PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has welcomed the setting up of a tribunal by acting Chief Justice, Ireen Mambilima, to probe allegations leveled against Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya.State House special assistant for Press and public relations, Dickson
Jere said yesterday the President hoped that all those involved in the
ongoing debate would now allow the tribunal to conduct its work in a
professional manner.
Mr Jere said Mr Banda had since written to Mrs Justice Mambilima
informing her that he had instructed the secretary to the treasury to
make financial provisions for the tribunal's operations.
I wish to say I am happy that the tribunal has been constituted and I
am confident that justice will prevail, President Banda said in his
letter to the acting chief justice.
He appealed to Zambians to refrain from making comments which could be
prejudicial on the matter as it is now before the tribunal established
under the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act.
The President said the nation should wait for the final verdict of the tribunal after conducting its proceedings.
Former Communications and Transport minister, William Harrington, and
civil society organisations petitioned Mrs Justice Mambilima to
constitute a tribunal to probe reports that Ms Siliya flouted tender
procedures in the award of contracts.
In his petition, Mr Harrington alleged that Ms Siliya breached the
Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act in the handling of
the contracts to do with the valuation of Zamtel assets and
installation of radar equipment at Lusaka and Livingstone airports.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations (CSO) have also welcomed the
setting up of the tribunal by Mrs Justice Mambilima to probe the
allegations leveled against Ms Siliya.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) and the Citizens Forum
(CF) said in separate interviews yesterday that the tribunal was a
welcome move because it would bring the controversies surrounding the
awarding of a contract to RP Capital Limited to assess the assets of
Zamtel to rest.
FODEP executive director, Elijah Rubvuta said it was now up to the
people who would be appointed to sit on the tribunal to deliver
judgment without fear or external influence.
As the Foundation for Democratic Process, we are happy that the acting
chief justice has taken an early step to set up this tribunal. It gives
Ms Siliya chance to clear her name and that of the Government, Mr
Rubvuta said.
He said the tribunal would allow the minister to tell the nation the
procedures she followed when offering the contract to RP Capital
Partners of Cayman Islands to value the assets of Zamtel.
He said the hearing would also shed light on the alleged cancellation
of the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of a Zambia Air
Traffic Management Surveillance Radar system (ZATM-RADAR) at Lusaka and
Livingstone airports.
CF executive secretary, Simon Kabanda said the tribunal would pave way
for the truth to prevail on how Ms Siliya awarded the contract to the
two companies contrary to the Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB) Act.
Mr Kabanda said the CSO petitioned Mrs Justice Mambilima to probe Ms
Siliya because they were concerned about the welfare of the citizens as
Zamtel is a public company.
It's not like we hate the minister but we just want to see that
justice is served on the public matters, and Ms Siliya's issue is a
public matter that needs urgent attention of the law, he said.
The Forum for Leadership Search also welcomed the setting up of the tribunal by to probe allegations leveled against Ms Siliya.
Organisation executive director, Edwin Lifwekelo, said in a statement
yesterday the tribunal would give the minister a chance to clear the
allegations leveled against her.
Mr Lifwekelo said the tribunal would allow Ms Siliya to clear her name
using the law instead of the media being the jury, prosecutors and
judges.
He said there was also need for the Government to probe the closure of
mining companies and airlines that were closing in the name of the
global meltdown.
Mr Lifwekelo said it was only through the Government's probe of the
closures of mines and Zambian Airways that jobs of many Zambians would
be safeguarded.
And Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, Reuben Lifuka
said the position taken Mrs Justice Mambilima to constitute the
tribunal to investigate various allegations of misconduct made against
Ms Siliya was welcome because it would clear her name.
We also want to thank President Rupiah Banda for accepting this
decision taken by the acting chief justice. We strongly believe that an
independent tribunal will allow for appropriate determination of issues
that have been raised, Mr Lifuka said.
He said since the tribunal had been set, there was need to have full
cooperation of all parties involved, including Ms Siliya herself.
The TIZ chief said everyone was duty-bound to allow the tribunal to do its work professionally and independently.
Mr Lifuka said the setting up of the tribunal was an indication of a
thriving democracy where disputes were not resolved by might but by
seeking judicial interventions whenever necessary as provided for in
the laws of the land.
He said the outcome of the tribunal would be significant in determining
the course that the fight against corruption takes, and it would
address its mind to key lapses in the discharge of administrative and
executive functions.