THE Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia is calling on Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba and Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba to step down following revelations linking the two to alleged corrupt activities.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) confirmed receiving complaints about the alleged corruption by the two ministers and has since launched investigations.
The probe has also been welcomed by the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) as well as the National Energy Sector Allied Workers Union (NESAWU).
EFZ executive director Pukuta Mwanza appealed to President Michael Sata to ask the two ministers to step down to pave way for investigations by the ACC.
Reverend Mwanza who was speaking in Chingola yesterday during a church service, said it was prudent and in the interest of the nation that the two ministers stepped down from their ministerial posts to allow for the investigations.
The clergy said the authorisation by the President to investigate his serving Ministers showed how credible the PF Government wanted to be to the people of Zambia and an indication that there were no sacred cows in the new regime.
“We as the church then are encouraged to support the corruption free Government. This in turn will post development. But the challenge is that the two Minister cannot be investigated fully if they are still serving,” he said.
Rev Mwanza said the President would show commitment if he asked the duo to step down as they should not hold public offices during investigations.
He said the fear was that investigations could be interfered with if the duo were holding on to their offices on account of them holding senior Government offices.
In a separate interview, ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said the investigations indicated that no one was above the law.
He said the investigations would end people’s speculations over the corruption allegations against the duo.
“We are looking at the rule of law and what we want to see is that wherever a Government official is alleged to have committed some offence and if there is an issue out of it, they should not be shielded,” Mr Hikaumba said.
He advised the ACC to conduct the investigations thoroughly and professionally, adding that Government should ensure it provided a platform for the probe.
The NESAWU in welcoming the investigations said it had taken keen interest in Mr Mwamba’s case because it had a large membership from ZESCO.
NESAWU general secretary Manson Mutambo said his union would institute independent investigations into the allegations apart from the probe being conducted by ACC to find out how the tender procedure was being handled at the parastatal company.
Mr Mwamba is accused of manipulating ZESCO to award his company and others where he has interest, a one -year contract worth K36.7 billion to supply and deliver nine, 10 and 12 meter -wooden poles.
He said the union was in support of President Sata’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and would help the Government fight corruption adding that the fight was not just for Government but individual Zambians should also join the fight to rid of the country of the evil vice.
“We are not going to sit idle when ZESCO is being mentioned in corrupt acts. We shall make sure that the company is not involved in corrupt activities,” he said.
Joe Imakando, sort out the splinter in your own eye first.
You all have skeletons in your closets. Let the law take its course
iwe nubian princes joe imakando has nothing to do with this story. he is just in the picture. read before you comment
What has Imakando done?
What splinter? I guess he is above that. Please reserve him
Nubian you must be one of those backsliden christians,u sound bitter hw do you raise Bishop in an article his not mentioned.Shame
I Dora Siliya did it why can’t WINTER and GBM did it? presedence was set. chiwamila galu
Dora only resigned after the tribunal found her to have breached the constitution not before the tribunal findings. So when ACC finds these two with a case to answer thats when they should resign.
iwe nubian princes joe imakando has nothing to do with this story. he is just in the picture. read before you comment. what has imakando done
Yes,let ’em step aside until they’re cleared of all charges.Its called good governance,accountability and increasing people’s faith in their govt.
Sata suspending the two, my foot!
Dubian Princess if you dont have anything to comment we will understand. Bishop Joe Imakando is not in the story please leave him alone.
B Pea a Fool thought it was easy, now they in for it Sir tar will the most embarrassing president on earth, because there is nothing he is going to say or do on these two. napelelwa amano. can you compare this govt. to the previous one? can you compare Michele Satan to RuBish? AlaBi was better than Satan because even ka Mulonge tea used to fear him. Now this Cobra is useless, he has no fangs. So MMD followed the rule of law not Poor Fools, they do not practice what they preach. Ni Mbushi fye.
Yea Dora Siliya and others may have done or did the same, the point is, the people voted them out because of it and the new govt. came claiming they were not going to behave like Siliya and others.
Ndeloleshafye
I would suspect these issues where already on Satas table hence he decided to appoint Winter to ministerial position for protection or so he gets a fair fight with GBM.
well some sort of fair fight in other words its planned but there can only be one winner
Its the honourable thing to do isn’t it? Ltes wait and see!!!
Love this space :d
lets
This GRZ is the most corrupt. What we are seeing is a ripple on the surface of the ocean. There is no telling what they have taken with the appointment of family and friends to government positions. Wake up Zambia. I’m a very proud Bemba but Bembas don behave this way. Mr. Cobra ngoshe, act now.
Winter is naturally corrupt, the man who think he can dupe every Zambian by his endless comments on every subject and smeared mud on PF supporters while he was engaged in corruption. Mwamba the sponsor of Sata wants to recover what he spent on the election campaign, but unfortunately he is to much in a hurry.Is it MMD to blame? Tell us Winter
With all due respect to our Church leaders…..what has happened to someone being ‘innocent until proven guilty’ I welcome the investigations and bravo to ACC. However, Kabimba and GBM should just be suspended until they are found with a case to answer in the courts of law. then they can be fired otherwise we’ll be saying they guilty until proven inocent. If people have to step down everytime they are accused, no one will work in this country. so Kabimba and GBM should just be suspended pending the outcome of the investigations.
On the contrary, picking a leaf from the President Mwanawasa SC the two are better off stepping down to dmonstrate how zero tolerant the PF is to corruption.
I agree with you 100%. Dora did not resign until she was found guilty by the tribunal.
or forced leave
@13Jackie I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. LET US WAIT FOR THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS BEFORE WE SAY ANYTHING. IT IS VERY PAINFUL TO BE PUNISHED FOR A CRIME YOU HAVE NOT COMMITED. ALL WE HAVE ARE MERE ALLEGATIONS. IN FACT IN ZAMBIA ANYONE IN GOVERMENT WHO HAS A BIT OF MONEY IS SAID TO BE CORRUPT. SO LET US BE FAIR. ON OUR TWO BROTHERS.
wait, muzaibala. Action now, please!!!!!
Sata must NOT shield any of the two. they are corrupt full stop. we shall ytake to the streets if they are illegally cleared. It is PF that started it NOT the Opposition. PF has all the records so the ACCmust not treat us like kids. UNIP, MMD and UPND kindly plan for a massive protest RALLY if these two buffons – Goons are cleared.
This war against Corruption must be real and NOT just sang for the benefit to get aid from donors.
Ehe, bane chiteni resign. Precedences were not set for nothing. You’re even lucky the youth are too hungry to protest. Resign ba GBM naba Kabimba. Mufwaya ukulalyafye konse konse, futi mweka.
The call by Mr. Pukuta Mwanza for the two ministers to resign at this stage is misplaced. Isn’t the ACC doing the preliminary investigations to establish the substance of the allegations? If and when the ACC decides that there is merit in the accusations and go into the next phase of the investigations, then it would make sense for the two ministers to stand down for the duration of the investigations.
the Zedian churches and it’s con-men have a say in politics….elo lwanya
Jesus Maria & you Nubian princess,you are very dull and backward fellar ,not all christians are conmen,infact only backsliden pipo talk like you.you are a sinner so you think everyone cant do the right thing,shame
Jesus Maria & you Nubian princess,you are very dull and backward fellar ,not all christians are conmen,infact only backsliden pipo talk like you.you are a sinner so you think everyone cant do the right thing,shame…
truth, ulichipbasana..
not all christians are conmen, but most are blindfools who think by giving their hard erned money to self proclaimed men of God “conmen” will enter the non existing kingdom !!! hehehhe TRUTH TO THE FOOL IS LIES TO THE WISE
TRUTH TO THE F00L IS LIES TO THE WISE
I think these issues of corruption are becoming hot day in day out and if left unchecked will lead this country into something else, why cant these people in higher offices live upright like former unip mps. Before the constitution is enacted please people lets proporse that every one holding any govt office must step down if any corrupt allegations are raised against him until he is cleared by the courts of law, I say this because this people are really taking us for a ride.
They were preaching against corruption during campaigns and we were braced and geared to kick mmd out of office, which we did off course because of the vissible acts under mmd, they are no longer there and here comes GBM and Kabimba coming with the same things God forbid. If this is true may God punish them.
I dont agree, why should people resign on mere allegation , how may resignations are we going to have? Dora never resigned until she was found guilty by the tribunal. Allegations should be treated just as they are allegations until there is a prima fasie case.
If you talk about stepping down ,then the whole cabinet will step down, coz they have contracts.
Some are doing scrap business in luanshya.
intergrity mumenshi. so embarassing……………….
exactly ..the chaps ought to stand down and pave way for investigations since they are corrupt..hahaha
I still believe we have a ministerial code of conduct. Remember Patrick Katyoka and Remmy Mushota saga? These two dim wits were about to loot ZANACO then but they were stopped and brought before a tribunal and booted out into oblivion. We can do the same to these modern crooks of ministers that is if that code of conduct that even nearly convicted Sweet Dora Siliya is still in force. Only Judges in the triburnal will do a good job not ACC and associates.
The spotless ones are not yet born, but the beauty and the beast ever exist together. I yet have to see the beautiful ones living on their own. For sure there will be no beauty if all were beatiful. Human easily forget happenings. If today Barotseland became independent you will see how ugly the beautiful ones will turn at each other, accuse each other, abuse each other or hate each other. As long as we knowingly or unkowingly compete for rresources the ugly and the beautiful shall ever exist, side by side.
@jacki i conquer with yo sentiments.Let the 2 ministers b suspended 2 pave way 4 smooth investigations.We are not sleepy pipo as some section of society wld like 2 insunuate.we are alert and we are watching.
Even as someone still giving PF time, I would insist that these guys step down even just as a gesture, even if they maintain their innocence. An investigation has been initiated. Furthermore, during this time of preparing a national constitution and judicial review, it is not favorable that the Ministry of Justice appears compromised or arrogant. Kabimba is also Secretary General of the party, and it could have bearing on that too. GBM is minister of defence, a very strategic ministry for the security of our country. That too should not be seen to be corrupt and arrogant. They lose nothing by stepping aside if they are innocent. They just get to appear principled and disciplined men of dignity if they are found innocent, which will increase their political shelf life.
Lets just forgive our ministers 70 x 7
If, however, they fail to do the honourable thing, they ill give more leverage to the critics as well as lose credibility in the eyes of many. This will also affect the president because he will be seen to have been an accomplice if he does not make these guys step down, should they not do it on their own. In the event that these guys are guilty, it will be healthier for Mr. Sata and the entire PF if Mr Sata is seen to have allowed the law to take its course, which would mean he did not allow for a cover up and therefore not an accomplice. Refusing to step down will only re-inforce the notion that they would like to cover something up, and that the PF is running an arrogant government. We’re still giving you a chance. Dont make us start to re-consider like others have done.
Sata owe’s GBM a lot of credit and money, GBM sponsored all those PF campaigns and Kabimba worked hard for Sata to become president so its very difficult for president Sata to drop these two people. The best thing is to let GBM and Kabimba resign voluntarlly if they are guilty conscious.
Just like you suspended the 3 judges accused of corruption and appointed a tribunal to investigate them I appeal to you Mr President to suspend the ministers of Defense and Justice and appoint a task force to investigate them. Your government has zero tolerance to corruption and it is important to maintain that perception even when your very own are accused.
These alleged activities of corruption are not minor and their magnitude deserves the involvement of the ICCU. Zambians should also demand a transparent body such as the one just mentioned. The central point here is to serve the interests of the rightful owners of the misappropriated funds(Zambians). When a person such as the current defence minister abuses his office, so many factors are likely to contaminate the on-going investigations with cover ups, therefore the Zambian govt. must be seen as applying damage control. This can be archieved by involving an international third party but Zambia might argue that its sovereignty is being undermined and it can also protest that it has a fair experienced criminnal justice system. However, one can counter argue by referring to judge Chikopa
Whether the PF govt. accepts these developments which are hammering its reputation or tries in vain to downplay the on-going political storms in its backyard, like other strong regimes it will go down in history in the same manners. For instance, recall the information scandle in the US during President Nickson or here in South Africa, the racist strong regime of the National Party was involved in similar activities and the effects destroyed it reputation too. Therefore,the PF regime is not an exception and it is not immune to the deficit of unresponsible conducts of self-serving crooks like Kabimba and Mwamba. Viva HH, UNPD
Thank you all for your comments on my earlier posting. To your chagrin, I am not retracting. I stand by my words.
Joe Imakando, Nevers Mumba, Pukuta Mwanza, everytime I walk by their houses I hear skeletons rattling! Lord let us out!
Lol@ Nubian princess…. the ministers are not yet officially guilty or charged with any crime… they are being investigated based on complaints taken to ACC. lets wait for findings of investigations.