Opposition National Restoration Party (NAREP) has said that it was sad that Zambia Railways Chief Executive Officer Prof. Clive Chirwa was alleged to have demanded for shares in a national institution.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Chipimo said the party was worried about the developments reported in the media concerning Zambia Railways.
He said government should not to entertain chief executive officers who bargain for shares in national institutions as part of their contract.
Mr Chipimo called on Transport Works, Supply and Communications Minister, Christopher Yaluma to institute an inquiry into the reported corrupt happenings in Zambia Railways Limited.
He said the goings-on at Zambia Railways raise serious questions which need urgent attention through an inquiry.
Mr. Chipimo has since called for patriotism and good governance from persons mandated to run national institutions.
He further hoped that government will heed to the calls to institute an inquiry in the happenings at Zambia Railways.
And NAREP has welcomed the decision made by President Michael Sata to suspend Mr. Clive Chirwa following various allegations that have been raised against him regarding the events at Zambia Railways.
In a statement released to the media by the secretariat , NAREP said that the allegations were serious and had prompted serious questions to be asked about how we select those that are appointed to manage our national assets.
“We believe the suspension will enable the investigative departments to conduct a thorough probe and provide the answers to the many troubling questions we had raised in our media address earlier today.”
“It is our hope that the institution and individuals mandated to carry out the investigations will do so in an independent and professional manner that will allow the truth about the goings-on at Zambia Railways Limited to be fully determined. The probe should be completed within the shortest possible time and the findings should be made immediately public.”
Zambia Railways Board of Directors Chairperson Mark Chona (centre) shares a light moment with Deputy Board of Directors Chairperson Professor Oliva Saasa (left) and Zambia Railways Managing Director Professor Clive Chirwa
The Anti- Corruption Commission has announced that they have commenced investigations into reports of alleged corrupt practices and abuse of authority of office against the Chief Executive Officer of Zambia Railways Prof. Clive Chirwa and the dissolved Zambia Railways Board of Directors.
In a statement released to the media by Timothy Moono, ths public relations manager, ACC said that the investigations follows a thorough analysis of the allegations of corruption levelled by the Zambia Railways Board of Directors against Prof. Chirwa, as well as those levelled against the Board of Directors by Prof. Chirwa.
“The Commission also takes cognizance of President Michael Sata’s suspension of Prof. Chirwa from his position as CEO of Zambia Railways, in order to pave way for the smooth conduct of the investigations. The commission would like to assure the government and the general public that thorough investigations will be conducted in the matter,” concluded the statement
Voting in the Kapiri Mposhi Parliamentary by election this morning started at a slow note.
A check by ZANIS at selected polling stations within the constituency showed only a small number of voters had cast their votes by 09:00 Hours as voters were trickling into the polling stations one-by-one.
No queues were formed at the selected polling stations by press time although most stations opened at exactly 06:00 hours.
The voter turnout at TAZARA Polling Station as at 07:00 hours was only 72 out of 3,634 registered voters.
TAZARA Polling Station presiding officer, Prisca Musonda, explained that even though the station opened on time few people had cast their votes.
At Old Civic Center Polling Station, 88 people had voted by 07:20 hours out of 3,547 registered voters while 128 electorates had voted at Matiliyo Polling Station around 09:00 hours out of a total number of 2,708 registered voters at the station.
Meanwhile, 54 people had voted at Palamedes Polling Station out of 1,720 registered voters around 09:30 hours.
Palamedes Polling Station Presiding Officer, Eunicade Mwelwa, said the station opened at 06:11 hours.
Kapiri Mposhi has a total of 84,368 registered voters with 140 voting streams doted across the constituency.
The Kapiri Mposhi constituency by-election was necessitated by the Supreme Court’s nullification of the election of Lawrence Zimba, the then MMD Member of Parliament, following a successful appeal by PF losing candidate, Eddie Musonda.
Mr Zimba has been adopted by the opposition UPND to re-contest the seat while the ruling PF and UNIP have fielded Eddie Musonda and Francis Mwape respectively.
Female rapper Ice Queen ,today released a snippet of the video for her hit so “Big Dreams” off her mixtape “Topic of Dicussion” . the video was shot in Braamfontein , Johannesburg. Shot, edited and directed by Dj Malonda and DK.
A second state witness has today testified in the case where former president Rupiah Banda is charged with abuse of authority how he was told to conceal the presence of the then MMD national Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe’s presence in Nigeria where he had gone to the offices of the Nigerian national petroleum company.
Mr. Alex luhila 62 of house number 406 Kudu road in Kabulonga Lusaka a former Zambian high commissioner to Nigeria told the court that during the time when he was high commissioner, he was told by authorities to receive an envoy or guest from home with due respect.
Mr. Luhila testified that during his course of duty he also had briefings with his staff who told him that there was an envoy that came in and out of Nigeria without meeting with him.
He testified that it was during that period that he got concerned and gathered his courage to phone State house and he was told that the then president Banda had a meeting but could leave his message which he did.
He testified that president Banda called him and told him not to doubt his authority to appoint a special envoy.
Mr. Luhila told the court that three weeks later, he received a telephone call from president Banda who told him that there was a special envoy who was going to Nigeria to deliver a message and he obliged to the directive.
He told the court that When he drove to meet the special envoy, he found out that it was Major Richard Kachingwe and they drove together to a place called four towers where offices for the Nigerian national petroleum company are situated.
He testified that he was told to wait in the foyer upon arrival while Major Kachingwe proceeded to another office where he only spent less than ten minutes and came out with a brown khaki envelope in his hands.
Mr Luhila told the court that as they were leaving the premises, Major Kachingwe told him not to tell anybody about his presence in Nigeria.
He testified that Major Kachingwe also refused to use transport that was organized for him by the high commission to take him to the airport because he had to travel back to Zambia on the same day.
Chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda has adjourned the matter to tomorrow for continued trial.
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.
A LUSAKA magistrate’s court is today expected to give guidance on whether the State prosecution can use a photocopy evidence , rather than the origibnal as evidence in the trial of former Republican President Rupiah Banda.
This follows the objection raised bt Mr banda’s laywers when the first witness could not provide an original document. The first witness testified that during his course of investigations he discovered a request letter with former Minister of Energy, Kenneth Konga, in which Banda was requesting for 45,000 barrels of crude oil per day from a Nigerian Company and was signed by the accused.
Mr Kasonka Derrick, 44, of Lusaka’s Emmasdale police camp told the magistrate that he was currently attached to the Government Joint Investigations Team (GJIT) and was assigned to search Mr Konga’s Kabulonga resident on December 23, 2011 and in the process found several documents and recorded them on the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) form 12.
He said on one document it was written ‘Request for a 45,000 barrels per day term crude oil purchase contract and proposed solid mineral trade,” and was authored by the accused person and addressed to then Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
Banda is represented by his lawyers, Sakwiba Sikota of Central Chambers, Patrick Mvunga of Mvunga and Company, Erick Silwamba of Silwamba and Company and Irene Kunda of George Kunda and Company.
“This is a State House document, has the date stamp dated 27th November 2008 and is signed by the former President Mr Rupiah Banda. The document is a photo copy as I could not find the original document,” he said.
Mr Kasonka said when he asked Mr Konga about the original document, he said he was told that he only had the photocopy which he came across when he was preparing to vacate office.
And when he was asked what he wanted to do with the document he responded that he wanted to submit it as part of evidence but the defence objected to the production of the document saying the rules of evidence were hijacked.
Mr Lubinda Linyama from Erick Silwamba and Company submitted that the rules of evidence were clear in that the witness must satisfy the court that there was diligent search of the original and proof that he failed to get it.
“The witness has lamentably failed to tell the court if he made any efforts to search at the Ministry of Energy, State House or indeed at Government offices to verify if such a request was made by our government. He only inquired from Mr Konga, that is not enough and we ask this court to reject the document as part of evidence, let the court apply previous rulings in this matter,” he said.
But Mr Nchito said this was the best evidence that the witness had given because that was the document that he found at Mr Konga’s residence and that foundation had been laid and that Mr Konga was on summons in readiness to come and testify.
But in response another defense lawyer, Professor Mvunga submitted that the preposition made by the DPP amounts to saying that the admissibility of secondary evidence is permissible if one conducted a search at one particular place and asked him to produce such law.
Magistrate Banda adjourned the matter to today to allow him ample time to peruse all the Laws cited in order to give proper guidance in the matter.
Off loading of Petroleum products at the 10 million litres Lusaka-West Fuel storage terminal has started ahead of the facility’s commissioning slated for later this month.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said in an interview yesterday that so far 30 trucks each laden with 40,000 litres of petroleum had off-loaded the product at the Lusaka-West terminal.
“About 30 tankers so far off-loaded fuel at the new terminal in Lusaka West and a lot more are coming because we want to fill all the storage facilities there before the plant is commissioned this month end,” he said.
He said the Government had embarked on construction of other storage facilities in Mongu, Mpika and Solwezi to increase the number of delivery fuel points in the country.
Meanwhile, the entire 9,480,000 litres of fuel held up in the 237 tankers which were marooned at the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) distribution terminal in Ndola last week, has been offloaded.
In a separate interview, TAZAMA general manager Patrick Musenyesa said all the fuel from 237 tankers marooned due to unavailabity of letters of credit had been successfully offloaded at the terminal in Ndola.
“Offloading only came to a standstill for two days last week and only 237 tankers were marooned because letters of credit had not been given out. But we have now cleared the back log, off-loading has resumed and operations normalised,” he said.
Mr Musenyesa also confirmed that on Sunday, TAZAMA cleared 30 tankers to offload petroleum and diesel at the Lusaka-West fuel terminal.
Southern Province Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga
A NAMWALA woman is nursing serious burns on her body after her boyfriend set her ablaze using petrol on suspicion that she has several boyfriends, Southern Province Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga has said.
According to police in Namwala, a report was received of an attempted murder in which Josephine Nalobo, 32, of Maala, Chief Mungaila was set ablaze by her boyfriend Edify Chilimba, of unknown age, of Musemu area using petrol.
The incident occurred in Namwala on April 18, 2013 around 00: 06 hours in Maala area.
“Ms Nalobo is currently nursing serious burns in Namwala Hospital while Mr Chilimba’s whereabouts are unknown as he bolted after committing the crime.
The two differed after the man was claiming that the woman has a lot of men. The police is still looking for the man,” Ms Katanga said yesterday.
And Ms Katanga has said a Mazabuka based woman died on Sunday this week after she was struck by lightning.
She said Mutinta Mweemba, 19, of Kaleya Small Holdings in died instantly on April 21, 2013 after lightening struck her.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ ) has cautioned key stakeholders participating in tomorrow’s Kapiri Mponshi constituency by-election not to interfere with the electoral process.
Kapiri Mponshi District Electoral Officer Mpande Hamwende says observers, monitors and political party agents are expected to work within the confines of their duties as stipulated in the electoral code of conduct.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Hamwende said this during an Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) briefing for elections political party agents, monitors and observers in Kapiri Mponshi District, today.
Mr. Hamwende said that the commission will not spare any stakeholder that will abrogate the code of conduct during the elections.
“we are going to be vigilant because we expect election stakeholders to observe the law.. we shall not hesitate to deal with anyone representative of political parties or observers to disrupt the smooth running of these elections,” Mr. Hamwende said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hamwende has advised political party agents, monitors and observers to stay within their assigned polling stations during elections to ensure that they record the proceedings accurately to avoid any suspicions.
The Electoral Officer also implored participating political parties to ensure that they assign their agents to all polling stations for purposes of verifying the election process.
“Political parties should make sure that they have presence at all polling stations to monitor the entire process of voting so that suspicions of vote rigging are completely dealt with,” Mr. Hamwende said.
Mr. Hamwende advised the poling agents to stay at polling stations and witness the counting and recording of votes on the announcement form.
“We don’t want a situation where you abandon your polling station and later on come back to dispute election results stay around so that you verify the results and sign the announcement form,” Mr. Hamwende said.
Meanwhile, the ECZ has already ferried the majority of the 570 election officers and election materials that include ballot papers to most polling streams dotted across the district.
The ECZ is using both air and road transport to take the staff and materials to their designated polling stations.
The ECZ started airlifting the election officers and election materials to far flung areas such as Ngabwe, Mulungushi and Chilwa Island yesterday.
Kapiri Mponshi Constituency has a total 140 polling streams.
Zambia Railways Managing Director Clive Chirwa has dismissed reports that he has been fired.
In an interview, Professor Chirwa laughed off rumours circulating on social media that he has been fired and replaced with Transport Permanent Secretary Dr. Muyenga Atanga.
“It’s all nonsense. It is not true. I spoke with the Principal a while ago and I was assured that my job was safe. I have heard the rumours but it is not true,” Professor Chirwa said by phone.
“I remain CEO of the company,” he said.
Professor Chirwa said he is happy that his job is safe and that he is interested in continuing with his vision of turning around the railway firm.
Meanwhile, Transparency International Zambia has demanded that Zambia Railways Managing Director Clive Chirwa steps aside to pave way for investigations.
[pullquote]“It’s all nonsense. It is not true. I spoke with the Principal a while ago and I was assured that my job was safe. I have heard the rumours but it is not true,” Professor Chirwa said by phone[/pullquote].
Meanwhile, TIZ President Lee Habasonda says it has received the news of the happenings at Zambia Railways with utter disgust.
Mr. Habasonda says it will not be fair that Professor Chirwa continues in office when he is at the centre of the allegations of impropriety raised by the dissolved Board.
He further demanded that President Sata as the appointing authority should act expeditiously on this matter and restore confidence in the programme of revamping Zambia Railways Ltd.
Mr. Habasonda said it is also important that President Sata learns lessons from this episode by not appointments Chief Executives of Parastatals through State House.
‘It is evident in the case of Prof Clive Chirwa that he feels that he is only answerable to the appointing authority who in this case is not the Board but the Republican President. President Sata should in part, shoulder the blame for the mess obtaining at Zambia Railways,” Mr. Habasonda said.
He said the accusations against Prof. Chirwa and his counter accusations against the dissolved Board are unacceptable.
Mr. Habasonda said the accusations and counter accusations bear the hallmark of a breakdown in corporate governance and a sad focus on personal benefits rather than public interest.
He said his organisation is on record having condemned the abuse of authority and resources during the period of the concession run by the Railway Systems of Zambia.
The TIZ President said it seems that this trend of using public assets for personal aggrandisement continues unabated.
Mr. Habasonda says TIZ demands a full investigation of all allegations of corruption including abuse of authority, conducted and complemented with a forensic audit whose results should be made public.
“TIZ wishes to emphasise that the $120million Eurobond, which is earmarked for ZRL, stands at a risk if the accusations either way are proved right. This is because the $120million is not a grant but a loan which will undoubtedly be recovered from all citizens and residents in Zambia who pay tax. These funds should therefore not be subjected to risky investments and unsustainable lavish spending- these funds should be employed in reviving the railway systems.”
“We deplore what seems to be a calculated move of turning Zambia Railways Limited into a cash cow serving the interests of a few people. It is preposterous for Prof. Chirwa can demand for such a colossal amount of salary as KR248 000 a month in a country where others live on approximately one dollar per day,” he said.
“We also find it outrageous that the Board had 28 board meetings from January to March in 2013 spending over KR400 000 which is an allocation for Board meetings for one year. It is clear that in the final analysis it is the poor people who will bear the brunt of such wanton greed and disregard for good corporate governance.”
He added, “We challenge other public sector Boards to exercise their fiduciary responsibilities with the utmost care and ensure prudence in the utilisation of public funds.”
Green Buffaloes have credited their 4-0 humiliation of defending FAZ Super Division champions Zanaco at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka to the good old fashion way.
New Buffaloes coach Patrick Phiri couldn’t believe his luck with news that Zanaco would be without both of their first and second choice Racha Kola and Allan Chibwe due to illness leaving their hosts with two inexperienced goalkeepers that saw one with the jitters sent-off with just barely 30 played into the first half.
The defeat was a big blow for Zanaco coach Keagan Mumba whose team had come into the game with an extra spring in their step just 72 hours after witnessing his players rally to thump struggling Forest Rangers 3-1 at the same venue.
“We planned against them when they played against Forest so obviously in two days they could not change their tactics,” Phiri said.
“We knew they were going to play that way and they fell into that trap and we had them.
“It is good that we managed to watch them and saw their strengths and weaknesses and we capitalized on them.”
Phiri admitted that the luck of the draw played a big part breaking their own record away at Zanaco whom they thumped 3-1 at the same venue back in 2011.
“Maybe if we had not seen them it would have been a different story,” Phiri said.
Fit-again striker Lineker Mwiikisa is excited to have contributed a goal in Green Buffaloes’ 4-0 win over champions Zanaco in a FAZ Super Division match on Sunday.
Mwiikisa was making his full debut since recovering from an ankle injury he sustained in the off-season in February.
“I am happy to have scored because it was only my second game of the season since I was injured,” Mwiikisa said.
“Now, I am slowly reaching my level and it’s because of the extra training coach Patrick Phiri gave me,” he said.
Mwiikisa described the emphatic win as a great victory.
“It was a great victory. It is not easy to beat a team that just won the league with that margin.
“We shall continue working hard as a team and make our sponsors and fans proud,” he added.
Chipili Mungule grabbed a brace and Kennedy Chola converted a penalty to help Buffaloes move into fifth place with nine points in five matches.
Transaparency International Zambia (TIZ) has demanded that Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) Managing Director Prof. Clive Chirwa should step steps aside in order to allow investigations to remain objective and independent. In a statement released to the media and signed by Chapter President Lee Habasonda, TIZ said that it will not be fair that Pro Chirwa continues in office when he is at the centre of the allegations of impropriety raised by the dissolved Board.
TIZ also said that Republican President. President Sata should in part, shoulder the blame for the mess obtaining at Zambia Railways.
Below is the full statement
Monday, 22nd April, 2013
For Immediate Release
News Article
DEVELOPMENTS AT ZAMBIA RAILWAYS LIMITED
Transparency International Zambia has received the news of the happenings at Zambia Railways with utter disgust. The accusations against the Managing Director Prof. Clive Chirwa and his counter accusations against the dissolved Board are unacceptable.
These accusations and counter accusations bear the hallmark of a breakdown in corporate governance and a sad focus on personal benefits rather than public interest.
TIZ is on record having condemned the abuse of authority and resources during the period of the concession run by the Railway Systems of Zambia. It seems that this trend of using public assets for personal aggrandisement continues unabated.
TIZ demands a full investigation of all allegations of corruption including abuse of authority, conducted and complemented with a forensic audit whose results should be made public.
In order to ensure that these investigations remain objective and independent, we demand that Prof. Clive Chirwa steps aside for the duration of the investigation. It will not be fair that he continues in office when he is at the centre of the allegations of impropriety raised by the dissolved Board.
President Sata as the appointing authority should act expeditiously on this matter and restore confidence in the programme of revamping Zambia Railways Ltd. It is also important that President Sata learns lessons from this episode, namely that appointments of Chief Executives of Parastatals should not be done through State House but should be left to the respective Boards of Directors.
It is evident in the case of Prof Clive Chirwa that he feels that he is only answerable to the appointing authority who in this case is not the Board but the Republican President. President Sata should in part, shoulder the blame for the mess obtaining at Zambia Railways.
TIZ wishes to emphasise that the $120million Eurobond, which is earmarked for ZRL, stands at a risk if the accusations either way are proved right. This is because the $120million is not a grant but a loan which will undoubtedly be recovered from all citizens and residents in Zambia who pay tax.
These funds should therefore not be subjected to risky investments and unsustainable lavish spending- these funds should be employed in reviving the railway systems. We deplore what seems to be a calculated move of turning Zambia Railways Limited into a cash cow serving the interests of a few people.
It is preposterous for Prof. Chirwa can demand for such a colossal amount of salary as KR248 000 a month in a country where others live on approximately one dollar per day.
We also find it outrageous that the Board had 28 board meetings from January to March in 2013 spending over KR400 000 which is an allocation for Board meetings for one year. It is clear that in the final analysis it is the poor people who will bear the brunt of such wanton greed and disregard for good corporate governance. We challenge other public sector Boards to exercise their fiduciary responsibilities with the utmost care and ensure prudence in the utilisation of public funds.
