Chief Justice petitioned "ZAWA Masebo scandal"

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:55:08 +0000

The Chief Justice has been petitioned to institute a tribunal to investigate Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo on the allegations of corruption and abuse of power.

The Chief Justice is now expected to inform the President of the petition.

In his letter to Chief Justice, Former Transport Minister William Harrington who is credited with having initiated the tribunal for former Transport Minister Dora Siliya, he said Ms Masebo abused her office by:

• Breaching  contracts, as well the parliamentary and ministerial Code of conduct Act part 11 section 3 (c) when she dismissed from employment senior Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) management officials on allegation of corruption in the hunting concession licences tender process.

• Ordering the withdrawal and non publication of the list of successful bidders for hunting concession licenses.

• Cancellation of the tender process in breach of the Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA) Act No. 12 of 2008.

• Appointing a committee to prepare her own bidding document in breach of the ZPPA Act.

• Breaching the parliamentary and ministerial Code of conduct Act part 11 section 3 ( c ) by dismissing senior Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) management officials  on allegation of corruption in the hunting concession licences tender process.

• Breaching the ZAWA Act when she gave verbal instructions to ZAWA officers to hunt wildlife without issuing a special licence.

He wants the tribunal to investigate the allegation of irregularities and corruption by ZAWA management in the handling of the tender for hunting licences and investigate whether the Minister was in breach of State security by failing and or neglecting to report to government security wings that foreign registered aircraft are violating Zambian air space to uplift wildlife species or government trophies.

And in the final analysis, Mr Harrington want the tribunal to recommend to the government appropriate administrative action based on the findings of the investigations as provided under the parliamentary and ministerial Code of Conduct Act.

And Mr Harrington has appealed to fellow citizens to come forward and give evidence that would help President Sata and the PF government to realise how serious the abuse of office had weakened their desired fight against corruption.

He also appealed to individuals to desist from making “stage managed” statements to the media.

Mr Harrington said as a concerned citizen he was making the proposal in support of government’s fight against corruption and believed that one was innocent until proven guilty.

He said the proposed tribunal would help to put to rest all doubts that members of the public may have had about the true picture of the goings on at ZAWA.

Mr Harrington said the fight against corruption was a very serious matter that required every one’s effort, adding that there should be no sacred cows in the investigations as everyone was equal before the law.