Magande tribunal may derail probe - Shikapwasha

The made in Zambia Tribunals got a knock on the head when the Zambia Consumer Association and the Minister of Information Ronnie Shikapwasha spoke against the idea. The following story appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail of March 26, 2009:

GOVERNMENT says setting up a tribunal to investigate former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Ng’andu Magande’s alleged involvement in the Zambian Airways saga can hijack the on-going investigations by law enforcement agencies.

And Inspector-General of Police, Francis Kabonde, says three security wings in the country have made progress in investigating alleged financial irregularities at the Zambian Airways to establish whether there were some criminal motives involved. Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that members of the public should allow the Zambia Police Service, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEC), to complete investigations on Zambian Airways.

“The investigations launched by the three security wings are still going on and will continue. As government, we don’t see how these investigations which include the role Mr Magande played in the Zambian Airways issue, should be hijacked by setting up a tribunal,” Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said.

He appealed to Zambians to wait until the investigating wings complete their work.

“A tribunal is also a way of investigating, but since investigations have already been launched, we should wait for the outcome. Those calling for a tribunal to be set up must have their own personal interest but, we must allow the investigations to be concluded,” he said.

And Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) executive director, Edwin Lifwekelo, said his organisation felt the Zambian Airways issue was so grave that it was not a matter for a tribunal. In a letter to the three investigative wings, Mr Lifwekelo said findings by the investigative wings would set deeper consequences for those involved than what civil undertakings such as tribunals could come up with. Mr Lifwekelo said setting up a tribunal would dilute the on-going investigations.

“Owing to the extent of the huge monies involved in this matter, criminal investigations aimed at bringing culprits to book should take precedence,” he said.

Mr Lifwekelo urged the investigative wings to give an update to the nation on the Zambian Airways saga as it had aroused public interest.

And Mr Kabonde said his office in collaboration with the ACC and DEC had made progress in investigating alleged irregularities at Zambian Airways. Mr Kabonde said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday. He said the investigations required forensic auditing and that members of the public should wait patiently for the outcome.

“What I can say is that we are making progress. The investigating ground has been set and it’s a matter of time. People will know the results,” Mr Kabonde said.

He said police would take appropriate action depending on the outcome of the investigations.
Mr Kabonde also said investigations into leakages of confidential Government documents were progressing well. He said a comprehensive statement would be issued to the public once investigations in the two cases are concluded.

The investigations into alleged financial irregularities of the airline were initiated following official representations from the FLS, political parties, non-governmental organisations and members of the public.