CHIEF Justice Ernest Sakala is awaiting a report from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding its investigations against former Finance and National Planning minister, Ng’andu Magande before he can consider constituting a tribunal to probe him.
Chongwe resident, Waziona Nkhwekwe, on March 23, 2009 petitioned Mr Justice Sakala to set up a tribunal to probe Mr Magande for allegedly abusing his authority in handling the Zambian Airways debt issue.
Justice Sakala said in response to Mr Nkhwekwe that he had been informed by the ACC that it was investigating Mr Magande in connection with his role in the defunct Zambian Airways and could, therefore, not appoint a tribunal.
Mr Nkhwekwe had in his letter to the chief justice said Mr Magande allegedly breached part two of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act, Cap 16 of the laws of Zambia.
In his response, through letters dated March 24 and 30, 2009, Justice Sakala said he was awaiting a report from the ACC who had informed him that they were investigating the former minister in connection with the Zambian Airways issue.
He said it had always been a practice that the matter brought up for a tribunal was supposed to be referred to the relevant law-enforcement agencies before the decision to either constitute the tribunal or not could be made.
Mr Justice Sakala said it was for that reason that he decided to refer the matter to the ACC and could only make a decision on whether to constitute the tribunal or not once the commission furnished him with the report.
A team of officers from the ACC, the Drug-Enforcement Commission and the police which was constituted to probe the Zambian Airways issue had concluded preliminary investigations and has since handed a docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.
Warn and caution statements have been recorded from four Zambian Airways directors.
Justice Sakala said in response to the petitioner that Mr Nkhwekwe had correctly alluded to the fact that the law-enforcement agencies were investigating the Zambian Airways issue.
In his letter, Mr Nkhwekwe said he was aware that the investigative wings were investigating the affairs of Zambian Airways but the allegations against Mr Magande touched on his function as a former minister and member of Parliament now.
“My Lord will recall that in 2001, a tribunal was constituted to investigate honourable Messrs Katele Kalumba, Peter Machungwa and the late Godden Mandandi notwithstanding the fact that the Anti-Corruption Commission was investigating the matter,” he said.
But Mr Justice Sakala said that was not correct because in that instance, the tribunal was only constituted after the ACC had completed investigations and handed over a report to then chief justice.
“In your case, therefore, I will await a report on the matter by the ACC. It is only after that that I will consider setting up a tribunal,” he said in the letter dated March 24.
[Times of Zambia]
Good, Mr Justice.
Lets wait and see
The truth shall come out. Keep us informed
LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO MR MAGANDE
Nomba everyone pa zed wants a tribunal set up on evrybody else. Yiliko bad mwe!!
Blood thirsty politicians.
No one should be scared of the tribunals/courts unless they are guilty. So let Magande go to the tribunal so that we can know whats what. Big up Justice Sakala.
2011
Magande -2nd year in prison
Dora Siliya 2nd year in prison
why magande today? when nothing happened to dora.
hahahaa, someone wants magandes’ soul before our MMD convention, they have un realistic fears about this man, lets roll see how the ball game goes. mmmmm living in the glass house!
I will never trust characters with names like Waziona Nkhwekwe or Bwezani Rupiah, never! The chap even lies to the CJ about the Katele case, my foot!
These are just symptoms of swine flu.
Now I wonder – when does one become liable to be probed by a tribunal?
9 didi, Magande mentioned that Ms Dora Siliya should resign from her MP potsition as well since her breached the Country’s Constitution as reported by the POST. So this news from CJ could just be a caution to him to wait for his TRIBUNAL time, if he is not careful with his appearances in the POST reports.
#1 Maestro. I found your posting on LCM and have answered you at No47
Ba ngwele are now after Magande. Aba pasa ma busy so they want to finish him off. We watching RB and his plunderer friends bene Teta
magande should be probed just like siliya. siliya is a good woman but you people are jealousy of her. so now you protect magande for what um? awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe awe twakana ifwe ba MMD here in diaspora. MMD for 2011 imwe bangwele
This will just be a waist of tax payers money. This Nkhwekwe guy is he not just an mmd cadre in chongwe who want to be noticed?
#17 KABUSHA. You are right. These guys want to find something against all “ENEMIES” of Siliya. What a waste. Nkhwe2 should be busy harvesting crops in Chongwe instead of loitering in Lusaka
14 Deja Vu greetings, thank you and I will check on your response. All the very best in your activities.
19 continued.
Deja Vu, thanks for your input. I was a trainee too at some co., but went to UNZA so I could get quick training to hopefully Prof. level of which I am on track though the good Lord God will decide. Kindly send me that data you mentioned to
[email protected].
On Mr Magande, I want the brother Tonga Bull to be investigated seriously and if possible a TRIBUNAL be constituted to check his involvement with the ZA group.
Later and keep well.
Worst of resources pa Zed, let alone this cheap politicians
It is such a pity that poor people do not see good leaders even when they are standing in front of them. When Mr Magande was at the Ministry the Kwacha had gone down to K3200. There are so many people that benefited from this. The ZA stuff is nothing more than RB trying to tanish Mr Magande’s image before 2011, unfortunately he can try but will never succeed.
Here you are getting excited that yes lets prove that Magande was corrupt, when right in front of you RB is wasting money travelling to Zimbabwe with his children and 49 other people. OPEN your eyes!
It is increasingly becoming obvious that there is really no case against Magande, except of that being a political threat. If indeed there was a case, with all the state resources , including presidential backing, his case would have been in court already. They just want to tarnish a good guy’s image. I really look forward to the day Zambia will have politicians who are mature and look beyond themselves!!!
lET US HEAR IT ALL. LET HIM BE PUT BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL, WE SHALL SEE WHAT HE IS MADE OF? I AM BEGINNING TO LIKE TRIBUNALS.
Mangande was acting corruptly when extending favours to ZA. See what happened when no backing has been extended to ZA? Let us just wait and see, no need to cry if no wrong was committed.
Not to worry Magande coz the truth will be known after the investigations. All the best of luck!
I still think that there was nothing catchy in the letter Magande wrote to Siliya ’bout ZA . I read it myself – unless there are other documents the public has not seen as RB claims. Please do’nt committe the Tax Payers money to go-no-where issues. Treat a TRIBUNAL as a hot occurances and final on hot cases like Dora’s case. Are you going to set up a tribunal because someone stole from the pot or because One man was caught messing around with another man’s daughter? Hell no!! think and think again. If there is overwhelming evidence about Magande’s dealings with ZA. Please go on. You have my blessings edited
Hahaha!!! LT I will never comment on your Blog. Are you editing my comments like ZNBC? This is unbecoming.
Please acquaint yourself with our comments policy.
Perhaps Magande would be as so kind to inform the people on how Zambia Railways was concessioned to Railway system in view of the fact we stand to lose/compesate Railway system US $40M in an event of terminating this contract.As we may be aware all aware Railway system has performed below par.
You are twisting my comments. That bad.
Perhaps Magande would be as so kind to inform the people on how Zambia Railways was concessioned to Railway system in view of the fact we stand to lose/compesate Railway system US $40M in an event of terminating this contract.As we may be all aware aware Railway system has performed below par.
Perhaps Magande would be as so kind to inform the people on how Zambia Railways was concessioned to Railway system in view of the fact we stand to lose/compesate Railway system US $40M in an event of terminating this contract.As we may be all aware Railway system has performed below par.
Evil people are even afraid of their own shadows! Remeber an old adage from one the most celebrated collection of books (Bible) that ” Iron can only be sharpened by Iron”. Others say ” Bakolwe beshibene, bapelana amabungo”. simply implying that birds of the same further, flock together. I dont believe Magande has anything to loose by not being part of this ‘corrupt and heedless’ RB adminstration (as rightly put by the Catholic Bishop of Ndola). Am not entiltlrd to judge no body, but use a simple litmus test: when evil people rule, people cry. The converse is true. Are Zambian people happy of RB, GK, Teta, Mulongoti, Chikwakwa, Shikapwasha, katele, Mabenga, VJ Mwanga, etc. etc. .. endless list. If you people like it, we can do a simple Referendum on this forum to test the waters.
The truth will always come out no matter how much you try to bury it
We are used pa Zed let the resources be wasted. If you talk of Global Crunch in Zambia it was there before the Real Global Crisis. Just form the tribunal to clear Mr Magande
What????????????????????????????????????
We need a tribunal to probe these tribunals. How transparent are they.
Let them go ahead with the tribunal though it will yield nothing
No 22 you should use your own identity and learn to respect pipo especially the late President. Iam not happy with the ID you are using.
Just leave MMD and form your own party, you are a presidential material, not these Imitations we have. MMD is full of Hypocrites
It is sad that many contributors to this blog dont seem to know the purpose of tribunals..Their purpose is to probe allegations and depending on the facts within 45 days, recommend that the accused be cleared or punished. Very serious allegations have been levelled against Hon Magande by the president of Zambia in public. Why shouldnt Magande be probed to clear his name if he is innocent? Would you rather the poor man is tagged as currupt by the president and not be given chance to tell his side of the story and clear is good name. And for that Brave man from chongwe it is clear that he is Inteligent, reads, knows and believes that real justice for Magande can only be found at the tribunal in accordance with CAP 16 of the laws of Zambia. those who have ears let them hear!
Lets wait and see
the money for tribunals could have been used to subsdise melie meal
I hear the CIA will be in Zambia looking into some dealing with RB and Mugabe…. I wonder what could it be?
whatever it is it cannot be good, CIA is not a diplomatic agency, they investigate international criminals
Where is the letter….RB??? Light the fire…we waiting…!!!!