Dark deeds in the Ministry of Lands...

Why I fired Nyirongo - Levy


By KASUBA MULENGA (Zambia Daily Mail 1 March 07)

PRESIDENT Mwanawasa has suspended Commissioner of Lands Frighton Sichone less than 24 hours after Minister of Lands, Reverend Gladys Nyirongo, was sacked for engaging in corrupt practices involving land allocation.
The suspension of Mr Sichone was to pave way for investigations by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) into the alleged corrupt practices bordering on money laundering. Mr Mwanawasa made the disclosures at State House yesterday when he swore-in the new Minister of Lands, Mr Bradford Machila, permanent secretary in the Office of the Vice-President, Dr Austin Sichinga, Citizens Economic Empowerment Commissioners, Industrial Relations Court deputy chairman, Mwiinde Siavwapa and two senior private secretaries at State House, Rabson Chilufya and Alfred Sakala.

“Rev Nyirongo gave out land to herself, two plots to her husband, two other plots to her son and two more plots to her daughter.

So, I felt that the matter should be investigated,” Mr Mwanawasa said. “I have asked the Drug Enforcement Commission to investigate the matter. And because of rampant corruption at the Ministry of Lands, which is now stinking, I directed the Inspector-General of Police last night to seal off the premises,” he added. He said the ministry's premises would remain closed until investigations were completed.

The President also said that Rev Nyirongo illegally gave out 25,000 hectares in Mpika to a foreigner, contrary to his directive that any piece of land exceeding 1,000 hectares should not be given out without consulting him. He said he disapproved the allocation of the huge tract of land to a foreigner, but Rev Nyirongo went ahead with the process of issuing title deeds.

Mr Mwanawasa said also said he took into consideration Rev Nyirongo's allegations against Mr Sichone and that was why he decided to suspend him to pave way for investigations. He has since asked the new minister to quickly identify an officer who would take over from Mr Sichone.

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice-President, Bernard Namachila, has been transferred to the Ministry of Lands. The President said he suspended Ms Mukuka Zimba, as permanent secretary in the same ministry after reports of her alleged involvement in corrupt practices although he was of the view that she would be cleared so that she could take back her position. However, due to reasons only known by herself, Rev Nyirongo continued piling up allegations against Ms Zimba so that he made it difficult for her to return.

Mr Mwanawasa said even after he appointed Mr Sichone to act as permanent secretary, Rev Nyirongo got furious and started making several allegations against him. “Many people at the ministry have amassed wealth through corrupt practices and they have been reporting each other. The minister reported the Commissioner of Lands but other people within the ministry also reported her. All I can say is that there is no order among thieves,” he said.

The President was also disappointed that Rev. Nyirongo approached Minister of Home Affairs, Ronnie Shikapwasha, DEC commissioner, Ryan Chitoba, and Anti-Corruption Commission director-general, Nixon Banda, over her allegations against Mr Sichone. He wondered why of all the people, Rev. Nyirongo also sought audience with First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa over the same matter and what role Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha could play in the corruption allegations at the ministry. Mr Mwanawasa appealed to workers at the ministry to report any corrupt practice to Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja, or his private secretary for legal affairs so that investigations could be instituted. He said there were two other ministries where corruption had become rampant among officers. “Sooner, rather than later, the road will be yours. You will not only lose your jobs, but the law will also visit you,” he said.

Mr Mwanawasa also said he had worked with only one senior private secretary at State House for a long time and he had always been looking for the right people to help. The President said he had finally appointed the people he trusted but that if they thought they would be at State House to make money, they would go faster than they went there. Meanwhile, Mr Machila said in an interview that he would ensure that he addressed President Mwanawasa's task to clean the ministry without delay. He said the task was a challenge, which he needed to do diligently and aggressively.