PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has accused some people with vested interests in the fuel procurement process of blowing the current fuel shortage Zambia is experiencing out of proportion.
Mr Banda said in Chipata that Zambia had been experiencing some difficulty in the procurement of the fuel but that the Government was trying to improve the flow of fuel in the country.[quote]
“Some people who are making noise on the fuel crisis have vested interest in the procurement of fuel and they want to create a wrong impression of the matter,” the president said on a recorded programme aired on Radio Breeze in Chipata yesterday.
The president acknowledged that Government alone could not run Indeni Refinery following the pulling out of Total and called for a partnership.
Mr Banda said the disbanded Taskforce on Corruption spent US$30 million trying to recover about $500,000 alleged to have been stolen by former president,Frederick Chiluba.
“Already we have spent more than we are trying to recover and I cannot allow my Government to spend another $15 million on the matter just to satisfy a quarter of the people who were calling Mr Chiluba a thief before he was proven guilty,” Mr Banda said
The president denied playing any role in the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.
Mr Banda said the Taskforce was disbanded because it was spending more money than it wanted to recover.
He said he had allowed the three arms of Government to work independently and at no time would his Government interfere in the operations of the three institutions.
The president said his Government had allocated more money than before in this year’s national Budget to the office of the Auditor-General and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to strengthen the two institutions.
He said corruption had become so sophisticated that there was need to train more officers in this area to curb the vice.
The president said there was need to regulate the operations of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and defended the passing of the NGO Act.
On the regulation of the media, the president said he would like to see the media regulating themselves and the Government would only come in to regulate if the media failed to do so.
[Times of Zambia]
I have a lot of respect for Mutembo with his impeccable legal service but I must agree with RB on the expenditures of the Taskforce.What they were chasing for from Chiluba alone was too little after they dropped some compared to the adminitrative costs which were being incurred at their offices in Woodlands.
Found guilty in London not guilty in the bush! Enough said. As for fuel bashikulu you just have to sort it out. This is what makes Africa be Africa. Why should people be queing up for fuel like that?
#1 should read”after they dropped some charges”
Yaba! ichimuntu ichi. I just can’t comprehend what goes on inside his thick skull.
NCC has gobbled God knows how much to only come up with tripe. The ACC is a drain for very little returns. Am I surprised the president said these things? No!
Kafupi did away with literally all that Chimudala had in place. Chi Mudala did away with everything that bena Welenski (sp) had in place. RB has ditched everything that LPM put in place.
This is the scenario in Africa. This is reason we will never develop.
Corruption is the #1 enemy in Africa. If you are going to set all these t h i e v e s free then we are back to square one. Nichekeleke has normal. You have to spend to fight corruption. It shouldn`t really have matterd how much was spent on this.
As far as I am concerned, a few generals have spent some time in jail, bana Nyirongo went in all because of this task force. It wasn`t ACC which did this was it?
#1 SHARP SHOOTER. The purpose of justice is not to make a profit but to deter would be plunderers from committing offences. Does ZP make a profit? You know the answer. Mr Rupiah is just trying to justfy his disbanding the TF and FTJs dubious acquittal. Let me ask you this- wasnt Rupiah LPMs VP? If so why didnt he advise his boss on this issue? As for fuel shortage, lets just say who feels it knows it. Rupiah does not go to the fiiling station so he cannot know what we are going through. Its sad that whatever the president says is taken as Gospel truth. Remember he is just as human as you and you too can also be President. Unless of course you have no faith in yourself. The TF was a worth while undertaking. By the way do you know that even G. Nyirongo may be acquitted on some technicality
Bwezani can say that fuel issue has been brown out of proportion because he does not know what it means for people to be in queues for more than two hours waiting for fuel. Does he even care if there is fuel or not because every time he wants to travel the Challenger and Presidential motocades are always on full tanks. For Bwezani there is no fuel shortage after all he said there are no problems in Lusaka!
#7 But uli mukali sana. We need you to come and lead Zambia.
Is it correct to suggest that the Task Force was established to probe Dr. Chiluba’s alleged corruption cases only? This is very misleeding to come from the head of sate. He has told us about what has been spent by the Task Force ($30 million) without telling us how much has been recovered. This is not correct Cost-Benefit analysis. It is also erroneous to compute benefits of the corruption crusade quantitatively without qualitative analysis. This crusade has deterred alot of corrupt practises which could have been carried out without the Task Force in place. Why should we worry about $30million as though it whole came from government coffers? I find the reasons given for disbanding the task force not convincing.
I am amused that the fuel crisis can be classified as an exaggeration – I was at home a couple of days ago, and had to queue for gas in the soaring heat. I guess its true that where you stand determines what you see.
Its clear that RB wanted help from Kafupi, thats why he was let go Regina was charged for receivng stolen items, But how hard is it to determine who gave her the stolen goods??????????????. If we had a normal judicial system in the country free from the Big Nose this short man was going to be in prison along time ago. Kafupi arrested KK on xmass day with is immunity but kena he never stayed in Jail even after catching him with green shoes. THE RB SAY FTJ WAS A F$$%% GOOD PRESIDENT, THAT’S WHY THERE IS NO FUEL IN THE COUNTRY TODAY AND THE WHOLE economy might came to a stand still very soon. Zambia is and has been on autopilot ever since The late died it’s sad that we can allow such people to lead us and keep stealing. ifyabupuba pa zed Bloggers have a nice day
This man (Banda), dose not think. The purpose of the Task Force was not to earn a profit. no, it was to prevent other people to be corrupt and investigate the cases wich were on hand. Even companies, hire security guards at a high cost not to earn profit, but to prevent people from stealing. So Chi Banda disbanded the Task Force so that he can carry on with his corruption practices. Shame on you Chi Banda.
#7,bang on Bro,top post…this fight against corruption was not about how much was to be recovered,its meant to set a precedence that anyone who dips his dirty fingers in public funds will face the wrath of the law,if you are a president,your immunity will be stripped. He was vp,he could have advised his boss to disband the taskforce,same goes for kunda,this man was so close to Levy, he could have advised against the TF coz of the costs,mulongoti used to blast chiluba in the media about his corruption cases, and now because he has a boss who has a soft spot for LAZO,they have changed and they are now singing their bosses tunes
Small things matter a lot in life just look at the FLAGS displayed on your screen, they don’t even mean what you think is right. Just see how some of you ignore the rules of driving on the roads, just see how you give bribes to water cut people. you all totally mean nothing to talk about corruption!
#15 DONT LIE- Please explain yourself more clearly, you seem to want to say something.
#12 WALYAKO, I AM SURE YOU KNOW THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS IN LAW. THE QUESTION YOU SHOULD BE ANSWERING IS; WHAT COMES FIRST BETWEEN DETERMINATION OF WHETHER GOODS ARE ‘STOLEN’ OR NOT AND DETERMINING THE ‘RECEIPT OF SUCH ‘STOLEN’ GOODS? IF YOUR ANSWER WILL BE RIGHT THEN YOU KNOW THAT IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO BE A HURRY TO JUSTIFY YOUR EXISTANCE BY ‘PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, OTHERWISE YOU MESS YOURSELVES UP. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES YOU CAN NOT FIND SOMEONE GUILTY OF RECEIVING ‘STOLEN’ PROPERTY AND THEN AFTERWARDS YOU BEGIN DETERMING WHETHER REALLY SUCH PROPERTY WAS STOLEN OR NOT. I VERY MUCH DOUBT THE COMPETENCY AND CREDIBITY OF SUCH A LAW ENFORCING INDIVIDUAL. SO GET IT IN YOUR HEAD THAT PROCEDURE COUNTS IN LAW. YOU DO NOT JUMP STEPS BECAUSE A NEWSPAPER COURT HAS DONE THE…
I’m confused! i thought the task force was set up specifically to investigate and prosecute corruption cases under the chiluba administration. on the issue of fuel, it was real and very frustrating, i wish r.b. would just apologise for that rather than waste time denying it ever happened. p.s. was there supposed to be new passport offices, weren’t billions spent on it, thats a possible case of theft right there.
#7
I agree with you on that but when LPM moved a motion to parliament to strip chiluba of his immunity,he laid numerous charges against him amounting to millions of dollars which in his words said cannot be handled by the ACC in its current form hence the formation of the Taskforce.A task force as we all know is temporal and not permanent ,mandated to perform a specific task for a specified period of time.It is a fact that 7 yrs down the line,while securing convictions(I must commend them on that) reduced Chiluba’s charges to a mere $500 000.While within 2 yrs of its operations it spent K3 billion in legal fees.A quick cost/benefit analysis will reveal that it was wise to transfer to role of TF back to the ACC.I have never and will never be a fan of Chiluba cos I know first hand.
Hmmmm! Koma ni pa ZED. I salute # 7 Deja Vu. You have a sound mind and quite reasonable. If I had the means I was going to make you senior private secretary to the president. Keep it up.
From #19
what that little thing did to Zambia.As regards the question of RB being VP to LPM,you and I know the sweeping powers our Presidents have and a VP is a mere henchman serving at the mercy of his Boss.He has no say.Any dissenting views from the VP will make him leave his office quicker than he came.
Fellow bloggers have you noticed one thing? It appears RB is in love with US$30m. Remember that he said the post stole $30m from ZA and now the Task force he tells us has gobbled $30m.
What we need right now is political will that will strengthen the operations of the ACC.ACC officers are govt employed while TF prosecutors were private.I know for a fact how Mutembo was and is dedicated to see a corrupt free Zambia.At one time he was working in the TF free of charge(pro bono)
Since when did law enforcement become a profit making undertaking? The Task Force was funded mainly by donor funds through an MOU signed by government and corporating partners. How much do we spend on ZP, DEC, ACC? Lets sum up their salaries, fuel costs e.t.c and leverage that against any recoveries. Are they profit making? Clearly law enforcement results are mainly qualitative. In South Africa they have a group called the Scorpions which is the equivalent of Zambia’s disbanded Task Force.
ya .iyo kuli baintellectual.lets put it this way ,the task force in as much as it was set up to curb
corruct practices ,it had a mandate to expose and punish the offenders.to today only small cases have been achieved at what expenses?we still have organs that manage corruptions etc.and because we have tight resources ,it is only prudent not to duplicate.the task force became more than an institution ,and so it lost its mandate and became political.like zambian national team ,it is no longer football but zambia political national team.we have to win however the situation.let the zambian police handle the stuff,they are capable
Rathi one of people alleged to had been giving Chiluba money in order to win GRZ contracts(POST) has been jailed for 4 years with hard labour for OFFICIAL CORRUPTION. So what happens to Chiluba the receiver of these rotten MANGOES, do the mangoes become normal so that Chiluba can eat them in peace? I leave it to you all to say something.
#15 you are not very clear. As for fuel shortage the situation is bad the last experience I had was horrific. Imagine I was at the filing station up to 24 hrs and I only managed to buy fuel in a small 5 litre container. Worst off I had to hide the container in my chitenge becuase they were not allowing containers . That nignt made me realise that this country in heading to serious problems very shortly it will be other commodities like mealie meal.
reading about fuel makes me sad.iam planning to drive pa zed for the dec holiday and this fuel shit is going on.can u imagine how i feel.they charge (zambia)twice the price of fuel in south africa,twicethe price of fuel in botswana.and yet that is not enough ,they still fail to avail it to the people and the problem is u find engineers at ERB one of them is my friend trying to justify the setup .what a country mwe
The South African government set up the SCORPION group which like Zambia’s disbanded Task Force has proved unpopular among corrupt high profile citizens.The use of private prosecutors is intended to minimise political interference and sheilding of powerful offenders. The ACC in its current state cannot fight high profile corruption. Nolle Prosequi will be the order of the day for those who are deemed to be politically correct. Disbanding the Task Force is a step in the wrong direction.
If RB was correctly quoted and God forbid that he was the Pact does not need to campaign he is a disaster unto himself.And this is the mistake the MMD will leave to regret.How do u claim that the fuel crisis has been overblown?Or that FTJ is innocent?
Really I ask is there a crisis i Zambia. I left bout ten days ago the situation seemed to have stabalised. What is the true situation
deja vu.i want u to think about profit .profit does not mean money.if i say how has it profited the people ,i dont mean how much money has the people received. so your saying the the establishment of the task force was not profit motivated is an indication of ur fail to understand what what u are saying .a corrupt free society is a profit and can be measured,ie thru improved service/public delivery without u corrupting someone.the word profit to you is a misnomer.ngafya shupa kulemba muchibemba or tonga.fyonse tulomfwa.the task force has not tangibly profitted us zambian for its duration.certainly we need to measure that
what we shud understand as zambians is that Gorvernement Administration is not like running a company.A Government evaluates all its procedures and its manifesto.Chiluba is a citizen of this country just like any body else.When chiluba anounced thru MMD manifesto that they were going to rebelirize the economy from state controlled in 1991 and we voted out UNIP.We cant cry again that Chiluba is a bad leader.We voted for him and he led the counrty the way he wanted.Kaunda misused the money by seting up hopeless parastatals which created problems for the zambian economy.There were MCC and Governers who run the ecomy and the economy collapsed.Chiluba did something also good for zambia.we shud not condem everthing chiluba did.RB is president to day let him rule also.
#32 Fumbi- Please lets not be personal. My English has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Just for your information from primary to the end of my formal education I never got less than A+ in both English language and Literature in English( I always went for Shakespear). You seem to over look one thing. This is that if there was no interference to these cases Zambia could have profitted by enhancing its control on high corruption. The interference did not just start with RB, even in LPMs time we saw it: DPP Mwiinga was hounded out by LPM over principal. Shansonga was left to run away from Zambia and no efforts were made to bring him back. Dont forget Moses Katumbi. All his cases were forgiven by LPM himself. Morality out weighs monetary gain in the fight against corruption.
#32 Fumbi- Please lets not be personal. My English has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Just for your information from primary to the end of my formal education I never got less than A+ in both English language and Literature in English( I always went for Shakespear). You seem to over look one thing. This is that if there was no interference to these cases Zambia could have profitted by enhancing its control on high corruption. The interference did not just start with RB, even in LPMs time we saw it: DPP Mwiinga was hounded out by LPM over principle. Shansonga was left to run away from Zambia and no efforts were made to bring him back. Dont forget Moses Katumbi. All his cases were forgiven by LPM himself. Morality out weighs monetary gain in the fight against corruption.
So Deja Vu dont you think at some stage, there was need to disband it. I feel that the A government should constantly engange in a cost benefit analysis of all projects because resources are never in abundance. Sorry got to run
#29 THE SCORPION WAS NOT SET UP FOR ‘SELECTIVE PERSECUTION’, IT WAS ESTABLISHED LAWFULLY AND HAS AN OPEN MANDATE, WHEREAS THE TF WAS SET UP TO SPECIFICALLY FIX FTJ AND HIS COLLEAGUES FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING $498,000 PIN. THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE. THEREFORE TF CAN NOT BE SAID TO BE DETERENT TO ANY WOULD BE PLUNDERER SINCE IT WAS MEANT FOR A SPECIFIC SET OF INDIVIDUALS. SO DISBANDING TF IS A GOOD THING, BUT THERE IS NEED TO KNOW HOW THAT $30M WAS UTLISED. NOW, PRESIDENT BANDA SHOULD ALSO COME TO TERMS WITH THE REALITY OF THE FUEL CRISIS AND FACE IT HEAD ON. EVEN THOUGHT THE LOUDEST ABOUT THIS ISSUE ARE HIS OPPONENTS, THE TRUTH IS THAT GOVT SHOULD DO MORE TO AVERT THIS CRISIS. I AGREE WITH A LOT OF YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR ISS
The disbanding of the TF was only appropriate, as we all know the rationale behind its creation. Its specific agenda was not only to querry, but to also recover. As you all know nothing much has being achieved from the recovery end. You would be foolish, if Iam to borrow HH’s words. to continue to sustain an institution that is not producing any tangible profit, by profit I mean, tangible results not monetary terms(take note). Furthermore, for those who argue that TF was deterrent to crime and corruption, take comfort in the fact that even while it existed, Kapolyo could still corruptly direct 27 billiion to his personal use. Hence the question for you here is what deterent effect did this TF have. IF you already have a body like ACC, why not intergrate TF into this body! Period!!
This issue of Chiluba’s acquital and expense at atsk force makes me sick. RB say govt spent $30 Million chasing $500,000, a view supported by Sharp Shooter No1. Now ask yourself this question, which police force or army unit in the whole world makes a profit? The essence is to purify moral fibre i n the citizens, to know that thieving does not pay and not to compare cost with expense
#29
The Scorpions of SA was lawfully established and NOT set up using Executive orders.LPM understood what he was doing no wonder he said a Taskforce(at one time he will disband it).The money that was spent on the TF can be used to increase capacity of our inveestigative wings(capacity building) hence increase their efficiency.The FBI and Scotland yard are govt funded but are efficient.Its time we started having faith in our systems cos no one but us will make these institutions better and efficient.
#36 Postist pa Zed. You get me wrong. Yes it has to go at some time. But the way things have been handled leaves alot of questions. One man had a wife for 20 years,then one day he gets promoted. This when he decides to divorce claiming that the woman is dirty. Wont people ask and speculate?
#39
My argument is to strengthen the ACC in terms of capacity building while fighting this cancer called corruption.The all essence is to minimise costs,maximise benefits and NOT the other way round.
Deja Vu. You have a point. Just that people are not understanding you.
We Zambians are a bunch of hypocrites. You have already forgotten that when Mwanawasa was alive, Michael Sata vehemently opposed the Task Force. Now that Rupiah Banda has transfered the Task Force to the Anti-Corrution Cpmmission many of you including Sata are against the decision. One would wonder what you really want. By the way #4 Moderator, there is nothing to be gained from insulting some one because you have political differences with them. Let us have some decency.
deja vu uleumfwika bwino.the issue of english is a joke..but grading system wa lasa tapaba pa zed(primary to sec) pa varsity yes.that notwithstanding ,the prerogative of mercy ,if i can borrow this term is not moral,it is constitutional.the president can pardon or dismiss what we may see as demanding justice-in this case punishment.but that is going far.the statistics of corruption cases became more than before the TF was established.this is on record.so going by ur statements,the TF did not enhance control on high corruption.the intention was right,dont get me wrong but was it reflected in the (behaviour)life of TF.i dont think so.the bible
speaks of judging me by my behaviour ,nomatter what i say .it what i do.so show the works of the task force .and i will agee with you .
BY THE WAY, DO YOU KNOW BLOGGERS THAT $30M CAN FULLY SUPPORT A 7 YEAR POVERTY REDUCING AND LIVELIHOOD IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMME THAT CAN BENEFIT OVER 60,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL AREAS? LETS NOT BE JOKERS! CAN A NORMAL PERSON SUPPORT THE “ABUSE” (ABNORMAL USE) OF SUCH AN AMOUNT ON A FEW LAWYERS IN LUSAKA WHO HAVE NO CLUE OF HOW PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE SUFFERING? LETS BE SERIOUS. WHAT I SEE IS THAT SOME OF YOU PEOPLE POSTING HAVE FOR A LONG TIME BEEN OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY, ITS NOT YOUR FAULT THAT YOUR REASONING IS ILL-INFORMED, BUT YOU DEPEND ON THE ZAMBIAN “MEDIA” WITH NO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA – NONE QUALIFYS. E.G WHEN DID AN EXCHANGE ABOUT BEING UGLY BECOME A TOPICAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE? NONSENSE!
This fat man, Rupiah, speaks exactly like KK of yesteryear!! He’s talking about “people making noise” and about conspiracies. Very soon, he’ll be calling us “Stupid *****s!” Come on, give us a break, fat man! Please! It was a pleasure to hear you were going to be President. But now that I know you better, you really think with your stomach, don’t you? No gray matter.
Let us put this into pespective. It is granted that the fight against crime, any crime for that matter, may be more expensive than the crime itself. For example, in case of murder, how much can a state spend in order to bring the culprits to book? I disagree with RB to use the sums of money as the reason why the TF should have been disbanded. However, the TF did outlive its mandate, and I think it should have simply been used to investigate and collate evidence against the accused. The prosecution should have been done by the ACC or AG. On the other hand, $30m is 10% Zambia’s national health service budget!
What an toidi!!! while RB sleeping most of the day, the country in on auto pilot and blames other as usual for the mess. anyway the time RB wake up he will be out!!!
He got rid of the monkeys at state house so he and cabinet ministers can hang out in trees at state house and pick each others bums and call it monkey business
This guy is realy out of prpotion, because his plane does not que for fuel he thinks all is well, what shame.
Well, I will buy his explanation for banning the Task Force but I wont buy his attempt to belittle fuel crisis.
“What you see is what you get…” so the saying goes, and we might aswell paraphrase it to “What you vote is what you get…”. Where are all the people who voted for RB? I don’t see them anymore on this blogg.
Its all ***** with this govt..nothing sensible comes out of this old mans mouth..I wonder if ever he even has a brain..(his advisors are a bunch of ****), he thinks we cant see whats going on with the fuel crisis..anyway, TIME WILL TELL.
If the president`s pathetic reasoning is anything to go with, we might as well say do away with NASA. It gobbles billions of dollars for “nothing”.
RB is dull indeed.He says that the Task force spent $30 million trying to recover $500,000.Thats just being economical with the truth.
RB has forgotten the accomplishments of the Task force so for.The london high court found FTJ guilty of misappropriating US$46 million.We all know that it was the task force who helped put up the evidence before the court.This judgement just has to be registered in our courts to recover the money.RB does not even what to mention this case.
There are other cases such as the Carlington Maize scandal,The botched arms deal e.t.c that will recover millions of $US dollers stolen by FTJ and his cronies.
So RB should not think he can cheat us.We all know what is going on
is Banda normal mwebantu or is it just old age. Because clearly this shouldnt be happening in our day and age. Common guys please stop this attitude of taking wrong to be “comfort “right
#37 and #40 The Task Force was lawfully set up when the President envoked ARTICLE 61 of the Zambian Constitution. Read the constitution and do not allow yourselves to fall prey to misguided and empty political rhetoric that the Task Force was illegal. I am surprised that IT conversant persons as yourselves are ignorant of this fact. #40 since when did executive orders envoked under a constitutional article become unlawful? The constitution for your information is the supreme law of the land!!! Please lets read to avoid turning ourselves into empty intellectual shells!!
A Banda it is true there is no fuel shortage. I think the people back home dont have what to do so they are now spending time at filling stations. I know that you work hard for the Zambians. Every thing in Zambia has turn good since you steped your big belly in state house. You are really God given as now KK wamuyaya has come back with all its deeds. Good Mr president that now school children because of lack of teachers have found some entainments-lining up for you the god to pass. Long live the greatest president of Zambia who has taught Zambians a lesson that they should mind their business in the same manner the president minds his. Let your name be printed in white and black at state house before you leave in 2011. Long live MUNSHEBWA RB.
#58(Executive Analyst)
You are making it as if the Taskforce was set up to be there forever.It had a mandate and it is for this reason Mwanawasa refused to have it established into a Govt agency thru parliament when Sata made it an issue.I did say it was illegal but had a mandate for a specified period of time.Coming to your beloved SCORPIONS which was a govt organ as opposed to taskforce,why did President Motlanthe disband it and merged it with the police? simple,your beloved SCORPIONS had more powers than the police cos they were acting on commands from the President and were notoroiusly known to raid Thabo Mbeki’s ANC opponents.You see.Please try to debate intellectually unlike name calling.We are not incapable of intelligent debate.
#61 should read”I did not say “
#34 Deja Vu – LPM hounded out late Mukelabai Mukelabai, Mwiinga is the late DPP that we lost during the Kambarage Kaunda murder case.