cases of abuse of public resources were disappointing.
"And one expects and hopes to see the measures that the government and the executive are going to take," Mweemba said. "This is one of the reasons why the civil society is insisting on a new constitution."
Mweemba said a new constitution would be a good basis for ensuring that accountability was enhanced.
"There are a lot of loopholes right now. This is just one of those things which shows why we need a new constitution because it would deal much more specific with all these issues," he said.
Labels: PAC, PERMANENT SECRETARIES, SIMON MITI
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AUDITOR GENERAL threatens to stop auditing MoH
By Amos Malupenga
Tuesday April 17, 2007 [04:00]
Auditor General Anna Chifu-ngula has threatened to stop auditing the Ministry of Health (MoH) if Permanent Secretary Dr Simon Miti continues to be un-cooperative. And documentation obtained yesterday revealed that Dr Miti's letter to Chifungula dated April 12, 2007 was not copied to first lady Maureen Mwanawasa, contrary to what we reported in yesterday's edition.
Chifungula, in her letter to Dr Miti dated April 13, 2007 copied to Secretary to Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and Secretary to the Treasury Evans Chibiliti, stated that Dr Miti did not seem to understand what audit was all about. She was reacting to Dr Miti's letter who had invited her to meet so they could reconcile audit queries following their differences when they both appeared before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
"Following my appearance before the PAC on 4th April 2007 to make responses to the Auditor General's Report for the financial year ended 31st December 2005, it was clear from the members of the committee that we needed to reconcile and harmonise the audit findings and responses that the Ministry of Health provided," read Dr Miti's letter. "In the spirit of resolving some of the issues raised, my ministry is ready to meet with you at the earliest convenience to reconcile the records. It is our hope and wish that the misunderstanding should be resolved amicably. My ministry is more than ready to provide all necessary documentation and look forward to co-operate with your office as you verify the audit responses."
But in her response, Chifungula stated that Dr Miti was not co-operative and if he did not change is attitude, she would be left with no option but to exercise her constitutional rights. She stated that as she wrote to Dr Miti, his ministry officials have failed to provide information on the K24 billion worth of expired drugs.
"I feel that you do not understand what audit is all about," Chifungula stated. "The auditor is supposed to help you to account for the funds that the treasury has entrusted in you to manage. You may wish to know that when the auditors come to visit you, you are supposed to avail them with all the information and documentation necessary for them to conduct their audit as this is clearly stipulated in the Zambian Constitution and the Public Audit Act.
"You tend to regard auditors who come to your office as people trying to find faults in you as a person when what they expect from you as controlling officer is information as to how public resources have been utilised. You know that for the audits for the year 2005, the officers have been in your ministry since the late part of 2005 to 2006. As I write, your officers have failed to provide information on the K24 billion worth of expired drugs being kept at great storage costs."
Chifungula stated that it was regrettable that Dr Miti felt that when auditors asked for information from him, they were bringing misunderstandings.
"This is just a figment of your imagination," Chifungula stated. "My officers and I are too busy to concentrate only on one ministry when we have other ministries to audit. If you continue with your un-cooperative attitude, I will have no option but to exercise my constitutional rights not to audit your institution so that all funding to your office will be treated as being at risk.
"Please note that your institution does not fall within, or classified as secret funds. Therefore, the issue of you washing dirty linen in public does not arise as all funding to your office is transparent. Note that the duty of my office is to clean up institutions and cleaning these institutions in every corner, including the darkest parts."
Chifungula stated that it was entirely up to Dr Miti to reconcile and harmonise the audit findings with her office because it was his duty as controlling officer. She stated that her office was not only open to Dr Miti but anybody else requiring her assistance.
"I have no personal feelings for any of my auditees other than to help them discharge their fiduciary duty," stated Chifungula.
Labels: AUDITING, CORRUPTION, SIMON MITI
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