NGOs told to keep away from Zambian Airways probe

By
editor
-
36
931

GOVERNMENT has told non-governmental organisations and the civil society to leave investigations on Zambian Airways to competent law enforcement agencies.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Todd Chilembo, said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday that The Post newspaper was allegedly using the NGOs trade unions and the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to try and have “side investigations”.

“I note with concern that there are attempts to open up side investigations by The Post newspaper using non-government organizations, trade unions and the Law association of Zambia to investigate these matters,” he said.

He said that these organizations were not law enforcement agencies mandated to probe financial dealings in Zambian Airways.

“These organizations which have been invited to carry out the investigations should know that the Zambian law only allows legally constituted investigative wings to carry out such investigations. Therefore, they should not involve themselves in matters which are beyond their competence and mandate,” he said.

Mr Chilembo said that nobody was above the law and that the outcome of the investigations should not be preempted as they were serious and involved a lot of public funds.

He said that the investigations on financial dealings and activities at Zambian Airways were started following public complaints.

He said that these complaints included those from Members of Parliament (MPs) who demanded that law enforcement agencies follow up the matter.

“These investigations are now ongoing and the law enforcement agencies will make the final determination after gathering evidence,” Mr Chilembo said.

He said that the law enforcement agencies were professional and would give an opportunity to everyone involved to be heard before taking action, if any.

36 COMMENTS

    • In what capacity will these NGOs conduct investigations and what impact will there findings have should the matter go to court? Answer: Nothing so why get involved in the first place. Ba Post let the law take its course

  5. It’s a bit shocking that M’membe can be involved in such scandals after he’s painted a picture to be a champion of justice. What is scary is whether there’s is any upright man in Zambia today. It appears that once Zambians smell money, they lose all their reasoning. We need a Sankara in Zambia.

  6. NGO means Non-Governmental Organisation, so they will do well to leave such issues to the government. I see it that way too.

  7. NGOs are also not clean. The y tend to criticise government when some NGOs are even worse than government in terms of corruption and accounatbility. there is so much inequality within NGOs and no body talks about.

    • That shouldn’t mean that NGO’s should keep away. Government has to just bring out every aspect of this issue in the open. Is it not that Zambia is claiming to be corruption free, well that goes with transparency.

  9. I would strongly agree if there is nothing to hide then why going on the defenssive way befor the case is dealt with. Its like you know somehow you might be guilty but because you think you are clever than everyone else especially government and you have a record of being the voice of the people. the POst championed these type of invastigations so i dont see why they should react in this manner when it is there turn.
    I would expect them to welcome them with open hands it will only confirm there commitment to fighting corruption and other evils in our country, but now katwishi its like if you work hard you can get away with it and why should i be investigated coz its a good couse

  10. Where is the anti corruption commission kanshi? Govt is happy with a tribunal that will take forever. ACC probably doesnt know there is anything wrong.

  11. ““I note with concern that there are attempts to open up side investigations by The Post newspaper using non-government organizations, trade unions and the Law association of Zambia to investigate these matters,” he said.”

    Good. This is what is expected from the 17 year old GRZ. I need to see that you MMD GRZ are in control while the POST, Undereducate’s Imagebuilders, and the NGO are not in control of running the affairs of the country.

    Please GRZ, make sure that your law bodies handle the ZA saga prudently and execute severe punishment to those who will be found wanting.

  12. Nobody is clean in zambia, memmbe(whatever his name is)has been very vocal on issues of corruption and yet he aint upright.
    Get him.

  13. These “Ponzi activities” of of ZA have costed tax payers to the tune of US $ 32 Million. That amounts to economic sabotage which is a serious criminal offense.Assembling disgraced image builders to shape opinion is desperate failed strategy by Mmembe that lacks a survival strategy.

  24. #21 use the kama link right above the comment space to download your gravator. (It will require your active e-mail address)

  25. Clearly RB, Kunda and TC do not believe in transparency!! Can civil society and NGO’s fight such draconian ways of doing things and ensure that we know exactly what has transpired in this and other important issues.

  26. While we cannot investigate our interest in these cases should not wane otherwise the case might just disappear from public

  29. NGOs just like any Zambians have rights/interests in such matters and should therefore be regarded as partners/stakeholders.

Comments are closed.