LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba has reported his predecessor Sylvia Masebo to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the auditor general concerning the purchase of hearses from China.
Mr Temashimba said in an interview yesterday that he had directed his permanent secretary, Coillard Chibbonta, to report the matter to the ACC and the auditor general’s office for investigations.
He said that as minister, he had his own suspicions because a single hearse could not cost US$29,000 and that was the reason he directed the permanent secretary to report anybody who was suspected to have benefitted from the transaction.
“I believe that there were irregularities in the transaction and if it is proved that the price of the hearses was not inflated and that the terms of conditions were adhered to, I will resign as minister on principle,” he said.
Spokesperson for the auditor-general’s office, Ellen Chikale said she was not aware of the report and efforts to get a comment from Ms Masebo failed as she was reported to be in a meeting while Mr Chibbonta refused to comment.
Mr Tetamashimba said he told Mr Chibbonta to report the matter to the ACC and the office of the auditor general last Friday but that he was disappointed that both institutions had not been to the ministry.
The minister said that he had put his head on the “chopping board” and would write President Rupiah Banda to say he had failed him if it was proved that there was nothing wrong in the purchase of the hearses.[quote]
He said it was surprising that the same hearses had not been taken to the ministry and the person contracted to deliver them had not been to the ministry to explain anything on the matter.
He also said he had denied Ms Masebo more documents involving the matter because she went to the ministry with journalists and addressed them within the premises.
He explained that Ms Masebo had earlier asked for permission from President Banda so that she could give her side of the story, which to him proved that she knew something.
He said that Mr Banda made it clear that the former minister was free to discuss the hearses because they did not go through Cabinet for her to ask for permission to release any information.
Mr Tetamashimba said on Thursday last week, Ms Masebo went to the ministry where Mr Chibbonta gave her documents related to the hearses and she later addressed journalists.
He said Ms Masebo thereafter talked to him on the phone and asked to meet him. When she went to his office, she asked for letters she had received from late president Levy Mwanawasa between 2007 and 2008.
He said he told her that he could not avail her the letters because they were from State House and needed clearance.
She further asked for some letters exchanged between Mr Tetamashimba and Mr Chibbonta which were also not availed to her.
The minister said he was shocked that when he left, Ms Masebo went back to his personal assistant to ask for letters from president Mwanawasa but that they could not be traced.
He said it was at this point that he asked Mr Chibbonta not to give any more documents to Ms Masebo and that he should report her to the ACC and auditor general.
[Times of Zambia]
We shall wait n see…
Teta na samwa. Each monkey has it’s day, lolela you will be trotting the the Magistrate court very soon
Big Mouth…at it again!…he has opted to clear this issue in public and shouldnt withhold documents.
Tetamalilo, wait each dog ahs its day! Your draws nigh!
I think that for a change we must acknowledge that comrade Teta has put his Mouth where his Job is.
All correspondence must be availed be that of LPM or the Incumbent Minister Teta.
It is very suprising to hear that the hearses were paid for in full and have not yet arrived.
At that price,i’m sure the hearses can wash the corpse,dress it and possibly dig the grave site.
You would expect that for $29,000!!
“if it is proved that the price of the hearses was not inflated and that the terms of conditions were adhered to, I will resign as minister on principle,” he said.
I expect a reasonable leader to step down if it were discovered that there was some wrong doing, and not vis versa!
I doubt if h will even want to resign when it is found that Masebo is clean.
But Masebo said the cost of the Mandamanda is 9$ not 29$ as stated by Teta wa Teta. This Teta Monkey is jumping too much he thinks he is clean.
Tetamalilo!!!!!!!!!! Who cut the cheque? was it sylvia or you? Why pay if you are suspicious of the transaction. Why complete it. Why claim credit from the positive side of it, and why accuse others with the negatives? This madness will never cease to amaze. May that day surely come quickly.
for once tenta has done something meaningfull its just rudacris to acquire hearses at that costs that much..manda manda costing K160,000,000 .. thier must have been some one benefiting from that deal well done Tenta even though you can be menance sometimes
This kindergaten Gov is at it again,
The same f.o.o.l.s here who have been accusing Teta and RB of a dirty hand in the Hearses bought by Masebo are the same ones blaming Teta for pushing this transparency line.The issue has gone to law enforcement offices who will have access to all documents.This is the best thing about integrity and ethical conduct.
Masebo with her fallen condition daily in Hospital beds stole money from Zambians by inflating the prices. She hoped her boy friend Amos Malupenga who has deserted his wife and Children for Masebo would use post tabloid propaganda to dress the Banda administration this crime.
Masebo with her fallen condition daily in Hospital beds inflated the prices. She hoped her boy friend Amos Malupenga who has deserted his wife and Children for Masebo would use post tabloid propaganda to dress the Banda administration this crime.Thank God Zambian investigators are already in China working with the Chinese Government to get to the bottom of matters.Tough luck Masebo and Malupenga.Teta is too straight to dress up your dirty.
#12INTERGRITY. The law agencies in Zambia favours those in power. Do you think Teta could have done what he has done had Silvia been a minister to day. And by the way LT is not platform for insults. i do believe that all you bloggers have some kind of education and therefore your language is expected to follow suit. Just make your point.
MONKEYS WILL SAVE ZAMBIA
Very interesting. Well, Silvia Masebo should tell the nation the truth as she was given “clearance” by Bwezani at last week’s “indaba”.
Let her tell all now and the documents will follow.
Its nice to hear that the issue will go to the Auditor General and the ACC.
On this I say well done Teta. This is what we have been saying that you have to be transparent. Awe mwandi lelo you are small mouthed Teta. Keep it up. However I am still concerned that you are protecting Miti and the group. We want you to act in the same way on Miti. Let all the documents be availed to ACC but we hear that some of the documents at the MOH are missing? Why Teta? If in the case of Masebo all the documents are available, why important documents missing at MOH? Beside this , well done on this teta. Let Masebo dance as well. They stole a lot of money. We will be on you MMD after 2011. Just waite for us.
Let all thieves go in. Masebo is one of them and will be first before we go for the entire MMD cabinet. In all Ministries the trend of theft is the same. Look at the Ministry of Health, all are involved starting from PS Miti, Minister Chituwo, RB, name them. Thats why important documents at the MOH are missing. These are documents which show how these guys have been stealing just like in the Masebo’s case. Just know that we are coming for you MMD in 2011.
looks like monkeys are in the forefront trying to inculcate good leadership skills in this circus govt.Since when did cabinet ministers start reporting their predecessors to ACC? Bwezani is jst trying to get at Sylvia for not supporting hs candidature.
15 Deja, i agree with you let us stick to the point why bring the Amos Issue? he who has never sinned should throw the 1st stone at me……13 and 14 you are out of topic. so if Amos had romped Slyvia what has it got to do with the hearses? and her being in Hospital day in and out? Are you related to Amos’ wife or Slyvia’s former husband? Anyway for your own informations that is a bygone Amos is with wife.
Can someone please spell out the job description of a person appointed as Minister of local government? This Tetamashimba is busy pursuing former ministers but has failed to get street vendors off the streets. Our streets in Lsk especially FreedomWay, Lumumba etc are pathetically littered with all sorts of rubbish. Does he tell me from the time he came into office he hasn’t seen this? Mwanawasa began the keep Zambia clean campaign and we began to see change but just before the elections things went from improving to degenerated. Get to work and let the law pursue whomsover it may.
The documents should go to ACC and not Masebo, Its only a court that can put this matter to rest and if Masebo is innocent she will be cleared by the court. In as much I do like Teta, I feel Teta is right by refering this matter to the ACC, this matter can not be tried by the media. The media has done it best by exposing this case and now we know that it Masebo who was responsible in the ministry at that time. LPM could not also be be tried for crimes that were commiteed in Chilubas time, Its for that reason why Chiluba is in Court. Simiarly Masebo should be investigated because she acknowledged that she was the one responsible for paying for the transction. Is Masebo trying to drag LPM in this case by requesting letters from him to her. Now who will be blamed for draging LPM, Is it R.B?
Teta-a-teta does’nt seem to make same at any point. He changes every time he can’t make up his mind as to what he is suppose to do and say. He can never say he didn’t know what was not happening no. He was right there in that ministry. He is just a hypocrite doing cadre things. I wonder if this Tethi has a wife and children
Sata was the first one to mention the cost of those Manda Manda($9,000). If we read between the lines, Masebo is involved in corrupt practices going by Teta’s confindence. Lets wait and see.
The legacy is at stake here.
ACC was sidelined during Mwanawasa and emphasis was put on Task Force on Corruption, which had a narrow mandate – i.e. to due with the former regime.
Meanwhile there was no structure to due with current corruption activities. No preventive plans to restrain corrupt practices. The result was that corruption rose up more in Mwanawasa time than ever.
You cant call people anti-flood task force, when all you have mandated them is to just feed flood victims and rebuild their shelters year in year out without puting up measure and structure aimed at preventing floods. This would simply mean you are not fighting flood but you have accepted defeat, and all you can do is leave with the situation by trying to cusion the effects.
Musiyani muntu akambe pa nkani ya Amos…why simufuna bantu ba zibe? May be that explains why the post editorials are always defending Masebo whenever they comment on this issue..Wanya Malupenga.ACC please get to the root of this…Viva Teta..
Well placed sources had informed me some months ago that Inonge Wina was going to join the mighty UPND and hopefully as second vice president. Her joining the PF-UPND PACT under the leadership of president HH (MBA, UK) and honourable selfappointed PF leader MC Sata (Grade 2/6, unknown) popolarly known as Haka-Saka bodes well for the Western Province votes following disatisfaction over the fact that President RB Banda did not give Western Province the Vice Presidency.
I would thus ask PF people like MP Lubinda Given to relax on the possible Vice President of the Country should president HH form GRZ after being PACT presidential cand..
Let us all enjoy these things as the PACT is getting more and more useful support across the Nation.
Be blest.
_
Matt 6.33 + KJV…
This “He said that as minister, he had his own suspicions because a single hearse could not cost US$29,000 and that was the reason he directed the permanent secretary to report anybody who was suspected to have benefitted from the transaction” is very interesting for MP Masebo supported MP Magande for MMD presidential candidate last year before the 2008 presidential bye-election.
As for ““I believe that there were irregularities in the transaction and if it is proved that the price of the hearses was not inflated and that the terms of conditions were adhered to, I will resign as minister on principle,” he said“, I hope man of action Minister Teta. will resign according to what he has said. I also hope he will not be reappointed.
Be blest.
_
Matt 6.33 +…
As for “The minister said he was shocked that when he left, Ms Masebo went back to his personal assistant to ask for letters from president Mwanawasa but that they could not be traced. He said it was at this point that he asked Mr Chibbonta not to give any more documents to Ms Masebo and that he should report her to the ACC and auditor general.” I hope this is not another circus where President RB Banda appears to be for the MP Masebo clarification of issues surrounding the Hearses while he (the President) may be using his superiority over Minister Teta. to block MP Masebo from carrying out well researched analysis of what transpired.
On another note, president HH’s calculations about 60 or so Billion ZK loss in each Min. maybe true.
Be blest.
_
Matt 6.33 + KJV…
For once teta could be right let the auditor general (who is quite eficient) and the acc prove him wrong not u misjudging people most of u hav no idea wat u r talkin about
What is it with this government and monkeys! First RB, and now George Mpombo was nearly drowned by one at the royal livingstone as he tried to take a photo of it. The monkey charged and Mpombo who could not swim fell into the pool. For Sylvia Masebo’s own sake, i hope Tentamashimba is wrong. Otherwise the long arm of the Law will pay her a visit.
This is how these guys in MMD operate. One wonders how Teta is acting the way he is without the blessing his boss Zambia One. There is more to come for Masebo, Magande and others just to mention a few. These pipo in MMD have a embarked on a crusade for self destruction. For Teta to swear that if his allegations are proved wrong then he is going to resign his cabinet position. The chap is just running in circles to deceive us that he means serious business otherwise the whole plan was well planned in advance to fix Masebo and others perceived to be enemies to RB & a few chosen ones. These allegations will keep Masebo busy frequenting courts when times will come to adopt parliamentary candidates she will still facing cases in court in her place someone else will be adopted. Thats UNIP style
IMWE MWE MA PATHETIC PEOPLE ON THIS BLOG. YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF AN ISSUE AND TETA HAS TAKEN THE MATTER TO ACC. WHY ARE YOU GITTERY. YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PREOCCUPIED WITH INDIVIDUALS. BE PREOCCUPIED WITH FACTS. IF MASEBO IS INNOCENT THE ACC WILL CLEAR HER AND TETA WILL RESIGN. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM. I PITY YOU PEOPLE WHO ARE OBSESSED WITH HATRED AND HAVE STOPPED THINKING FOR YOURSELVES. WHY HAS THE POST STOPPED PUSHING FOR A TRIBUNAL ON THE HEARSES AS SOON AS IT DISCOVERED THAT MASEBO IS INVOLVED. IF DORA WAS INVOVED IN THE ISSUE OF THE HEARSES THE POST WOULD BE SHOUTING FROM EVERY ROOF TOP. THINK YOU ZOMBIES.
ACC was under utilised in LPMs time, ACC has the capacity, the investigative staff at taskforce comes mostly from ACC, its the only prosecutors that are outsourced at taskforce and also donor funding. All thing being equal, the scraping of task force by moving back staff and transfering resources to ACC will not affect investigations, its only that the heads of the taskforce will not allow it because they will be jobless. Cases of corruption at civil service level were very high in LPMs because the taskfoprce was busy investigating LPMs political enemies than investigating corruption across the board. Lets support the strengthening of ACC otherwise they will also now concetrate on civil service corruption and forget ongoing corruption by politicians.
34 ba-NKOLE WA MAPEMBWE UMFWE MILANDU greetings. I like your “WHY ARE YOU GITTERY. YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PREOCCUPIED WITH INDIVIDUALS. BE PREOCCUPIED WITH FACTS. IF MASEBO IS INNOCENT THE ACC WILL CLEAR HER AND TETA WILL RESIGN. WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM.” It is on the spot.
Unfortunately, only a few of bloggers are able to apply reasoning to react to te news while many specialise on actual individuals and their personality and hence resort to insults. This is very very sad for our supposed great Nation Zambia.
Have a blessed day.
_
Matt 6.33 + KJV Bible
Viva TETA MASEBO ACC SHUD VISIT HER B4 THEY VISIT MMD CABINET WE DONT CARE WHO SHE SURPPOTED IN 2008. WHO EVER IS A BENEF SHUD BE KNOWN
Teta is a coward,why didn’t take to acc when she was in government but now she is out cabinet thats when he brings up those issues
Teta and company you can go ahead and investigate but again to the government – this was a ridiculous purchase, how in the world do you even distribute these Manda Mandas for funerals, i believe they are only a hundred – correct me if iam wrong but who will benefit from these? To me they are very few and obviously there will be bureaucracy in the distribution. That money could have been used to help develop the country, help to alleviate poverty. Poeple who usually have no transportation during funerals are poverty stricken thatsthe reason why they can not even get transport for the corpse. So why not get to the bottom of the problem and help them be self sufficient so they can help themselves? I think this was a bad way of spending tax payers money, shows how people don’t think…
The inverstigation should not just surround the price of the hearses but include the the reason why 100 herases where paurchased at the expense of other priorities like ambulances ,maternity facitlities ,X-ray Facilities in most clincs people are subjected to long waiting or even refered other distant centers of a simple x-ray.
I am sure that money would have made health servicess better than wanting to rush people to the Grave-It is very shamful.That is enough reason for Tenta to resignand not wait for That Bull Sh###T report
critically. Whoever decided to make this purchase or came up with this idea should be questioned. What a waste of mone! Help people by giving them tools not just handing out things that will not help them in thier lives. And if i may ask how does government even plan to take care of these vehicles? Please be responsible and resolve real problems.. people are dying from curable illnesses just becasue the doctors and nurses are on strike, is Manda Mnda a solution?
You *****s why do you demonise Teta let Masebo explain the inflation of price from $8000 to $29000 don’t take us for granted you fools, teta is right and we will support him.
#38, it doesn’t matter the timing!!! The fact that she has been exposed, and probably has a serious case to answer should be good enough. Can we, for once, get off this obsession with individuals and get on with the business of critical and fair critique!!! Some of you here seem to be preoccupied with partisan politics more than anything else. On this one, this TETA guy seems to be on the right of the issue here—-WHAT IS WRONG WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TRANSPARANCY AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY—-the guy has offered to resign if he is proven wrong. What is wrong with that, folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Teta for once has spoken sense. lets not be selective or favor individuals. if she stole let her face the law. Most of you bloggers are not in Zambia so u dnt know how it feels to pay tax. I dnt care who it is has eaten my money they shud be PUNISHED PERIOD,
fya mu maputty ifi!
Tetamashimba said he paid for the hearses in December last year. Why has he taken Masebo to ACC? He should not even champion this matter because it was Mr. Sata who informed the nation that one hearse cost USD 9 000 and not USD 29, 000. The Minister of Finance said so much money was paid for the hearses because of fluctuations in the value of the dollar. What are we to believe?
The Zambian circus is on the road again. RB has put certain people in key positions, to protect him. Imagine that? but protect him from what? Judge for yourselves.
With all this noise, it is even possible to forget Mulongoti, we thought Mulongoti was crazy, his successor Rev. is stirring up a typhoon in Zambia, then Teta as always is attering mindless banter. There is a good to all this at the least you know Teta is 110 % bad so we should not even be the least surprised anymore.
For once now I am in agreement with what Tetamashimba is saying. Lots of things have gone wrong in this, the last and previous governments. You would have thought that for a person who has to run a government ministry, that person would have enough recollection of what happened without necessarily requiring to read the documents, unless you are saying yes the decision was made on my watch, but other people much more than me were at the forefront. Despise Teta as much as you want and I have on past comments, but this is the honest, decent Teta of old prior to joinining the MMD. Why cant Zambians look at the logic, the facts before making comments that are based on supporting corruption because the people involved are part of us, or we like them. Corruption kills regardless of tribe,
it is not $20,000, but a total of $2,000,000/- dollars which could potentially have been stolen. That is K 11,000,000,000 (11 Billion), It is not a small amount and for once you needs to be serious. Teta is right, the truth needs to be known. That is a hell lot of Money. What is the AG and ACC waiting for. It is not difficult to check from the supplier, ZRA and other sources just how much such chinese manda mandas cost. Come one that chinese company has not just sold 100 hearses since Inception. Can we Investigate and know the exact amount of these manda mandas independently please.
It does not matter whether Teta is a coward or not. I demand that Silvia explains that she did not steal K11 Bllion kwacha or not for the 100 hearses. This is alot of money which I am sweating for and paying as taxes. Can masebo tell us now and not later please
Any one demonising TETA on thie issue mwana wambwa.what makes you think masebo is a saint.if she can split her legs for somebody’s husband why can’t she steal?let her explain.this is purely a white collar crime and it goes to show you muppets how your leaders steal from you.so instead of appreciating what a village citizen is doing to apprehend a thief out of malice an hate you are demonizing him.typical of zambians.too much english
Who ever will insult again on this blog is a dog. No more insults please!
Integrity, if you have any integrity left in you..you should avoid insulting people who are not involved in this manda manda business. honestly what has Amos Malupenga go to with all this? I know him personally and as far is a know he never left his for any other woman. No wander monkeys are our only hope our thinking is up side down!!
WISDOM YOU JUST INSULTED SO YOU ARE A DOG YOUR SELF.THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE,OKEY.AND VIVA FOR THE FIRST TIME TO TETAMABOOLO.
MAESTRO. You are so quiet? The Teta vs Masebo saga is what we say B. A. K.O.L.W.E. BALESEKANA IFI PATO.
Teta ,ur days are numbererd with RB…only time will tell!!
Teta we are watching you.