Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha says the appointment of the four Ministers to sit on the Petroleum Committee is in accordance with the provision of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha said the Act clearly stipulates the appointment of the four ministers and specifically requires the Minister of Mines and Mineral development to chair the committee.
“ The Act is therefore instructive on his appointment as chairperson while one other Minister will serve as Vice Chairperson,’ he added.
He added that the Act also provides for the appointment of the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor as Committee members or his deputy in his absence.
Gen. Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said President Rupiah Banda did not act in any corrupt manner by following the Act.
He said the law requires that the President appoints the Ministers to sit on the Committee, which also includes other members who are from outside government.
Gen. Shikapwasha said government finds the statement by Patriotic Front (PF) Leader Michael Sata in today’s post Newspaper about the presidential appointments very misleading and a complete display of ignorance by the opposition leader.
He said the statement attributed to the opposition leader is a deliberate move to peddle untruths and portray the appointments as having been done out of corrupt motives which he cannot even substantiate.
The Minister said it is malicious for Mr. Sata to mislead the public to suggest that the President is promoting corruption or the ministers appointed to the committee are corrupt.
‘ I would like to encourage Mr. Sata to do his homework before giving press statements that spread falsehoods,’ he added.
He has since appealed to Mr. Sata to appreciate the fight against corruption under President Banda , who has not deviated from government’s Zero tolerance to Corruption.
He stated that the latest cases and those in court are testimony to President Rupiah Banda’ fight against corruption.
This is contained in a press statement by Gen Shikapwasha on the appointment of the ministers to sit on the petroleum committee obtained by ZANIS in Lusaka today.
The Minister ‘s remarks follows a story attributed to Mr. Sata in today’s Post Newspaper , in which the opposition leader stated that President Banda was encouraging corruption by appointing the four ministers to sit on the committee.
President Banda on Tuesday announced a seven member committee that include Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Commerce Minister Felix Mutati and Finance Minister Dr. Sikumbeko Musokotwane.
Others are BOZ Governor Dr. Caleb Fundanga , Energy Consultant Andrew Kamanga and Guy Phiri from Engen Petroleum Zambia Limited.
ZANIS
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So these Ministers & Directors will decide the fate of our mines? I really hope they have the courage it takes to act in favour of the Zambian people and are not just there for formality’s sake.
As always defending yoslvs.nobody said its unconstitutional but the all concept opens a wide door to corruption.Hon Shikapwasha always has somthng to say nways you r a spokes whatever!!
No problem except that such comments tht are coming from the public and the opposition point to the fact that there is a loss of confidence in government so maybe you should work more on improving people confidence in the decisions taken by Government. To me thats the only way people will realise that some ppl only talk for the sake of it
Yes so CIA, what is your proposal, who should sit on the board.??? As for the confidence I agree the Govt needs a communication strategy actually it owes the people that.
the petroleum ting might help make our countries currency one of africas strongest but the money will be used to send the president and ministers children to study abroad and for the expansion of there personal investments and other comedy allowances.no patriotism,no sense of governance in zambia no one is looking at the current and future struggles of the country and how they can be countered.zambia is for the zambian people not the presindent,not the members of paliament,not the ministers.zambia is for the zambian people
No 6 what exactly are you saying?
How many full female ministers are there now after Dora dropped off.? I notice this committee is full of men (plunderers)
#5 POSITIVIST PA ZED
I have no argument with the people on the Board they are perfectly fine am sure they will deliver if not they it will be another story.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! Ministers out to please RB!! And Zambians continue to suffer.
That committee should have included a qualified petroleum geologist or better still a geoscientist. How the hell do they think they will make policy on matters non of them fully understand? Zambia should learn to respect the educated, appoint people with necessary skills for the job.
well,i see no sense of having 4 government ministers on one board it’s too much.we need people who are qualified in the field coz they fully understand the task. i would hav wished if we only had one minister representing the government,the boz governor representing the economists and the rest qualified guyz from the field!!!!!!!!!
#8 Woman of substance. I would like to find whether we just have to add women just for the sake of balancing even when they have no expertise on a subject matter. Imagine if ba Vera was added to the group, what value would she have added apart from tilting the gender scale? If there are other able women we need to see them – for a start by stopping talking about 30% SADC target and contribute on real issues for the benefit of the nation. It is encouraging though that the focus has moved from changing titles like Chairman to Chairperson. I understand there was an attempt also to change History to Perstory because of the first three letters.
Elo lwanya nomba.
As long are there is no geologist on that committee, then it is not complete. Experts in the field with proven record are needed. I am even wondering why the Director of Geological Survey of Zambia is not on the Committee, when he is the one these chaps have to approach when trying to announce the presence of Oil in Zambia. I even wonder whether they reported correct data. Signs of presence of Oil based on a bacteria that feed on oil/organic matter does not mean you have found Oil.
#13 Kamunyama, I hate to admit it but you have a point there.
There is nothing wrong with appointing ministers to sit on the board, but we are just worried about the composition, in my humble opinion the chairman must be an indepent person ie the energy consultant or the gentlemen from engen, and the number of ministers should be 3 to reduce manipulation of decisions. The said board in its current form will not achieve anything, because the number of politicians is more.
Bvuto , bit the fact is it is politicians who drive and implement policy and it is assumed that they are working in the interest of the electorate, while the private sector are purely driven by profit motive. So whether or not we like our politicians they are better than the private sector,
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata yesterday said he is willing to talk and work with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to liberate Zambia.
#19 Observer. That is interesting. I am sure it will make our brother on this blog happy since he attacks the other preisdent’s in what is perceived as low level-enlightenment. Whether joining forces will make the other educated is what I always wonder. It would be good but I just have to wait where it takes the intended marriage – lets remember how Saki’s party ended up losing members after the marriage was over.
znaNge