FORMER Transport and Communications Minister, Dora Siliya, yesterday refused to appear before the Sebastian Zulu-led commission of inquiry and instead sent a written submission.
Ms Siliya contended that matters for which she was being summoned were already adjudicated upon by a tribunal that cleared her.
[Times of Zambia]
She said the allegations against her had persisted despite the fact that the courts had dealt with them.
“I submit that the said allegations have already been subject to litigation and have had their veracity in the courts of law,” Ms Siliya said in response to a letter authored by Mr Zulu, dated December 13, 2011, requesting her to appear before the commission.
Ms Siliya said she found it difficult to appear before the commission because it would not have allowed her legal representation.
The commission also heard that Ms Siliya allegedly forced her permanent secretary, Mukuka Zimba to transfer all officials from the ministry of Transport and Communications for opposing a K1.5 billion (300,000 Euros) single-sourced deal in favour of Selex Sistemi
Integrati for the installation of the non-existent air services management system radar at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
This was revealed yesterday during the sitting of the commission of inquiry on the contract for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of the Zambia Air Traffic Management Surveillance Radar System (ZATM-RADAR) at Kenneth Kaunda airport and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport in Livingstone.
The commission heard that despite a 300,000 Euro advance payment having been paid to Selex Sistemi Integrati, the radar has never been installed at the airport, which left the commissioners wondering where the money had gone.
In her submission yesterday, Ms Zimba told the commission that Ms Siliya directed her to transfer all the officials who objected to the process of installing the radar at the airport in Lusaka.
A member of the commission, Ngosa Simbyakula, who is also Deputy Minister of Justice, asked Ms Zimba to explain whether it was in order to single-source the firm which had apparently failed to do the job for which it was paid.
The contractor has instead delivered further quotations amounting to more than 10 million Euros to repair the radar which has not been installed.
Ms Zimba said she made consultations with then permanent secretary for administration, Victor Kashoki who was also against the idea of transferring people on the basis that they had objected to the then minister’s advice.
Ms Siliya had cancelled a duly awarded contract worth nine million Euros awarded to Thales Air System for the supply, delivery, and installation of a ZATM-RADAR at the two airports in Lusaka and Livingstone.
The contract was instead given to Selex through a single-sourced arrangement.
And Dr Simbyakula produced a document for perusal by senior procurement and supplies officer, Innocent Dizomba, which revealed that Selex asked for a further 455,000 Euros, 275,000 Euros and other amounts totalling 8 million Euros to reactivate the radar which is non-existent at the airport.
This was after Mr Dizomba pleaded ignorance about further payments which were being sought by Selex.
Mr Dizomba explained that he had not seen any documents relating to the radar because he was just transferred from the Ministry of Tourism.
she needs sorting, she is lucky we have a govt that not harsh, Chiluba or Banda, even Mwanawasa would have made her think she was in eygpt
This commission of enquiery is just a waste of money. These thing have already gone thru the courts of law. Please Sata, concentrate on development instead of witch hunting.
and what does this add to development. Got to work PF muppets!
KAMO NGA NI MUKUNYENGESHA NGA AILE ULUBILO
…more jobs 4 the youth
Repairing a non-existent equipment?????????????????????? Only in Zambia!!!! Serex whatever is an Italian company ***. Dig deeper, I smell a rat: the country of Bonetti, single-sourced by RB???? There is more please let the music play!!!!!!
lock that chisusu and but leave the bums for senior citizen!
This is a serious matter. Even the they went through some tribunal there was too much shielding. We saw the worst of office abuse. These investigation cannot disturb any program of job creation. Go Go and get them. Good that Mutembo is back and we expect these cases to move fast. Just wait and see what will happen. With Mumba Malila and Musa Mweenye, we expect a fast and well spirited fight against graft such as this one. Good lack.
90 days is over! Now start working by arresting all suspected crooks!
90 days has now elapsed, i think….and Zambia remains the same… infact worse!
Please, quickly submit the findings to the three Bemba boys and you will see the outcome. Siliya,the big box, should have some little respect to the commission of inquiry.
Uyu Dora matako bokosi naka William Banda nabamena ingala balashupa pa zed,mulefwena king cobra pamukoshi mwamulaba,mukaisanga muli mwamoneni,ukupoka icinsenda kunkoko kunakilila.
She has sorted the guys out. Too smart for them!
These useless inquires even the president is surprised why he appointed you. kekekekekekekeke…….in fact you should pay back the money were getting for nothings. when we tell you that you president is not normal you think we hate him. kekekekeke……
on this one ,i agree with Dora (Malaho),this commision is useless.She should have not even sent anything.
DORA MINI SKIRT WALASHETA AMAPEPALA, CAREFUL
I thought this is a judicial commission that has unquestionable powers to Sopeona anyone, especially regarding serious matters of national interest such as this one? Who’s Dora to opt not to appear? If she has confidence in the grounds on which the courts cleared her then she has nothing to fear, and MUST therefore show up before the commission.
Chaba ifim-atako! Kwati techanakashi, one would have thought umukashana should be a bit down to earth, chena awe shuwafye. Ukup-ama kwati nilunshi mumpanga pam-afi.
What I do not undersatnd is how a commission of enquiry can be led by Zulu who himself is allegedly corrupt, and in my opinion way tooooooo old. The truth of the matter is nothing is going to change in Zambia and indications show that indeed poverty and under-development are likely to increase.
@Cindy
there is an adage
 “you set a THIEF to catch a THIEF”, so DONCHI KUNDABWA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Cindy
there is an adage
 “you set a THIEF to catch a THIEF”, so DONCHI KUDABWA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pa Zed . . . all this fuss for 300,000 Euros? I mean a contract worth a meagre 300k euros should not cause Ministers to be found wanting or commision of enquiries to be set up that cost more than the value they are investigating. Shame on our leaders – past and present!
Chisusu, Have got anything to hide? The truth will humble you. I can smell a rat, with your son with a lot of dosh in his Account when He has never worked before. Come on tell us the truth, You arrogant ……………….
Plse for once stop insulting,hey Dora you look good in that outfit,its lekker & the shoes so sweet.As for the bokosi, mama they re yours be proud.
Cindy it seems that all the COIs have Zulu in it somewhere. Mane (money) making now. Mwe ba Bemba ukutukana teko twapapata. Dora is right, whether cleared by fluke or what, a Commission has no judicial power to subpeona anyone.