A witness in a case involving newly appointed Minister for North-western Province, Steven Masumba, told a Lusaka magistrates’ court that the institutes erroneously awarded Mr Masumba a Diploma in Accounting Technician course.
National Institute of Public Relations (NIPA) Deputy Registrar, Academic Affairs, Musonda Chimya, said although he has not dealt with the matter to find out how the diploma was issued, Mr Masumba was not eligible to graduate as his examination results transcript indicated that he had arrears.
Mr Chimya, who testified before Lusaka Magistrate, Wilfred Muma, said Mr Masumba was served with a transcript where the subjects he sat for were indicated showing how many marks he obtained and the total marks.
He further said at the bottom of the transcript there was a comment which stated that Mr Masumba had arrears and not eligible to graduate.
Mr Chimya who could however not explain how Mr. Masumbas’ name was found on a list of students scheduled to graduate said he only came to know of the case when officers from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC)went to his office to enquire about the matter.
In cross examination, Anti Corruption Commission prosecutor, Etambuyu Mwenda Zimba, asked if Mr Chimya was aware that the institute had not withdrawn the diploma from Mr Masumba, and whether it was still a valid document or not.
Mr Chimya told the court that he was not aware, adding that there are no records showing that the document was withdrawn but that since he was not there when Mr Masumba graduated, it could also be possible that he once attended the institutes examination centre.
However, defence Lawyer, Mutakela Lisimba, asked Mr Chimya whether Mr Masumba was served with any transcript, and whether the document he was referring to was not addressed to Mr Masumba or not or stated “To whom it may concern”.However, Magistrate Muma intercepted and warned the defence counsel to be practical in his questions, adding that Mr Masumba must have know that it was addressed to him if he received it.
Mr Lisimba further questioned Chimya if he was aware that his client had used the document in question to get a job.
In response Mr Chimya told the court that he only started working for the institute in 2009, adding that he could not have known that Mr Masumba was a former student who had been using a forged document if the matter was not unearthed by the Anti Corruption Commission.
Mr Chimya further told the court that it was wrong for Mr Masumba to use the document in question to obtain a job, adding that he was very much aware that he was not qualified.
Meanwhile Magistrate Muma has strongly warned the Anti Corruption Commission prosecution to put their house in order and never to come in court empty or unprepared for any case.Magistrate Muma warned Ms Zimba after she failed to furnish the court with the number of witnesses the commission was ready to bring in the matter involving Mr Masumba.
“You must have inquired when you took over the case not coming here empty. Look, you do not seem to know anything about witnesses; then how are you going to set dates” said magistrate Muma.
He said the public for a long time has been complaining of prolonged trials and left to wonder about justice and operations of the judiciary when it was doing everything possible to change the wrong perception.
He added that it was delays such as the one portrayed by officers from Anti Corruption Commission that lead to delays in trails.
“I adjourn the matter with bitterness to December 12, 2012. Make sure to bring all your witnesses on this date,” said Magistrate Muma.
Let this little moron surrender ba the diplama and go for night school
in cases like this i prefer to keep quiet coz this country will neva show justice, have been suffering writing exams and being chased out of class becoz of school fees!!!!! and here comes a failure just becoz villagers have voted for him in parliament and he is awarded a free diploma on the silver plate!!! God are u dead to be seeing all this happening to ur people who pray to you dead and hight but becoming poor everyday?
This is Zambia for you with Sata at the healm, Sata is the worst corrupt, useless, clueless man i ever known, this is the man who claim to be alergic to corrupt.
What? How does Sata come into this?Â
At 3, are you saying Sata was there to influence this decision? I cant see sense in what u are talking about.Â
This is what Field ruwe is talking about in his article today. as long as we continue wuith such, we will always be a laughing stock in the world and continent.
Mr Minister you don’t have the said qualification…PERIOD! Amazing how ACC is now going to do everything possible to avoid putting this matter to bed seeing that the man is now govt. …COME ON!!!!!!!!! Who actually issues out a certificate erroneously???? Anyway mistakes are possible…this is very interesting for govt bent on fighting corruption…the nation is watching…the minister…not a qualified the man said…1-0
Zambia is a country where strange things facilitated by those in authority are the order of the day. In this case this is an insult to thousands of hard working students who toil day and night to succeed in their studies. I wholeheartedly share the emotions of ‘She is cute’ @ #2.
Please , take note of the following facts:
1. the diploma in question was awarded a long time ago, almost 3 to 4 years ago, and not during the PF gvt. 2. For someone to be a minister or president, you need to participate in elections, so if you who think are morally upright have no interest in standing for elections, then we shall continue having these guys as our leaders
Why did the mufumbwe chaps vote for him??
They voted because school life and leadership Qualities aint proportional,BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Canigo you nincompoop do you see any leadership qualities in that chap ?? you seriously need your head to be checked
What if the mistake was made on the transcript by the typist? Where  are his Lecturers to testify whether he failed certain courses?
unfortunately the qualifications to hold a NA position as MP simply says grade 12 and have sufficient knowledge in communicating using english chapwa. otherwise we need leaders who will proudly show that they got certificates in a clean manner not dubiously
It only happens in Zambia in this day and age where the dull ones are given authority…. Zambians really amuse me. Why have u accepted to be dull and chose to remain backwards? Wake up. Zambians…. It’s not just about Masumba, it’s about the state of the nation… Politicians are having it easy on top of your noses…..
A square peg in a round hole
Our  education system is rotten to the core and needs an overhaul.  If it is not leakages in high schools then it is people with forged degrees, diplomas or students demonstrating. Has government ever thought about the importance of education?Politicians and senior government officials are the people in the forefront sending their kids and relatives to schools and universities abroad. Even they do not trust the education system in  Zambia!!
Ndeloleshafye!!
MASUMBA KNOWS HE FAILED. HOW CAN HE HOLD A DIPLOMA WHEN BEFORE THAT THERE IS A TRANSCRIPT.
HE MUST HAVE SEEN THAT HE FAILED AND HE KNOWS HE CANNOT PASS.
SO WHO GAVE MASUMBA THE DIPLOMA???
THE ANTI CORRUPTION MUST DIG DEEP AND ARREST THE GUY MASUMBA CORRUPTED AT THE INSTITUTION.
THIS PUT NIPA IN BAD LIGHT FOR AWARDING A FAILURE A DIPLOMA.
You are wanted to have you fore skin chopped off.
It is almost impossible to be awarded a Certificate when you have not qualified. NIPA for this you lose my respect.
ifikopofye mu PF, Y do they like failures?? Ba MMD choped him and he decided to play it wise by anouncing his resignation
Mwebantu don’t crucify someone without looking at the reality,who among all of you would deny a free diploma?i know a lot of people here in the diaspora that have fake documents,including some of the bloggers here.Yours is even worse coz its dishonesty,Masumba was just lucky,lets not crucify him.
“I adjourn the matter with bitterness to December 12, 2012. Make sure to bring all your witnesses on this date,” said Magistrate Muma.
Hahhahahahahahaahahahahahahahahhahaahahahaha……… haahahahahahahahhaahaa, made my day. ACC ndimwe chabe vi puba.
The reading bring more questions than answers. (1) is magistrate muma trying to point out that ACC has no qualified personell to come up with charges that can later on lead to conviction? If the answer is yes, how do you expect to fight corruption with the corrupt ACC not intems bribes but in terms of unqualifed personnel.(2) how many pipo have ended up with fake diplomas and degres from our local colloges and universities but no attention is given to them because there are not in the lime light?
Finally, you want social and living proof that the machine actually does what it does. You want to hear good and bad things about it to get a better view on what to buy.
I quite like looking through an article that will make people think. Also, many thanks for allowing me to comment!|
it really pains me if this is true, wen i remember how i was failed at nipa in organisation behaviour,because my CA was not added to this paper.i complained bitterly but all was in vain.evry time u find missing results.
let it go
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