Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has maintained that a Dangote official attempted to bribe him during a meeting at Intercontinental Lusaka recently.
Mr Shamenda has since challenged Mr Bala Zango, a Manager at Dangote Group Office in Nigeria to come back to Zambia and prove that he did not offer a bribe.
On Tuesday, Dangote Zambia Limited categorically denied allegations made by Mr Shamenda that Mr Zango offered a bribe which he rejected describing the Minister’s claims as malicious misinformation.
The cement firm also accused Mr Shamenda of harassing Dangote and frustrating their US$ 400 million investment into Zambia.
But Mr Shamenda insisted that Mr Zango cannot deny what he did when the two men met at Intercontinental hotel.
“I want this man to come back and prove me wrong. I don’t want people that were not there to start speaking for him. We were just the two of us at that hotel so he has to come and say whether I’m lying or not,” Mr Shamenda said.
He claimed that the Dangote official has been trailing him for some time asking to meet with him to discuss issues of the company’s investment in Zambia.
“I have the text messages he was sending. I have about six text messages from him offering to meet me for lunch or dinner. He started shortly after I met him in Ndola, he then followed up with his requests for lunch or dinner, imagine he followed me up to Lusaka for dinner and he offered to buy,” Mr Shamenda said.
He continued, “I agreed to meet him without the Ministry officials because he said it was important that he meets me alone and he sounded rather desperate so I agreed to meet me. When I got there, he offered to buy me dinner and I refused, it was at this stage that he offered me cash, a lot of it and also refused.”
Mr Shamenda revealed that he did not report the incident to the Anti-Corruption Commission because he did not want to jeopardise Dangote’s investment in Zambia.
“I could have rushed to the ACC but I thought through it and decided to find time to engagement first in order to resolve the matter amicably. I spoke to the media the other day when we toured the plant because I wanted to send a stern warning to other erring investors not to offer bribes to government workers.”
The man has ended up opening a can of worm for himself. Because of his failure to do all due dilligence when he was approaches with the alleged bribe.
He has ended up looking like a tube. Not fit for purpose. Drop him your excellency.
Thanks
He should also report the discounts he was alleged to have been accorded by the game store.
This is what it is mr shame ad you was probably approached in a less secretive of places.
By virtue of colour a black man is corrupt. The DNA is what it is. Look at the America. Jail the uk etc full of blacks.
Whether approaches or not, it’s not the car here. It is the way he has handled it He is too old and not fit for purpose.
Let him go ffs. With that beard how grotesque. I am
Not happy
Thanks i
Shamenda has no reason to lie about this issue ,Dangote should just own up.Besides he will be getting his gratuity soon. We know you Nigerians ,corrupt to the core.
Mr Shamenda you are as dumb as a rock. Nigerians are crooked and they know how to play the game. They made sure you came alone to the meeting, no witnesses. Now it’s your word against his!
ba shamenda, after accepting a fully paid hotel meal and eating it, and letting the guy fly back nigeria,,,, then you say i refused a bribe
I think the real issue was that the money was not enough. Shamenda wanted more but the company can not give him what he wants. That’s why he has decided to blow the whistle before the company does.
He wanted alot of money so that he can also plant some of it like Liato. (Enzo funa nazo shanga).
I think the real issue is that; the money was not enough. Shamenda wanted more but the company can not give him what he wants. That’s why he has decided to blow the whistle before the company does.
He wanted alot of money so that he can also plant some of it like Liato. (Enzo funa nazo shanga).
It is not easy to agree with Mushota. But what else can I do if there is sense in her comment?
Munzi wapya in PF. More implosion on its way in PF as kambwili is being targeted by the post. In response kambwili is now ready to testify againt kabimba ‘s corrupt practices and abuse of power.
Zawama nkani.
Suppose we say: Shams has been bribed by Matani/Zambezi Portland to destroy Dangote for fear of competition hah!?
Mr President, investigate Shams first. He came into Cabinet a very poor man.
Just saying, nde landafye, imao.
Mr Shamenda has since challenged Mr Bala Zango, a Manager at Dangote Group Office in Nigeria to come back to Zambia and prove that he did not offer a bribe.
Can a man be any dull than the statement above. Shamenda, it is you who should prove that you were offered a bribe. See it is difficult for you to prove that you were given a bribe, and the proof does not require that man to be here in Zambia. Shamenda, you are being used by that man along who leaves along Cario road, and owns a bank. Shamenda get a life, start working and not what you are doing now fighting for someone’s battles.
Shamenda needs to be sued and fired.
Well done Shamenda. The minister was right to ignore the Dangote guy and avoid reporting him to ACC bcoz u the same people could have been the first to criticize the PF for harassing investors. He acted in a very mature manner by forgiving that Man. How many of us have forgiven people before? Is it wrong to forgive?The Minister knew very well that Dagote is a big company and has a reputation to protect especially that it has just come to Zambia. So he acted as a parent. His statement in ND was meant to let Dangote be aware that he was not happy with what they did and should never do that again. Again I see nothing wrong with that. Only if you are not human can you blame the Minister. Dangote sent that man to bribe the Hon. Minister, they should just apologise.
MOST OF YOU HERE ARE THIEVES AND CORRUPT, SO STOP ACCUSING THE MINISTER. FIRST REMOVE THE LOG FROM YOUR EYES BEFORE U CAN EVEN CONSIDER REMOVING A GRAIN OF SAND FROM SHAMENDA’S EYES.
Sir,
Was it ever on tape? Otherwise, your word against his and in short……Hear Say!
ba Shamenda, you have an office, a labour office, if some one esspecially a human resource manager wants to meet you, MUST come and meet you in your office….thats professional,,,,avoid dark corner meeting!!
and as a minister how can a junior officer as dangote claim offer you lunch or dinner, an you go??,,, mutisebanya!!!
Cannot agree with you more @Cindy. There is no way to prove this allegation by Shamenda because it appears that even the text messages sent by the said Mr. Zango, make no mention of intent to bribe him, except the offers to have dinner. Even with that, one cannot conclude that it was with the intent to bribe the Minister. Shamenda should drop this talk because he is not able to prove anything in the courts of law. Infact, Dangote Cement can sue him for malice and win the case hands down.
@ Olympia.E.C,
I dont understand how exposed these leaders are, he infact has no solid evidence to bring this case to the courts apart from… “he said, I said”! Fact is smses are no more hard core court evidence especially in this day and age of supper hackers. Any one can break in your profile and dish out info to the public, I dont know about Zambia or Africa, this side of the River….. That is more less like asking your friend to back you up. Unless he could follow it up with substantial proof which is as good as nul! No case here, Ba Sata should warn his ministers they are painting a bad picture!
@ndobo,
Me shocked! Is this how things are in Zambia? One just decides to go under cover without no clue? On top of that he starts singing to the entire world without even getting…
This a very big blunder shamenda. If you never reported to ACC, then you should not be minister at all. You should support such institutions established to fight corruption. Also, why would you agree to meet him alone? That, in its self, is a problem and am looking forward to a toast on you honourable!
Balusakatimes why aren’t you running with the rumours in the Post on the allegations that Kambwili is eyeing the top job. If you wish to talk about bribery let’s discuss how Guy Scott the treacherous one was double dealing with that Austrialian mine firm that wanted to destroy lower Zambezi valley and also how Zambeef (HH’s business partners) and Zambia sugar have never paid any fines for underpaying staff, avoiding taxes and other dubious dealings such as poisoning Zambians and manage to get away Scott free??? We know these double agents.
They are PF and it confirms it by their failure to run the Kambwili saga with Sata.
@skeleton I for one am actually sympathetic to this PF govt but will not keep quiet when I see some govt officials abusing state funds and resources. Government officials and this includes MPs even those in opposition are milking the nation on their allowances, contract awarding, workshops, travelling abroad for useless seminarsand trainings that they don’t even make use of here, they only waste national resources by travelling and taking pictures abroad which they post of facebook, useless chaps you are wasting govt resources and when I hard working poor tax payer come to your govt office be it at the ministry of lands, ZRA, council, agriculture you are no where to be seen for 2 months you are running around the country in a govt owned latest Prado. This attitude was brought by MMD…
I like your objectivity in this matter 2020.
fail to report a crime is a crime in its self but y is zp dwii
Dangote is the richest and the most corrupt African. Every Nigerian Presidents from Obasanjo to Bad-luck Jonathan aka Boko-Haram Phobic are in Dangote’s pockets. We dont need $400m dirt money. Dangote is always in good ‘books’ with every African Govrmts he works with. Simply by buying favors and protection. I’m behind Shamenda on this one. Shams is the man of Integrity.
@PanAfricanist, I am with you here. Most of the people on the forum dont know how Nigerians operate. I agree with the Minister. Nigerians are crooks and it seems the only people that dont know are Zambians on this forum. Its likely Dangote sent this man on a mission to the Minister to set him up and then turn the tables around him. The man probably even had a hidden video camera. Dangote knew the guy was going so, there wanted to use him to take the Minister down and just as they are saying he is no longer there that was going to be there chorus. From, what the Minister has said the guy did even review that he was leaving. Good the Minister kept some txt msgs and the fact that they met at Inters hotel, their people who noticed the Ministers presency. Nxt time take spy video camera along
James
You are missing the point.The Minister has confessed committing a criminal offence and he should be arrested.Dont preach to us about how corrupt Nigeria n’s are we all know that.And don’t forget that this is the second time in a month that Shame da is being accused of committing a crime under the Anti Corruption Act.
It’s not clear why chaps come forward with this. It is all very pointless in terms of prosecution of Nigerian business man. Terrible nationality!
We know Nigerians bribe. It’s a national sport and part of their culture! Seems Shamenda is just learning!
This is hearsay… What was the bribe for? This man is lying about something.. Such incompetence we do not need in our PF government… Drop this one immediately Mr. President.. He pauses a huge danger to your progressive policies
Guys, you have to see this. Why should this guy offer to buy the minister dinner? They were not friends. It can only be for one reason inducement. Most of you being critical of the minister do that and you have no integrity to trash the minister.
@ James why did the entire/whole lot of a minister go for that dinner? Why not send his junior, especially that they were not acquaintances. He should have thought of the implications.
Could it be, by any stroke of the imagination, that the bribe was below the minimum acceptable? You know, things like, ”Nizagula chani nakandalama wanipasa aka?” Why risk for 2 pin? The fact that he went alone means that should the bribe have been juicy, he could have accepted it and no sharing!
Hahahahahahahahaha
“I could have rushed to the ACC but I thought through it and decided to find time to engagement first in order to resolve the matter amicably”. Now tell us, did you resolve the matter amicably Mr Minister?
Bwana Minister, how should Bala Zango prove that he did not offer you a bribe?
The guy will simply say he didn’t, the onus is on you to prove otherwise.
A Mrs. Potiphar syndrome it sounds like. Just because the gentleman couldn’t get what he wanted, he is now trying to even the scores!
Uko!!
What a minister we don’t have in Mr Shamenda seriously. I eloquently didn’t report the matter to police in hopes of more money in his pocket, but alas. Only dinner was a thanks but seems bwana shams wanted more.
LT please, stop blocks.
Shamenda i will bribe you into cutting your beard. Mwasapa sana yama.
A USELESS MINISTER TRYING TO BE A USEFUL MINISTER.ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO CONCOCT A STORY AND EVERYONE WILL BELIEVE YOU THAT YOU ARE A VERY HONEST LEADERS AND SICK BOSS WHO IS FIRING MINISTERS WILL YOU THE CHOP.
WHEN IS THE NEXT RESHUFFLE? BA SATA PLIZ DROP THIS TIRED OLD FOOL OF A MINISTER. HE HAS FAILED LAMENTABLY. labor minister whos people are mistreated yet keeps a blind eye for them. yama just retire and go to the farm thats what suits u sir. 2016 ndola central ur loosing.
Fellow ZAMBIAN, Mr Shamenda what he is telling the NATION is’TRUE’ let us believe him for this i think he can’t lie. “I know what am saying i’am a’MINE’ in C/B i still remember what he did when we were given percent instead of K2,000 ACLOSE THE BOARD”.
I FEEL SORRY FOR MR. SATA. HE TOLD US POINTEDLY THAT PF PARTY HAD NO MINISTER MATERIAL AND WENT AFTER MMD MPs. HE ALSO SAID ALL HIS MINISTERS ARE USELESS.
ESI MWABONA?
If a govt minister fails to report bribes to ACC ,what about the ordinary citizens.
BA SHAMS WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO FOOL? AM SURE THE GUYS GAVE YOU what you thought was small you decided to make noise. BUT FOR THOSE THAT OFFER YOU 3% OF THE WHOLE PROJECT YOU DECIDE IT IS A SECRET. Tukonfwako mudala.
…even if it is a third world, of all places Intercontinental for that matter has no CCTV…??
Earlier he said Bala Zango should never come back to Zambia, now he wants him back! This is another Austin Liato case. Remember that Liato was also Labour minister? The K2billion kwacha he buried was from such bribes. Sorry ba shamenda mwa feluka apa. Your story does not add up at all.
Shamenda may not win this case but one thing for sure it will give others some sense of preparedness to deal with this scourge. It will also send a message to our Nigerian colleagues at Dangote and elsewhere.
****gate Shamenda aliko na badluck Dangote.Mess with these corrupt Nigerians and don’t complain if your integrity and credibility are questioned.
Fackson Shamenda plus corrupt Nigerians in a room? Am not surprised that many zambians now question his credibility and integrity.
ba shamenda mwayitaya. if he came back from nigeria, it will be your word against his; it is difficult to prove it especially that u went alone to the hotel, why? tell us why dd he want to bribe you, there shud be a reason. no body corrupts for nothing, so what dd he say so that you exchange with the money. agin,your reason not to report is not convincing, look for another one bwana
Mr. Minister Sir, why did you choose to meet this shady character at a hotel and not your office, if you did not have any ulterior motive yourself. Do not make things worse for yourself, let this thing die a natural death and keep quiet, otherwise people will make something out of nothing. My own take is that you are not a honest person and if you still drink as you used to when I once met you on a flight from London years ago, then I am sure you have been harassing Dangote for a small nichekeleko…
He kept sending him messages on phones so the minister wanted to find out what this man wanted. The good news is he minister couldn’t even allow him to get far into talking about the crime. You guys should understand the situation at hand instead of just pointing fingers at the minister. Infact some of you are worse than the Minister because you still at work and are corrupt.
The man sounded desperate and asked you to meet you and him alone??this should have made you suspicious and you would have engaged the ACC to set a trap.now how do we prove it??maybe walicenga cash??you could not agree on the cash.And coming to Lusaka is not proof enough of a bribery.ACC what arrest Fackson for failing to report a crime.
Why is he complaining now,was the bribe not high enough???????????
Wankson Shamenda….whatever it is that u wanted to show of yourself has now blown back in your face…don’t you know that the same Manager you are talking about can change the story and say that you had collected the cash???? You should have reported there and then….don’t lie to us Mr Wankson…sha!!!!!!!
Almost everything about this doesn’t make sense and stinks of corruption on the part of Shamenda? Why hasn’t the ACC and ZP not arrested this man who is publicly admitting to be an accessory to a crime under the laws of Zambia. Corruption is a crime committed by both the one who induces and the recipient… on top of that Shamenda failed to report the same crime so it’s a double whammy for him. Look at the child-like lies here:
1. He didn’t want to report to the ACC “because he did not want to jeopardise Dangote’s investment in Zambia”. But he then publicly announces the same thing to the media. How ‘jeopardy’ can you get?
2. He was desperate and offered to meet him alone but still fails to bring anyone or even secretly recording the tête-à-tête. Smells right?
continued…
3. He claims to have text messages of the secret meeting invite, how can this prove anything, not least the alleged bribing claims?
4. The guy offered to meet him to “discuss issues of the company’s investment in Zambia”, but he then decides to leave ministry officials behind, does this smell like ‘good coffee’ on the part of Shamenda?
5. he is inviting him to come back to deny the allegations, does this man not aware that Dangote’s statement is in fact that of Mr Zango? What is Mr Shamenda do when Mr Zango comes back and still denies the alleged bribe inducement?
Mr Shamenda sounds rather immature – granted he wanted to look good but I think his approach has failed him miserably. He sounds like he is NOT fit to be a minister, Mushota is right.
Investors-investment, investment-investors; to day investor this, tomorrow investor that, God help us; are we ever going to have a peace of mind in this country about these so called investors????? I will soon form a political party called CHASE THE INVESTOR POPULAR PARTY (CIPP) and when i come into power in 2016, you know what it means. Robert Bob Mugabe (who is my role model) will be the Senior consultant…By the way, Hon. Shamenda, i am told we have a lot of issues with these Boars you have brought in the country to run lodges( abusive language, racism, low salaries etc) am employing you to start looking at this issue also before i come into power…who knows maybe i can carry you over as minister in the same capacity…
What is there for Zambia in all this flip-flop talk of bribee and briber.
There were better options Mr Shams could have gone for to prove his hate for bribes, ACC, under cover CID, get money, hand it over to ACC etc, not this cheap talk of PF ‘Dont kubeba’ mantra. Evidence is hard to be heard on Shams tongue for populist agenda. Shams will be Mr Shame.
Anyway its one of those thing mr shamenda we know what this guys can do when they want to disrespet you u ve owez bin the best minister that we know…