Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:06:44 +0000
Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) president Cephus Mukuka has said that Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba’s denial of being bribed during the oil deal is an attempt to pre-empt the ongoing investigations against him by the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC).
Commenting on the revelations by Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba that one of the companies that bid in the US$500 million rich oil deal wanted to bribe him, Mr. Syakalima said that the PF government was the most corrupt government in Africa.
He said it was shocking that Mr. Kabimba who is PF Secretary General had now accepted that the oil tender was shrouded in corruption and he was one of those people that were aware about the matter.
And former Siavonga Member of Parliament Douglas Siakalima has charged that the PF government was the most corrupt government in Africa that was being run by corrupt individuals.
Mr. Syakalima said that corruption in the PF was the cornerstone of their governance system, adding that the oil deal which was awarded to Trafigura would remain a filth corrupt deal in the eyes of Zambians and the world.
He said that the revelations and acknowledgment that one of the companies that bid in the oil tender wanted to bribe Mr. Kabimba was clear evidence that the process was not above board.
“The problem Zambia has now is that it has leaders who are all crooks and strange crooks. These people have no shame. They wanted to lie to the people of Zambia that there was no corruption but here today Mr. Kabimba has confirmed to the world that there was corruption,” he said. Trafigura despite coming out fifth was awarded the tender to supply oil to Zambia for a year. And Mukuka said that attempts by Mr. Kabimba to explain the oil deal was an attempt to pre-empty the probes by the ACC.
Mr. Mukuka said that Mr. Kabimba should have kept quiet and allowed the investigating wings conclude their findings and present them to the people of Zambia.
The Zambia Youths Association in the Fight against Corruption (ZYAFAC) Executive Director Rickson Kanema said it was dismayed to learn that Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba acknowledged that he rejected a bribe from a named company which approached him in an effort to win the contract for the supply of crude oil.
“This is a matter he is being investigated for by ACC. The statement by Mr. Kabimba is an attempt to dilute people’s perception on the ongoing investigations. Mr. Kabimba is a learned legal practitioner who understands the ACC Act very well,” he said.
Mr. Kanema observed that under the ACC Act offering a bribe was an offence and wondered why justice minister did not report the company in question to the authorities.
“I am therefore challenging the Justice Minister to furnish the ACC with information and report the same company to relevant authority for attempting to corrupt a public official,” he said.
Meanwhile Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) Country coordinator for local governance capacity development and support project Humphrey Sikapizye said that Justice Minister’s statement puts the findings of the ACC at risk.
