President Michael Sata has suspended Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) chief executive officer Professor Clive Chirwa pending investigations by the Anti-corruption Commission on allegations of corruption levelled against him.
This is contained in a letter made available to the media by special Assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.
In his letter to Prof. Chirwa dated April 22, 2013, President Sata confirmed that he has suspended the ZRL chief executive officer due to several corruption allegations levelled against him.
“… I am suspending you from duty and you will be on half pay; and as part of other conditions you will have to vacate the lodge and wait in the Zambia Railways Limited accommodation until the matter is completed,” read President Sata’s letter in part.
“By copy of this letter the Anti-corruption Commission has been instructed to carry out full investigations concerning the allegations of corruption.”
And President Sata has with immediate effect appointed Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications permanent secretary Dr Muyenga Atanga to take charge of Zambia Railways Limited.
“…this will require you to take charge of the Rail Line including the Inter Mine Rail, which is so critical to the running of the mining sector,” directed the Head of State.
The PF Government reiterates its commitment to revamping the railway network that results in a rail system which will create the necessary economic drive.
“if pushed I will go back to UK” lol
Mate in two moves…
The circus continues.State House is not supposed tobe involved in the hiring and firing of CEOs.
You are the same people that cry “patriotism” when people leave the country. Truth be told his demands were reasonable. Those that negotiated the demands did a crap Job!!! They are to blame! They were happy with the terms. That’s why we say Leaders must be educated to a min degree level! When one is educated to the highest level and they are local, you support them. You all reacted too fast and emotionally. The board has been in Zambia for a while and yet we have not seen any results from them! Zambians are happy being where they are and will always have a “pull down” mentality! they all profess to want “development” but truth is they are not ready for development. Neither do they want to see anyone step up to the challenge! I am not a fan of pro Chirwa but this is rubbish!
Ba Chirwa, Zambians are not stupid. This time Sata should hire a white man or a Chinese as CEO.
Chirwa will be cleared. By the way what are the allegations again?
Sad development.But again this is not a very bad idea for transparency sake.It will help the ACC to carry out investigations smoothly.I just hope this will not force the learned Chirwa to pack his bags and go back to Boston where his true value is known and appreciated.I bet most of the people want a cheap dude who will chew the euro bond quietly without not so much as end results.Fili ukotuleya bane.
@zebige… its not a sad development, its the correct and good development!!!
iwe bantu.. kansi ku boston uko… is prof chirwa at some big reputable university.. equal to oxford or what???
I have always doubted prof chirwa… if he was that big, am not sure the english would have let him come to zed.. they would have stopped him using their pound…
imagine the possibiliy of bring Prof Ndulo to zambia,,, looks very impossible!!!!
Fools Mate!!
@ Levelhead. Pliz lookup the word Reasonable in the dictionary before undressing your ignorance.
now hes been shoved….let him go back!
@Ndobo…one doesn`t become an international consultant for nothing.The guy has a proven track record.Talking about those muzungus letting him go.Many Africans have had taken that step before by leaving their comfort Zones in Europe to go back to Africa and help their own.It is that kind of sacrifice professor Chirwa made.It is just a pity that Zambians are not seeing his true value because of political connotations attached to his appointment.Others are just speaking out because he was appointed by the party they detest.But politics aside the man is the best for the job.Just take off your political reading glasses then you will see his true value.
Some of you laugh when you house burns! These are serious issues that require great leadership and objective reasoning but all I see are experimentation, egos and greed.
Who negotiates their salary based on “poverty levels” of a country? Not even a bank clerk or CEO does that!
Don’t laugh whilst Zambia burns!
Who negotiated the terms? Is that how you run your business? When someone makes an offer do you instantly accept it? Or do you lower them down to your level or even lower if you can squeeze further…. I reiterate (Negotiate!!) If you cannot negotiate with one “local” man what about foreigners, what exactly are you offering them? This is my argument.
Getting the right person to do a good job in anything developmental is critical. If a person has the credentials then why not? What’s even more critical is getting a local person or a person we can call our own. The problem is you want a foreigner to do various jobs for you, if not a foreigner it has to be you and yet you are not willing to step up! What i disagree with is the manner in which differing views were aired by the board and…
Take his passport before he FLIES BACK to the UK. And here’s another mistake: ” …By copy of this letter ACC has been INSTRUCTED to carry out full investigations…” – I thought they were independent!!!
cabipa. both the board and chirwa: it is all about money money money. zambia railways should be revamped. even if chirwa is reinstated, it wont work, he is already demotivated
Personally I do not know of any other allegations of corruption against Prof Chirwa except for his attempt to use his company to train ZRL engineers. My main problem with this guy is that he isn’t the right person for the job. So, I think the correct basis for Chirwa’s suspension should’ve have been TO ESTABLISH whether he is fit for such office.
If Michael Sata acted as swiftly on Mutembo Nchito as he has done on Clive Chirwa,most of us would commend him for fighting graft.Mutembo Nchito despite numerous corruption related cases including forgery continues to be in the high office of DPP.Where is fairness in this corruption fight?
who can put the president in the pocket????mmbembe… sata is action man.becareful!!!!!!we have only one president and that is sata.am beinging to love this man. yeasterday it was kabimba who told off homosexuals.i surport you hooooooooo……………….
Nobody wants him in England – they have many unemplyed Professors! His job at Bolton has already been taken by Professor Mike Day – no monkey Chirwa business and it was good riddance to Bolton when he left!
It took Nchito to intervene after Chona called on his fat desk lawyer to help get rid of Chirwa there are no corrupt acts on his part but the famous abuse of office will nail the man
for the first time! Ukwa sata.. you got the question correct!! good!, am moving you from group 3 to group 2.. keep it up!! you might make it to group 1!!!
Iwe ka Teacher ka pa college …spare my ribs! LOL!!!
YABA hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Aha ha ha ha……….
Pressure shikulu he couldnt take it anymore, too much pressure from Zedians. The only positive things here is that Sata listens to the people, even though i personally wasnt for the idea of Suspending Prof.
what is better between using the Euro bond to pay a very expensive,competent and goal oriented engineer to turn around Zambia railways in five years to one of the best Railway companies in Africa or Employing a low paid executive who will channel the bond to pseudo good projects without not so much as results at the end of five years ? Zambians will never cease to amaze me.I wonder if the board could have had reacted like this if Chirwa had allowed them to get those hefty sitting allowances they were initially claiming.
I think the Prez made a rush decision to fire prof. Chirwa. In my opinion, the people who needed investigating to the core are the board members. They did not exhibit due deligency in their negotitations because they were looking forward to Chirwa signing them off on those dubious allowances. In all sincerity, why did they not cry foul before their board was dissolved? Why did they only bring up these issues when they were caught with their hand in the can of cookies. While, Prof. Chirwa has also exhibited a high level of arrogance and misjudgement in trying to award his company an offer to train ZRL personnel, the guy has technical expectise that I believe can help revamp the railway. His salary and benefits (share/stock options) are not an issue, but the competency and results matters.
Where is your pride professor Chirwa. I wrote earlier that if it were you under this circumstance i should have resigned than be embarrassed. I again wrote to tell you that you have failed even before starting. If you read the social media as you claim, you should know by now that Zambians hate you to the bone. Let us wait and see. You came in too fast and hot. This is ZED.
u really lack sense and brains in that head of yours, its a phenomenal that u can actually read and use an electronic device
What exactly has this guy done to deserve all that hate kanshi? Am I missing something???
Lucas must be Prof Chirwa or one of his relations.
Rumours of my dismissal are all nonsense, I remain CEO of Zambia Railways – Prof Chirwa
He has not been dismissed; he has been suspended. Lets wait and see whether or not that dismissal will still be nonsense after the investigations.
Yes, suspended not dismissed! But lets wait and see
This Chirwa guy is so proud.He thinks Zambians owe him a luxariuos living because he was in the UK for a longtime !!! my foot let him go back where he came from.Zambians are not dosil anymore the internet has made us to Express our selves and the the President is a man of action and he is determined to save ZAmbia Railways from Corruption brought about by Chirwa.
Let him pack his bags and go back to Europe or is Russia.
I talked to the principal a whort while ago and he assured me that my job is safe.
Way to go Mr. President.
This drama is too much and I just can’t belive the comedy. Did the PF really mean well when they decided to employ Chirwa, or it was a way they planned to deflate him for having expressed his presidential ambitions in the last poll?
Am sure they meant well. The diaspora constuency has been complaining that they are being ignored when it comes to major appointments. So the PF Government has been vindicated while the diaspora has been vanquished.
WHY WEREN’T WYNTER KAMIMBA AND Great Bag of Maize (GBM) SUSPENDED?
double standards!
Double tobela mwe
Am equally woundeering. Am i missing some thing.
Too proud ba Chirwa!!!!
Great decision!
Prof.go back to your kantemba in the UK with your tail in between yowa legs….kekekekeke!!!
hhaha yowa legs buut
yowa legs!!!… hahahahah
Yet again a progressive Engineer has been unfairly pushed aside. This is exactly why i left Zambia, my knowledge was never appreciated… Zambia is for accountants and lawyers…who we hope will one day construct a storm water drain in Chibolya! Jokers..goat eating jokers!!
you are an *****, you left Zambia because you couldn’t make meaningful contribution, we still have a lot of Engineers, yes clive chirwa is a learnt guy, but question is, is what he is doing Ethical or does it make economic, logical sense? it doesn’t matter who you are if you cant perform, your ass will be given to the pigs..simple as that..stay where you are dude, i am sure Zambia doesnt need let downs like you
Exactly my point… It gives you a sense of importance to insult a person you dont know hey? My friend it doesnt help to tell you my achievements both in Zambia and outside. I can tell you with confidence that I am one of the best Engineer Zambia has produced. When we talk, as professionals, there is a deep sense of frustration in the way Engineers are treated in Zambia, and that is the reason you see them doing ACCA and other courses in order to branch off. Do not insult, use your brain my friend.
Tell these low thinking zambians who only want to fatted on by whites .
@ Mech Engines. I can clearly see you frustration not because the man has been booted out but because he is an engineer.The current crop of engineers have been let down by the guys like you who left zambia after messing up in one way or the other. Look at the quality of Roads designed by you old and experienced engineers as you call yourselves.Poor quality.You did poor work thus eroding the confidence that people had in the local engineers and you got away with it. A graduate from CBU would find it hard to penetrate the industry because no one trust a local engineer anymore.Pipo would rather have a chinese than a zambian because of pipo like you.The opposite is true with accountancy,law,agricuture medicine and many others.if you are good come back and enjoy
@Victoria falls: You are right, I am very frustrated with the way my fellow Engineer has been treated. I however do not agree with your perception on Local Engineers. There has been very little infrastructural development in the past 20-30years in Zambia for you to judge in that manner. We certainly need to instill confidence in the current crop of Engineers to take on bigger tasks with the support of all stake holders. Did I hear you say a Chinese (who is plundering your natural resources with impunity) is more trust worth than me?? I honestly dont see the logic in your analysis.
@Mech Engines, I understand your frustration and agree with you that Zambia will never develop until the engineering profession takes centre stage in our economy. Like you rightly said, there has been very little infrastructural development in Zambia in almost 30 years, so it was logical for any ambitious engineering graduate to seek job opportunities outside the country to acquire practical experience. I seriously appreciate UNZA engineering graduates coz they continue to excel wherever they’ve migrated to, but time for this trend to end is now! Now theres construction activity in Zambia and our engineers can excel in mother Zambia, but Chirwa is a disgrace to the engineering profession because he misrepresented himself to the appointing authority in order to get a job he didnt deserve
The demise of parastatals has not helped the cause. It is a fact that the major employers for Engineers are Zesco, the mines, Zambia Sugar Company and a few govenment departments like the RoadsDevelopment Agency. For a develpoing country, we should utilise a lot more of these guys.
Mech Engines are you on track. I support your view. In Zambia we do not align qualifications with corresponding remuneration. Check the salaries for our well trained and experienced Engineers in Zambia. Victoria Falls! a good road design DOES NOT necessarily result in a quality road. If you do not understand certain matters you would rather not comment. That is the problem in Zambia. Every body whats to be everything (President, CEO, Engineer, Accountant, Cleaner). You can not! We do not value the professions (Even after winning the AfCon, Chipolopolo is still a useless team). I really fail to understand. If some one who designed a Landing Gear for a Plane and its still working up to now can be useless in Zambia then we have a problem. You do not pay salaries based on poverty levels imwe.
International conman from DRC connered…..Give me more pop corns!
Board dissolved, CEO suspended. What next? I wonder if Dr Clive Chirwa will take up the position IF the allegations leveled against him are proven futile, and IF the state will prosecute him IF found guilty. This’ a true test of so many things within our system, let’s see how we fare. Otherwise, I’ve no issue with his appointment, he was headhunted to fill the position.
My sentiments, exactly!
@PhilipM
Chirwa is on record agreeing to “having attempted to single source his 13 yr dormant UK registered company for the training of ZRL management in Interllectual Property”. And if it wasn’t for the board safeguarding public money, that would have been another addition to his already over inflated package from ZRL. I cannot see how any credible investigation can exonerate him from that alone.
Hate them or like them, the Zed Watchdog balina data. The firing/suspending of ‘ur’ Prof is stale news on their website. They ‘prophesied’ yesterday that Prof Chirwa has been fired and replaced with Dr Muyenga Atanga
I thought Chirwa give up his UK citizenship, or was it a just scam. a probe is needed
@ ndobo u rght, Shikulu shld move to frm grp 3 to grp 2.de so caled Prof apear 2b vry arogant, let hm go back 2 UK, we ve a lot patriotic zedians wth vast knowldge & experience in corporate gvnce. mwabombeni shikulu
He is suspended, not fired. Lets wait and see, except I am not sure what they are investigating on, corruption or what?
He is fired. It is just a polite way of firing him.
Ndelolesha fye…..
Half pay and no accommodation? Awww…. how will poor Mr. Chirwa survive on just KR70,000 a month for doing nothing?
Serious, what CEO doesn’t know it is CORRUPT to single-source from his own company??? Not only that, but what CEO would claim to be of SOUND MIND to call for the latest super-fast designer electric trains and monorails in a country with constant load shedding and not enough basic schools and clinics for the population?
If i was Chirwa i would have resigned and left. If the ACC finds dirt boy you will be prosecuted… and your little change from the UK will be gone paying lawyers.
yes… paying lawyer winter who has never won a case meaning you’ll spend more. sorry malume. we’ll recall you again when we start restocking fish in lake mweru!!
YA ba professor you are now a suspected thief and you will now stay in kabwe which suits a ceo of your calibre bukabolala you learnt in britain has landed you in trouble
Well fair enough to both warring parties. I have been calling for this. Suspension of both sides should have been done on the first day.
If Prof Chirwa has a true desire to help Zambia , he will humble himself and walk through this process. This is the type of politics in our system that a lot of Zambians in Diaspora have no skin for. I hope he has and wont walk away. This is just one of the hurdle he has to clear if he loves Zambia. That is just how life is and how political appointments are and work in Zambia. Welcome to the reality, sir.
I wish everybody involved good luck and thanks for giving us an insight into how our parastatal boards function.
Twice we have agreed this week MMD bootlicker, we indeed now are looking like Zambia’s future. Support only the good my friend.
Wow its a miracle ! Even me i`m agreeing with Bootlicker.
The minister must be fired too. That will be all fair.
So all the stupid politicians & their kaponyas who have raped Zed are free to do so whilst learned zedians are supposed to be more patriotic & accept peanuts from these illiterates – GO ON DREAMING!!!!
Chirwa should not succumb to stoneage subservience!!! There is what is called BITTERSWEET LOVE – STAND YOU GROUND TILL THEY COME ROUND – Why is it that thieves & their cronies should have it easy whilst YOU, WHO SPENT A PORTION OF YOU LIFE “Ku ma SOMO!!” i.e. busting your as.s studying is being asked to be meek & kiss their Bottoms???????
Chirwa should not succumb to stone-age subservience!!! There is what is called BITTERSWEET LOVE – STAND YOU GROUND TILL THEY COME ROUND – Why is it that thieves & their cronies should have it easy whilst YOU, WHO SPENT A PORTION OF YOU LIFE “Ku ma SOMO!!” i.e. busting your as.s studying is being asked to be meek & kiss their Bottoms???????
He is suspended, not fired. Lets wait and see, except I am not sure what they are investigating on, corruption or what? did the Board say he was corrupt? how so in 3 months? anyway lets wait and hear.
This all thing makes me feel is hould not come back to Z if i was working outside. one education does not have value in here, why cant i get a salaary to the level nthat i feel iam worthy. Is this underplaying African Qualifications? If it was some one with a different skine the story could have been different. I feel hate, i do not know Clive but this are bad developments.
I am with you on that one! Pathetic!!!
What case does he have to answer before the courts of law? This is Zambia.
Way to Go Mr President Sata. Keep it up
There is “nothing” they will find. Remember Wynter Kabimba and GBM? That is ACC under Rose Wandi for you. Wait for Timothy Moono to say “nothing”.
I agree with you. This is just a ploy to hoodwink Zambians. He is the powers that be’s blue eyed boy so he will be “cleared” by the useless ACC and it will be business as usual for Chirwa.
zadians can mess you up???
why didn’t Ukwa suspend his ministers as well? isn’t this double standards
small minded zambians afraid of development! seriously scared to succeed that they hate someone, anyone who tells them they can develope! mwalibelela ukuchula ba zambia….Chirwa doesnt need Zambia, Zambia needs Chirwa!!!
True!!
that’s the same mentality right there, that gets africans nowhere, just like you…who told you Zambia needs Chirwa and chirwa doesnt need Zambia? do you know how many competent Zambians can do a better job than chirwa, who told you that chirwa is above reproach, he was hired to do a job, if he cant do it, he should be sidelined, that’s how the corporate world works, i am sure you are too busy wiping ass you probably wouldn’t know anything about that would you ?
Mkolo, Tell us who is small minded here :you have that same mentality right there, that gets africans nowhere, just like you…who told you Zambia needs Chirwa and chirwa doesnt need Zambia? do you know how many competent Zambians can do a better job than chirwa, who told you that chirwa is above reproach, he was hired to do a job, if he cant do it, he should be sidelined, that’s how the corporate world works, i am sure you are too busy wiping ass you probably wouldn’t know anything about that would you ?
ibrahim…maybe if u dont use bad language we can engage in a proper discussion and maybe learn one or two things. my point is chirwa doesnt `need this job´. he has both the experience and expertise to do things that have never been done before. his credentials speak. he has patents on machinery that is on Mars as we speak. You think he would be bothered by a few million kwachas. ´He was ideal for this job because he wants to contribute to the country. do not resort to bad language…if your vocabulary is not good enough to engage in proper conversation then please spare us.
@Mukolo.. sure Mr Chirwa comes with high credentials and hype. But I think he lacks tack for a man that we thought could one day be president. He is now suffering from self inflicted wounds. All from very bad choice of words. He could have salvaged his stay zed. But now, I doubt that he will survive what awaits him with Ukwa. He is damaged goods beyond repair.
If i was Chirwa i would have resigned and left. If the ACC finds dirt boy you will be prosecuted… and your little change from the UK will be gone paying lawyers.
One thing Chriwa must learn is that you can not F.O.O.L people anymore. The social media has become powerful worldwide to the extent that governments have fallen.
The problem he will now have is to clean is name. Every prospective employer will google his name and the headline will be “Con man”
The higher you go the cooler you look but, boy, there is damn heat up there!
True my friend, hahahahahahaha.
If only Sata had done the same with Kabimba and GBM., anyway….
On the current subject of ZR – absolutely no improvements or revamps are going to take place – it is dead and will only get worse – and the monies apportioned from the euro bond – well just say a few people will have tonnes more money in their pockets.
End of
He might have already started packing his bags.
This is nothing but a populist decision. The president shouldn’t have succumbed to pressure from jealous Zambians with a Pull Him Down syndrome.
I can assure you that if Chirwa were a whiteman, no one would have complained and if he were a Bemba there would have been a muted response. But he has been branded a conman even when there is no evidence to prove it.
He is suspended, not fired. Lets wait and see, except I am not sure what they are investigating on, corruption or what? did the Board say he was corrupt? how so in 3 months? anyway lets wait and hear.
Zambians do not hate Chirwa. His problem is that he has alot of theoretical grand plans which are not based on a sound business plan. Typical of spending too much time in a university and accepts no criticism.
Zambians are not willing to spend borrowed money on theoretical grand plans which our grand children will end up repaying at a huge cost.
Go to utube and listen to him presenting his ideas of how to develop Zambia and you will release that this guy is con artist.
The Engineer (Australia) you are right in your words, i have known and lived with Professor Chirwa for years, none of all these losers know what they are talking about, the man belongs in a lecture room, he is too theoretical and cant comprehend the real world out there, running an organisation or a country is not like analyzing a case study, mweba sha sambilila mule bosa fye…like Dambisa was…yap yap yap yap, practical Solutions!!! ZERO….and just a point to note, most of these senseless posts are by people living abroad, do you people ever understand how the developed world you live in and enjoy came to being? think bane, palya tule kolopa ifikolopo, twa la pishamo bopeni!!!!!
Blaze – just as there are ways to prolong an orgasm, there are ways to prolong tribal inclinations – in fact TO STOP THEM. Clive is literally Bemba if you follow through with the so-called “Bemba-CB” BECAUSE HE IS FROM THERE. Further, he is not fully “Chirwa” assuming you want to be really tribal. That said, it is significant to acknowledge what Australia (Engineer) and Ibrahim Mohamed have said. It is small wonder we look beyond the wonders and Bill Gates and emphasize on his so-called “Drop Out” status. Classroom stuff takes you only so far – not all the way!
Ama bloggers bapa LT kutibakusekesha zoona pa last wanyelapo naka sushi, yaba. Mwandepula mwebantu bakwa lesa
Its not about race or tribe Kawalala ni kawalala
Blaze, Chirwa is partly Bemba. Why do you think he was head hunted and appointed by State House? It is not only qualifications that count in today’s Zambia. Your tribe can either elevate you or it can make you remain where you are because the authorities will overlook. That is how bad things are now in Zambia.
How long will it take to fully develop the country at this rate?
90-days!
hahaha ati 90 days, mwalipena!
Walya ewe! If prof was also a citizen of the UK which he claims to have ditched when he accepted the CEO poition, then he at one time had dual citizenship which is not allowed in Zambia, at least for now. Find out on this one too. Too much talking and boasting is not good. This guy may just have landed himself in deep s-h-i-t.
Now that is the end of his political career, which am sure was the main reason he was given this failing company. The end is here….. The Prof was supposed to have seen this coming, now will he go back to his UPND or become a PF carder?
He does not deserve a suspension but to be fired!!!!
And what arrogance by the professor!!!!! Now he can go back where he came from.
Thank you ba president for this wise decision.
And now they’ll say “great move ba president” when just a while ago they said prof. should be left alone, he’s doing a great job. Nonetheless this issue is now a mess, the euro bond is really causing problems, typical of when you throw funds to projects before careful thought and planning.
Barak Obama president of the richest country in the world earns about $4oo ooo per year. Its indecent to ask a poor country like ours to pay u, a Zambian, much more than that no matter how educated u re.
It is the mind like yours that prevents development in Zambia. As long as we have such minds, Zambia will go no where near real development. Change your mind set, pls. What is the difference between paying your own such amounts of money and paying a foreigner even more? You are not paying Chirwa that money just for the post but for the progressive ideas he is bringing, trying to pull Zambia out of the door drums of poor thinking and mediocre type of development. Clive Chirwa is highly respected in the western world for his workable and proven projects, which many of those who are against him cannot even believe that it was a Zambian like Chirwa that engineered them. Zambia is just full of too many armchair educated illiterates, who speak more than they know. Chirwa’s pay stays in Zambia.
haha, like i predicted, being educated is a major barrier when it comes to working with the dudes in govt right now 🙂
Double standards!!! Wynter & GMB were not suspended in their corruption allegations but only to hear that they have been cleared. Let me take this opportunity to advise Prof Chirwa to go back to England and do his work in their than wasting time in this country were pipo are busying pulling him down (PHD). Zed will not develop because from time immemorial Zambia is country which is never serious with anything to do with proper development. Shame on u board members & everyone who were advocating for firing of Prof Chirwa…. this is y we in the diaspora fear of coming to our country
Pilato asamba mo after employing him and has handed him over to ACC (To be crusified) Good decicion Mr President dont get involved next time let the board employ the CEO
Chika, you have made me laugh, your allegory of President sata & Pilato is amazingly accurate. I hope Prof. Chirwa was above board in his dealings and did not single source a company owned by him & his wife or he is truly & really in deep S-H-I-T! If on the other hand his hands are clean he will bounce back stronger and more confident than before.
The probe will also help boast confidence of stake holders if Chirwa is cleared. He may have to remove the 25% share option as this will be unacceptable considering how much he is already being paid.
I once said this and I am sure others like Meastral Hee Hee, did so too, to indicate that Prof. Clive Chirwa was a JOKER. The man cannot achieve anything in Zambia, be it political, economical or social.
He has already achieved a lot in three months: inter-mine rail is up and running for the first time in many years. 5 trains have already transported copper to Dar es Salaam. With the injection of $120 million, the whole line from Chingola to livingstone is to be rehabilitated
He is suspended awaiting firing. Those lines were already laid and working. Any one given that money will do what he did and even more.
Really, you said this to indicate that…. You yourself?
His Excellency Job done !!!! kwaaa kwaa let him actually go
Bible clearly states :
Pride commeth before a fall.
The bible is just a big twisted story book you African sheep!
I hope Harve the PE teacher ( so called National team coach) will have his conditions revised as well. The Professor was getting less than the 500 Pin the teacher is getting
Bu chifita !! Ala bwalingilila!!!!
Well i don`t like it but if this is what it takes for good investigations to take place then be it.
@ 10 chakolwa…u shud have said yowa nearby but..kekekekek
Bible clearly states :
Pride commeth before a fall.
I tell you SATA is the best president Zambia has ever had.He has no time to keep dirty under the Carpet.Every one is equal to the other.He wants transparence in everything,though is humane and not free fro mistakes.
However,i am pretty sure that Board of Directors was a failure and would not bounce back and Chirwa will be tamed not to be too academic but practical.Chirwa can perform, what he needs is suport from Well meaning Zambians.Dont forget there is a political part that he ditched and that could fuel conflicts with the former Board members, Chirwa so that he fails.These so called Zambian Lawyres,proffessors,economicists have no Zambia at heart all they want is to make poorer so that they continue asking for aid which just goes direct in their pockets.
Is not the best President,not even near.Why did he shield Kabimba and GBM?
I JUST FEEL SAD THAT ALL THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE THE ZAMBIA RAILWAYS COMPANY REMAINS IN TATTERS. BLAH…BLAH….BLAH…BLAH DAY AND NIGHT BUT THE RAILWAY COMPANY REMAINS DEAD. MONIES SPENT ON USELESS BOARD MEETINGS AND PAYING CLIVE CHIRWA BUT THE RAILWAY COMPANY STILL REMAINS IN ITS COFFIN. CONGRATS TO THE PRESIDENT. BUT CAN WE FIND A LASTING SOLUTION FOR THE RAILWAY COMPANY. LET US NOT POLITICISE THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. THE ELEMENT OF ” PULL HIM DOWN” BY THE BOARD IS THERE ALSO. HOWEVER PROFF CHIRWA ALSO APPEARS TO BE A VERY PROUD MAN WHO CANNOT WORK WELL WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
President Sata’s political strategies are masterful. Even I am amused. We shall soon see our first lady Dr. Christine Kaseba as the next president after Sata’s second yerm. If God is who we seek, that president shall be directly chosen from heaven.
Its true what you are saying, all this Winter Maize and Great Big Maize story about their presidential ambitions is just there to blinden people like Mulongoti and the many dull bloggers on ZWD. The true presido is behind Sata’s bongo bongo. We’ll get a shock of our lives wait and see
Whether the professor is cleared by the ACC or not he is now finished and his future plans are in tatters. Clearly the professor has been humiliated by the order to vacate the posh villa. His bragging has damaged him. And again should he come back to the UK the authorities here will keep an eye on him particularly if it is true he renounced his UK citizenship.
I never understand most of Mr Sata’s decisions but I think he is spot on on this one, may be he has been reading the bloggers views.
thanks
People renounce their British citizenships everyday…its nothing new. He will just reapply for it again its formality nothing unusual!!
The winner after all this is still Prof Chirwa. He will pocket USD2.8M for doing nothing if he is fired. We had Bonnetti fired and he will get USD400,000 for doing nothing. When are we going to learn to respect contracts kanshi…I am sure Prof Chirwa is consulting with his lawyers in the United Kingdom and believe me they are drafting a list of demands. Petty jealous and PHD syndrome has not spared many zambians.
Go ask Dr Chongwe. He won a case against the Zambian government for detaining him during Chiluba’s time. Has he ever been paid?
Home land Authorities will be waiting for him in the UK to declared the 2million pounds he has been boosting about which he has never declared.
How much of a conscience has he got, if he should so decide to steal from the poor? He was hired on the grounds he would have a heart for his country. Unfortunately he doesn’t. To him, it is his pocket and not his country that he would like to take care of first. It’s good for a CEO to insist on an exit package for a job well-done. Clive Chirwa wants his package up-front! Why must anyone not be weary of that?
Chirwa tafili bwino ifintu.board dissolved becoz of you,one of the former board member takes over.anyway they will pay you for for the rest of the remaining 4 years contract.yakaba ma starter.
One thing Zedians should bear in mind is that Mark Chona is also a criminal. He conned KK. Board members wanted a share of the cake but Prof. Chirwa blocked them. If he had succumbed they would have been queit. Too bad Pro. go well.
after all ,this was a planned thing,give him a failling company as a way of diminshing his political plans,sory ba prof
next is breach of contract!!!!!! and pay through the nose!!
Prof Chirwa has the head but lacks the heart. And the heart, unfortunately, is not a classroom affair. In order for him to succeed as CEO of Zambia Railways, he must be a man of character. This is his achilles heel. It was once said of an ancient king: “weighed in the balances and found wanting.” The same may be said of this heartless engineer! He needs a heart transplant for sure.
You are so right, Amukwelyanisa. We call that “Emotional Intelligence” or EQ. In fact studies have shown that by and large EQ is much more significant than IQ. You find excellent doctors who only know how to prescribe but have no idea that counseling and listening to a patient is a bigger part of the treatment… engineers fall into that category most of the time, too.
Spot on…Chriwa has never been in the muddy managerial trenches or on the cut throat corporate battlefield….advise him to study “the art of war” by Sun Tzu.
ABSOLUTELY…. Through this whole saga is brazen display of an alarmingly low EQ by the learned prof and his board counterpart Saasa. Food for thought for making dangerous assumptions that just because one excels in the field of theory and academia, they can excel in management and the corporate politics that it comes with which are vital in any turnaround strategy. Stakeholder management should be standard ops for anyone on a path to a successful turnaround, This guy is either as good as he says he is or has hugely overestimated and oversold himself on the corporate front. So far he has failed in the first few cornerstones which is simply ‘politics’ found everywhere when you are dealing with large strategic entities anywhere in the world! His PR/media debut is also a massive disaster!
He admitted on national television to bringing his SIDO company to come and train ZRL personnel without following tender procedures or declaring interest. That alone is enough to get behind bars. The part that pains me though is who gave this man 25% shares of ZRL? Not even Ronald Penza at his helm succeeded in stealing a parastatal (ZESCO).
Contemplating something is NO CRIME!!! However Implementing something that’s against the law MAY be a crime(depending on which lawyer u hire!!). A whole world of a difference between the two!!!!!!
What do you mean he didn’t declare interest??? Mere mention that it was his company spells out the interest in anyone that has a few strands of grey matter!!!
He hasn’t asked for free shares!! kanshi bushe ichi ngeleshi chashupa shani??
What he has asked for is that at the end of 5 yrs, with proven performance, he be given first right of refusal of 25% shares – which he will buy or get paid, rather than receive hard cash!!
Am sure “first right of refusal or preference” ya la penya ba kabova aba bosa bosa fye!!
Go to night-school as I won’t waste time to explain!!
This is sad, but the president has done a good thing althogh the people who don’t want progress will still not be satisfied with what ever action he takes. I only wish the invetigations do not take for ever. The railway project will stall.
Guys pa Zed this man Chirwa is a very educated man without any doubt and question and he deserve to be payed anything like any other race you lift. But,the only question is his attitude,behavior and pomposity. Even us who are also in diaspora can not boast that ‘if pushed i will go back to UK.’ Respect to your people is paramount.(2) The issue of bringing the wife, children to be consultants degrades the other Engineers.He is a prof not the wife.(3)He wanted to come and rule not knowing that Zed has changed,we are also educated and have traveled Its not like in those olden days when even ministers were busy hiding info.Lastly i suspect the board was not as clean as some would think.Bravo Mr Pres. Next time someone is employed let ba shushu sniff if someone is committed to the country.
mudala, shani ule shupi kwa ne chi ngeleshi??? “….anything like any other race you lift.”
Finshi ifi mudala?????
Now just becoz your wife is a housewife & your kids are drop-outs, doesn’t mean your situation translates to Chirwa!!
Leka uku bosa mudala!!!
3 Questions:
1. Why did the President appoint a CEO? Shouldn’t the govt have advertised the post and people with proven record apply and be interviewed?
2. Why didnt the President do the same for GBM and WK?…I mean, why didnt he suspend them pending investigations?
3. What will happen to my “dream of a high speed train’ between Stone and CB?
I honestly dont know who this Chirwa guy is, but from what I have read, he seems to have just found himself in a wrong team. I suppose the sin he committed is to stand up against a bunch of trolls!!!!!!!!!!!!
The funny thing about all this is that after Prof. Chirwa gets fired, they will appoint a white CEO with the same salary (probably even more) and Zambians will
not complain. Pitiful!
Yaba, one two three moves, its Check! any wrong move it will be Check mate!!
Are we sure Ukwa is not just window dressing? after all, he can ask ACC to clear him, if he so wished. In zambia, President gets what he wants.
Zambia is the only country where you can become rich by doing no tangible work(nothing). All you do is become a board member of several organisations and you are on your way to riches and later on you can become a president of a polical party and claim to have business acumen.
wait until u hear the termination clause…..it will b another national shocker…..the contract/agreement seem to b a scam!!!!!!….those who negotiated on behalf of govt must also b looked at aswell
Pliz,Chirwa.adjst urself.U r a zambian but too proud.U r nt the only educated zambian.U came to uplift zambia not to sak the wealth.A gud leader always die 4 his pipo.Y shud u hav sch a luxury life?U r so expensive like a parasite tht saks blood.Awe ba Kateka mwabomba.
So the nuts that were trying to fix him, in your opinion are VERY HUMBLE????
VERY SAD FOR THE PRESIDENT TO GET INVOLVED IN SUCH MATTERS. Where are the Ministers?? I strongly feel this truly dilutes the whole management of state owned companies. What unfair treatment. Just because he challenged the lazy fat board members? Who want to steal from Zambians?? They all must be PF cadres. With this attitude, Zambia will never move forward. Our PRESIDENT has FAILED. Shameful Indeed. Now which Zambian in the Diaspora will accept such appointments full of red tape?? After UKUPONTA KU Botswana now Busy suspending people who want to help change Zambia?
pull him down syndrome is a deadly virus busy chewing Zambia’s developmental projects and the economy at large . Its so sad that this virus has now infected the youth too. Learn to appreciate your own and unite for a good cause. We all make mistakes , Prof Chirwa needs another chance .
The Saasaz and whoever of this country have been tried before . Let Prof deliver on his promise first. Feasibility study,a drain on the current project . government inspectors and railway men and women carried that on the current track because thats where the $120 is going. Komanga musungu ,useless.
The stupidity of illiteracy!! Hello, wakey wakey!!! There is a small document called a CONTRACT!!! Chirwa has already said he engaged his lawyers to make sure he wasn’t being duped by illiterates – fire him !! He wins both ways!!! Presido has just shot himself in the foot!! An employment contract signed by both parties – is there really room for Corruption on part of the employee??? To prove this one, both the EMPLOYEE & EMPLOYER would have to have colluded!!!!! Hello, hello who is the EMPLOYER???? What is ACC investigating, i.e. is if they have any iota of pride about themselves????????
Buti BaKamba imwe who say Prof has been fired?? So in your intelligent brain Fired and Suspended mean the same thing. If Chirwa decideds to go back to the UK that will now become a resignation. He is on half salary as per your so called CONTRACT and he will move into to the small house in Kabwe coz his doing nothing in the mean time. I have never seen a contract that says You shall not be Suspended
iwe Musokofimofimo, ule belelenga bwino, “Fire him” is not “Fired him”, it is simply daring you & your fellow illiterates to do so!!!
Its a Zambian thing, We do not like our fellow blacks who are educated esp. out side Zed. I remember how the guys from Mpelembe ZCCM High School in Kitwe, Who where doing their studies in the Uk where treated when they came back to work for the Mines, as if they did not know anything, but if the same guys receive a white guy from the Uk with the same university and qualification, the same zambian miners will give him the respect of a small God. Its an African thing, nothing wrong with Chirwa, but just because he is black, foreign educated, everyone thinks he does not know what he is doing, if he was a white guys with the same qualifications, the board would have been the first to even start worshipping him, even carrying his bags. I have seen it with my own eyes in ZCCM.
I have been a lone voice … Please help me! Engineers are under seige in Zambia. The country has been turned into a circus for court cases…no development, no respect for the Engineering profession which should spur growth. The composition of the board was equally akward. There was nobody with an Engineering background. Little wonder Chirwa was under constant seige from these vultures and vampires! Bring in white guy with no track record, then you will see peace.
I don’t Zedians had no problems with his job performance, our problems with him are his out of this world demands. How do you live in a rented house of K72 million a month, driving to Kabwe from Lusaka daily (free fuel), demanding over K200 million salary per month from a company which is in the ICU. Those are our issues as Zambians with Chirwa.
I very much agree with you. Except that it is not an African thing, but a Zambian thing to treat a foreigner more highly than their own. This has given unprecedented pride to those who came as foreigners and now own businesses and they continue to treat indigenous Zambians like third class citizens or animals, who could be shot at without feelings or a second thought. It stems from what we present ourselves as. If we present ourselves as cheap and corrupt, no one will respect us. We need to earn our credibility. We must fight to win our human value as Zambians. This has been made even more difficult by making corruption and dependability on foreigners more “official”.
Pliz Mr. Prezo, dont let the ailing board win
Technically, the former board has won. period. The embarrassment of being literally evicted from the luxury villas to a dilapidated kabwe house. uluse!!!!!!!!!!!
What is Michael Sata going to do with his Ministers and Permanent Secretaries who are equally accommodated at these expensive Villas?
Ba kateka even the half pay is more than the money he gets in UK. Please fire him completely. His company in the UK is even in the negatives. He is a pompwe
Euro bond is meant for spending on railway and not to be kept in an account so that it earns interest like the board menbers wanted.
Acting CEO was a member of the board, why not appoint someone else?
I hope Harve the PE teacher ( so called National team coach) will have his conditions revised downwards as well. The Professor was getting less than the 500 Pin the unqualified teacher is getting.
Just to say Clive is a Professor at Bolton University here in Greater Manchester UK. Above all, he is a Zambian. Born, brought up and went to school in Mufulira, so what is the issue? It does not matter whether Bolton Uni is on the same level as Oxford.
Imwe,its called political engineering delivered by Sata who learnt from the best. This guy was making sense and they had to deal with him somehow.Its now phase two,Punch holes in his reputation. Phase 3 everything and anything clive will say will be interpreted as sour grapes.
Indeed the locomotive of destruction has been moving too fast; faster than Chirwa’s electric trains: I have also been wondering why Chirwa had gone on a crusade to defend himself in the media. This time he could have had a personal assistant (spokesperson) of the likes of Emmanuel Mwamba who could issue 5 bullet points to the media and claim he is too busy working on ZRL plans. By the time the media speaks to him directly (which is a distraction in itself), he can clarify/correct what was misunderstood or misinterpreted. It is plain stupidity for him to start using words like ”regret”, ”nonsense” etc because he is becoming emotional and illogical and thats what his opponents wanted.
Additionally, he could have show some remorse by saying he was ready to modify his…
Some one wants a share of the euro bond money, nothing wrong with Chirwa. PHD syndrome
This is good decision by ba Sata, suspend Chirwa. For intent and purpose consider Chirwa fired. The ACC investigation is just taking a long route to fire the guy. Chirwa has now to move to Kabwe and stay in Lukanga compound. They also want to frastrate him so he can resign and foifeit any benefits. PF is now pushing Chirwa to jump.
Additionally, he could have show some remorse by saying he was ready to modify his contract e.g. start on lower wage but have automatic adjustmentsupwards based on viability, profit margins/performance. If he truelly believes he will turn around ZRL, he can have a clause in the contract that will give preferential management buy out (MBO) not only for him but whole management (and board) at a given rate. This attitude of ”I”, ”Me” killed him.
I believe Chirwa you mean well and you can make it, but the reasons Zambians are so concerned and upset, is that this is borrowed money meant for defunct company. Chirwa needs to symapthise with Zambians’ concerns for paying him an arm and a leg when there is no guarantee that will succeed but the credit is guaranteed with interest.
Ama bloggers bapa LT kutibakusekesha zoona pa last wanyelapo naka sushi, yaba. Mwandepula mwebantu bakwa lesa
It is all jealous all those people who were in the board were given chances and they have failed.Just because he is black if he was white he was going to paid more than that with less qualifations compared to Dr Chirwa.Were the board going to complain if he was white?He was being paid less compared to his qualifications and experience.Zambians have to change their atitude towards work dedication and hard working first before you get paid.Disappointed Zambian i wish he will be cleared so that he continues with his vision.
You are right!
Very good, President Sata! to hell with cliv chvi!
The whole thing is laughable because Sata is behaving as if he did not know what was going on. In the first place, it is Sata who sanctioned the appointment and allowed Chirwa to operate with absolute independence. Sata was also aware of the contract terms and approved the contract. So, what has gone wrong now, is it because the lid has been blown off and the matter is now in the public domain? It just shows how incompetent this government is. These issues are abound at ZNBC, Zesco, Zamtel, Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, and many others where CEOs were appointed by state house before the boards were formed. What can stop us from assuming that what has happened at ZR is happening elsewhere as well? Sata is embarrassed and thats why he has acted the way he has done. Very sad for Zambia
In other words sir, you are fired!
Granted, Chirwa has all those qualifications as an Engineer and mind you this is in Crashworthiness, what ever this is. what I am not sure of is has he got what it takes to run such a big entity as ZR, What ever explanations will be given to justify his astronomical perks wont make sense to me, this is Zambia where the majority of people are surviving on less than a dollar per day. Zambia is not short of trained personnel who can transform ZR and be able to be paid according to what we can afford as a nation. Both the Board and Chirwa should be kicked out.
Ba Professor ba bufi. The ka-University he claims to be working for is the last in the ranking list of 120 universities. Infact it used to be a technical college like NORTEC in Ndola, until recently in 2004. Some of us have just been wondering the whole excitement about him pa zed. Luckily, the President has been advised properly now. Even among those Board Members, one of them would have made a better CEO than the fake Professor.
GUYS YOU ARE SAYING THIS IS “PULL HIM DOWN” PA ZED, BUT LET US ALL SOBER UP FOR A MOMENT.
I AM PROUD OF CHIRWA.
BUT HE WANTED A QUARTER OF OUR RAILWAY SYSTEM AFTER 5 YEARS!!!
AWE KWENA CHASHUPA. I WOULDNT PAY EVEN EINSTEIN THAT MUCH!!!
I think it is also time to review the way we advertise jobs in the Zambian press. The salary is usually omitted. Transparency is needed from recruitment to selection and indeed implementation process. Some of these posts in the quasi sector should also be advertised hence the need to evaluate the constitutional powers of the CEO of the nation.
Mr Chirwa just come back to the UK.Too much hunger in Zambia everyone fighting for money.They will dent your image,leave them.
Good move by the President! Let us give credit where it is due. This fake Professor Chirwa was becoming so cocky that he was almost insulting the President of Zambia by daring him to fire him! This has never happened in the history of the country ever! Good riddance. I hope ACC do a good job on him and I’m sure if the Board of Directors are correct, then he might see the doors of jail in the near future!
I just googled Clive Chirwa and came up with an interesting interview by Cliff Phiri. Clive is actually an intelligent man and if what he says in the interview is true he really has the brains. He is even manager of a musician called C.R.I.S.S. I have have never heard of this artist or his music.
Character assassination techniques at work!! The order of the day in Zambia it seems!! Mud sticks and an accusation of wrong-doing is enough to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of others. This sounds like Witch-hunting at work…and it can be effective because from sly innuendo it will move to dragging skeletons from hidden closets…if it hasn’t already come that far. What a sad state of affairs!! These libelous headlines can cause damage that no retraction can erase. Even if he ends up being cleared from all accusations his image will have been dented! That is the mud stick!! Very sad indeed!!
@Prince and others who want to faults in the presido are not fair.What did u want him to do?If he hadn’t suspanded him u could b the first ones to condemn that. The move is okey since there are counter allegations.
Iwee, @ OSMORE?? Twatila, why should the President get Involved?? He has much bigger things to look at that fights between Boards and CEO, where are the Ministers?? Problem with Zambia is that even a minister has no powers?? There is so much nepotism. I am sure some Board members went to lie to the President. Akalikonse the President has to get involved?? Musebanya sana???
thoz in Zambia are not *****z…Chirwa is not a god or a semi-god or whatever u think of him… i doubt his intelligence to thoz of u who praise him…if e really was intelligent and really had brains he could hav seen this coming- in logic we differentiate between “valid reasoning” and “sound reasoning”, of the latter one attaches his reasoning to the material truth and not jst remain in speculations… its a sad case, this is immoral, disgusting and greediness at its worst!…i can’t believe that there r some dudes supporting the arrogance of this dude…even if others weren’t suspended yet even a primary sch kid knows that “2 wrongs dnt make ryt”… this is bulls**t….*****a! if u want to make money go to uk, pa Zed we are sacrificing, we r nw building…evn to build UK some…
why my comment waiting “moderation” upto now???? hei u ba lsk tymz!!!!
I like Prof Chirwa and I have great respect for him. He has achieved a lot. But I am beginning to doubt his character. Why did he want to engage his company to train ZRL engineers without declaring interest? Was this same company subjected o competition by way of winning a tender? On top of that he wanted to be GIVEN 25% shares in ZRL after 5 years as part of his conditions of service. Eish, I was supporting him when he was initially appointed, thinking he was a realistic man who is down to earth and understands the economic situation in Zambia. How wrong I was. the man is in cloud nine, proud and pompous. He had problems with MMD or Levy, then UPND and now PF. He seems not to know government rules and regulations nor does he respect hierarchy. The man is self conceited, snobbish.
I wonder why Kabimba – Masebo and GBM were not suspended. God knows
I LIKE LT. As if it was a lie when Zedians were saying Clive has been fired. Even the board, i remember being informed that it was already dissolved.
What next. ZESCO and ZAWA. why are these board members and CEO quite. Are they eating the cake together? LT bring the issue we debate.
ZRL is not an issue now. Bring ZESCO and ZAWA.
VIVA the power of one that which comes from many>>.and always bring Changes.
Character assassination techniques at work!! The order of the day in Zambia it seems!! Mud sticks and an accusation of wrong-doing is enough to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of others. This sounds like Witch-hunting at work…and it can be effective because from sly innuendo it will move to dragging skeletons from hidden closets…if it hasn’t already come that far. What a sad state of affairs!! These libelous headlines can cause damage that no retraction can erase. Even if he ends up being cleared from all accusations his image will have been dented! That is the mud stick!! Very sad indeed!!
Zambia is full of educated illiterates, who cannot see the benefit of the cost. Those who are against Chirwa are focusing their educated small minds on the post rather than on the man’s capability to turn failure into success with long term benefits for the nation. The reason why Zambia has stayed undevelopped for such a long time, is because all those who take high positions have no vision for development. Their focus and ours is on the position rather than the challenges of changing things for the better. Many have very little international exposure let alone the experience. Therefore, the projects locally designed have very limited room for real development. This is made even worse by political appointments rather than based on progressive merits of the candidates. We are behind.
Sob sob sob…why is Sata suspending me!!!! Mind you I am an engineer….am going back to Europe
I like Prof Chirwa and I have great respect for him. He has achieved a lot. But I am beginning to doubt his character. Why did he want to engage his company to train ZRL engineers without declaring interest? Was this same company subjected o competition by way of winning a tender? On top of that he wanted to be GIVEN 25% shares in ZRL after 5 years as part of his conditions of service. Eish, I was supporting him when he was initially appointed, thinking he was a realistic man who is down to earth and understands the economic situation in Zambia. How wrong I was. the man is in cloud nine, proud and pompous. He had problems with MMD or Levy, then UPND and now PF. He seems not to know government rules and regulations nor does he respect hierarchy. The man is self conceited, snobbish.
I agree with you leveheadness.
PHD at work what a mindset
I hope Harve the PE teacher ( so called National team coach) will have his conditions revised downwards as well. The Professor was getting less than the 500 Pin the unqualified teacher is getting.
Whilst still on this issue the President must also ensure all government officers vacant the said lodge as it’s pure madness to be paying K78million per month for each on of them. I wonder how our thought process operates, does it mean all this long no one at Ministry of Finance or indeed H.E the President himself haven’t noticed rentals we paying for the leeches are just too excessive?
This therefore means that whatever projects Chirwa has initiated for the development of ZR and the vision of the route it should take cannot and will be not effectively achieved as planned if Clive were to leave. We need more forward looking people. The President has the desire for development, That is the reason why he has to think out of the box and picks the people who can deliver regardless of the cost. Unfortunately, the board for ZR was the wrong one- new wine in old skin, it cannot work. We are so proud of Malls many of which are foreign owned, do we know how many Dollars are leaving Zambia everyday?
#ichi-chipula. going by your post, your mind and Prof, Chirwa’s are miles apart. I am sure if Clive knew you, he would not describe you that way at all. He is a Prof. who earned it.
I agree with you, some board members are just jealous of Clive. Looks like they wanted the job. One can read between the lines the way one of the board members was talking on Muvi TV. I rest my case lest I insult the King (Kuti watuka imfumu).
Does he need more pushing to go back to UK? Lol
Zambians but how much do pay your football choach for national team is it not k500million a month, I don’t see why every one is crying over k248,000 a month I think zambians have been poisoned by the greedy board who wanted k500million each and they have managed it infact they where the actual big problem
Chicken and Eggs bwana , your comparison lacks sense
I agree with you. Zambians are just too myopic!!
I have followed thru all events Sorrounding ZRL and the Actions/Reactions by CEO/Board members. To me CEO-Chirwa needs a Tutor on Corporate Governance (try London School of Bussiness, Havard or even Gordon sc of bus ) and he is not worth a CEO of a Complex company like ZRL, Prof Chirwa should instead become a Technical Consultant on this ZRL project. The Board should own the ZRL development plan and then hire a CEO who will be gauged against set Performance. Chirwa cant request for an annual bonus which is not tied to performance as CEO and Company as whole, gone are the days of guaranteed 13th Cheque. Allowing Prof to continue as CEO even after being cleared wil not be good for the business as he seems to lack Team spirit.
By failing to manage a board, Prof Chirwa has judged himself a failure. Running a company requires more than just technical skills. One need social skills and people skills besides technical skills. The way this CEO has handled issues with his board leaves one to wonder whether the man has any management exposure of any kind. He may be a good engineer, but certainly a novice at management. Hope he is learning and growing and Zambians need to afford him the opportunity to do so. Getting rid of him would be like throwing the baby with the bath water. Just find a way to tame his arrogancy!
Chirwa wanted to Challenge Rupiah in MMD and eventually started associating with UPND . To sum it all Prof Chirwa lacks Strategy in his Political pursuit, this was a golden opportunity to prove to the Zambians and eventually move into the Politic arena he has being trying.
Professor Clive E Chirwa
Chair of Automotive & Aerospace Structures
Head of Bolton Automotive & Aerospace Research Group
BEng (Hons), MSc (Auto Trans), MSc (Auto Struct), PhD (Struct Dyn), MSAE, MIVehE, FEIZ
Room: B2-5b
Telephone: 01204 90 3073
Email: [email protected]
Professional Biography
Honours & Awards
2007 – The Marquis Who’s Who’s in Science & Engineering for demonstrating outstanding achievement in my field of research and for the significant contribution to the betterment of contemporary society, Eleventh Edition.
2003 – The Marquis Who’s Who’s in Science & Engineering for demonstrating outstanding achievement in my field of research and for the significant contribution to the betterment of contemporary society, Seventh Edition.
2001 – The…
Populist president Sata has never found anything corruptible or wrong with all his ministers to warrant suspension except for Prof Chirwa hardly 6 months old in the job. Kabimba or GBM while under investigation with ACC could not be asked to stand aside from their offices while investigations are being carried out. We say it again president Sata has no morals nor the will to fight corruption in Zambia. When out of office, corruption revelations will be so overwhelming and courts will have a job to perform.
I like Prof Chirwa and I have great respect for him. He has achieved a lot. But I am beginning to doubt his character. Why did he want to engage his company to train ZRL engineers without declaring interest? Was this same company subjected o competition by way of winning a tender? On top of that he wanted to be GIVEN 25% shares in ZRL after 5 years as part of his conditions of service. Eish, I was supporting him when he was initially appointed, thinking he was a realistic man who is down to earth and understands the economic situation in Zambia. How wrong I was. the man is in cloud nine, proud and pompous. He had problems with MMD or Levy, then UPND and now PF. He seems not to know government rules and regulations nor does he respect hierarchy. The man is self conceited, snobbish.
Take note Prof Chirwa that your enemies are not only the ZRL board members but probably the entire Truckers Association of Zambia who will sponsor all sorts of scoundrels including journalists to sort you out (as you force them out of business) if you succeed. Trucks carrying 35 loads/containers = 1 efficient locomtive and probably cheaper. See how much damage these trucks cause near police check point or weighbridges (Kafue,Kafulafuta,Kitwe’s kafue bridge etc). Besides, Zambians truckers are expensive!! Take a look at Gt North Rd, Kafue Rd Ndola Kitwe carriage way, a good proportion also includes foreign trucks, dont ignore their influence…!!
Please note that Levy Mwanawasa stadium was built with about $60m, so if you dont take my advice Zambians would rather have that $120m…
This is rubbish! The biggest liability to the country is Sata.He has turned Zambia into a failed State.
Chirwa will be cleared by the ACC. I am sure Sata has directed the useless ACC to not to find a case with Chirwa.
124 mil for seating and doing nothing, nizee zo ona ninshi Bambi tufola Ka k2mil
If Chirwa is a Zambian, and Zambians have such harsh words on their own son, no, it hurts a lot. No wonder we see Zambians neglected in foreign lands like students in Russia because we see no value attached to a Zambian by Zambians. Yes his demands are way too high, but you could read from the lips of those in the board to bloggers that the hatrade for each other is but extreme. Sad indeed, but not surprising, its Zambia the real Africa. Kuloleshya fye. Enjoy your traffic jams, your accidents, soiled water for drinking, power outages because you people believe in prayers only. Pray so that god can drop these from heaven.
Yes,we enjoy our democracy. If you want to be stupid, we kick you out. Chirwa’s conduct is not above board. He has not shown integrity and is too pompous for teamwork. He has no corporate governance IQ. He must be confined to the workshop or as someone said, to a university laboratory just conducting experiments. He does not respect systems and other people. However, this does not absolve the members. They will also be investigated.
Stand at ease! Attention! Africans need to be dictated too. They don’t like orderly things. Create a dictator out of your Leader Sata and you will all live happily ever after!
Kaunda used to call you stupid *****s and he was right. Have you heard?… have you heard? What have you heard stupid rumour mongering *****s was the norm of the day. Look at your brothers and sisters next door. Robert Mugabe is still swindling them at the young age of 90.
You don’t deserve any better! yours is to wait for Christ to come and redeem you. Chirwa didn’t not pay himself. He was given a package and he accepted it. Blame it on the powers that be if any error of judgement was made. We are in between a rock and a hard place. I am not sure wether we are a communist or democracy any more. Ur guess =…
in fact, just forget about the whole Railways thing! Let’s just share the money so that we go and do what we are best at. Alcohol drinking and fornication.
Thumbs up to your comment. And there I was day dreaming of the day I will go back to the country of my origin to help it develop but after this saga I am having second thoughts. One thing I have noticed in Zambians is the doubt they have about everything. I can see it in the young to the older generations especially and I do not see it changing anytime soon. Let them just employ some foreign CEO, pay him twice as much as they are Prof Chirwa they will not complain.
Clive was bundled together with retrogressives.
He needed to work with a pragmatic team whose interest is to draw Zambia into this century.
Professionalism in the operation of the ACC will only come to be respected after 2016. The ACC has yet to explain to the Zambian people how this politicised investigative institution priotalizes its operations.
We are still waiting for the truth ralating to the corruption charges levelled against GBM, Kabimba, and Silvia Masembo.
Since this is a window-dressing exercise on the part of the President, the ACC has been rendered toothless for dancing to political tunes of the PF regimes.
I ‘m disappointed! I thought Professor Chirwa accepted the appointment as CEO of ZRL in a spirit of sacrifice and patriotism to mother Zambia. What can he show as a give back to the nation if his contractual conditions are so extravagant, bordering on plundering the migre resources. In any case I was thrilled by his grand plan to revive the moribund railway company. The downfall of Professor Chirwa has not come suddenly. His detractors have systematically executed it starting from that night he unveiled his grand plan at Government Complex.
The board also is to blame. At least some board members should have been on the side of Chirwa, but all of them are against him. This just points to truthfulness of the Professor’s claims that the board wanted to dip their fingers deep in the…
Ba Lusaka times this reply button is abused and comments are incoherent naimwe ban it or leave one reply only. It does not look professional remove it. Comment 1 has 50 replies kwisa look at CNN bbc blogs and remove the reply button please ukubuta Mwe
One day Zambians will wake up and unite to work together for the common good. I think we need to be mature enough and get things sorted. Problems are not here to break us but to test us. The Prof should be told to just kind of mature a bit and not take Zambians for a ride and live normally and be open minded. Education is good and will take a person places but character is better and will sustain a person in those places. He should be told to be reasonable and stop thinking it’s fair for him to acquire 25% shares in the company because that is a lot by one man. Don’t fire him otherwise more and more of us will lose confidence in mother Zambia. Find a board that will work well together with him with balance of not being bossy on either side. United we stand, divided we fall.
This is the problem with all these headless abd bigoted appointments Sata embarked on since becoming president. You bet “Prof. Chirwa” sagas are raging out all around us, starting from Ministries, embassies and ending up in State House itself. We are truly in a crisis.
Has prof Chirwa managed a railway company before for you people to be sure that he is the right person for the job? It is a serious corporate governance issue to engage your company to do business with a company in which you are the CEO – serious corruption issue. We should not allow such corrupt practises if we want to develop.
Mother Zambia, Where are we going? When is Zambia going to work up from its docility? It seems this Country has become a target of all sorts of crooks and International conmen. Sometime back during the Kaunda regime, you may recall that an international conman all suddenly appeared from nowhere and came to cheat Kaunda that he could make Diesel from grass, as usual, Zambians fell for the idea. Had it not been for the alertness of the late General Kriston Tembo (may his soul rest in peace), the Conman could have disappeared with millions of dollars from this Country.
Now this Conman Chirwa, comes bragging that he can construct an underground railway transport system and Overhead Electric trains and again Zambians with their docility nearly fell for his idea. Surely if common sense…