FROM THE DESK OF AMB. EMMANUEL MWAMBA
Tuesday, 7th March 2023
The Director General
Anti-Corruption Commission,
Anti-Corruption House,
Corner of Katunjila/Cha Cha Cha Road,
P.O. Box 50486,
Lusaka.
INVESTIGATE THE CORRUPTION SAGA IN SACO MINE IN MKUSHI INVOLVING STATE HOUSE AND UPND SENIOR OFFICIALS
Recently, we saw news reports and social-media vidoes of a public protest by youths in Mkushi alleging that a local Copper/Manganese Mine called Sacko Mine was unfairly taken over by officials from UPND in Lusaka and from State House.
The youths further alleged that there was intereference on the mine by State House Special Assistant to the President for Politics, Mr. Levy Ngoma.
In the same video, one of the protestors stated that he had visited the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development where he discovered that the mine was allegedly owned by the First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema and her nephew.
After this protest, we saw drastic actions by both the Police and State House.
Mr. Mubita Nawa, one of the close UPND officials was fetched from Solwezi by the Police and taken to Mkushi.
Police released an official statement where they stated that Mr. Mubita Nawa and another couple, Mr and Mrs. Isaac and Hope Kanguya of Makeni in Lusaka, were arrested on allegations that they had lied to Governement officials that State House had issued instructions to let Mkushi UPND youths take-over the Sacko Mine.
The trio was also accused of fanning protests that saw guards at Sucko Mine beaten and assaulted.
They were charged with two offences of giving false information to a public officer and charges of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm.
The events occurred between 1st February 2023 and 28th February 2023.
During the same period, on 28th February, 2023 President Hakainde Hichilema, terminated the contract of Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Mr.Mooya Lumamba.
Lumamba was only recently appointed as Permanent Secretary on September 7, 2022, after his predecessor Dr Sakwiba Musiwa was equally fired.
We have not established the facts behind these dismissals but it is clear that these may have to do with illegal activities occurring at both Muombe Mine in Chembe District and Sacko Mine in Mkushi.
Connected to this, Central Police Commissioner issued a statement that the Police had arrested five poeple who accused the First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema of owning Sacko Manganese Mine in Mkushi District.
He named the youths as Evans Bwalya, Dilamonu Royan, Charles Mwansa, Mwiinga Didan and Frederick Bwalya.
The youths have been charged with criminal libel and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
Another matter related to the Sacko Mine was the admission by UPND National Youth Chairperson, Mr.Gilbert Liswaniso on 3rd March 2023, when he appeared on Hot FM Radio “Red Hot Breakfast Show”.
During the interview, Mr. Liswaniso confessed that a Chinese national who owns Sucko Mine in Mkushi District, offered him and others shareholding.
The mine is now registered as Ndalumba Minerals Limited.
The details of this confession can be found on this facebook link for Hot FM. http://fb.watch/j6FVqSBuFG/
A quick perusal and search of Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) Documents show that indeed Mr. Liswaniso of NRC No. 123068/18/1 holds 1,800 shares.
Lusaka UPND Provincial Chairperson, Mr. Obvious Summertone Mwaliteta of NRC 475567/11/1 also owns 1,800 shares.
Of concern however, are the shares owned by Mr. Nixon Chibawe of NRC 810861/11/1, who is the nephew to the First Lady Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema.
Mr. Chibawe is the majority shareholder of ordinary shares amounting to 16,800 shares.
According to Mr. Liswaniso, he said these shares were given without solicitation.
He didn’t explain the circumstances under which Mr. Nixon Chibawe, the nephew to First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema, became one of the majority shareholders.
HIGH-LEVEL CORRUPTION
The activities around this mine, the details from PACRA, the harrassment and arrest of citizens and consequently the dismissal of the Permanent Secretary, all show that there is blatant abuse of the law and perpetuation of acts of corruption.
The confession and details so far provided by documents and Mr. Liswaniso, and the activities by the Police, sets serious stage for an urgent corruption investigation as this matter has raised serious questions of bribery corruption, cohesion and abuse of office and has far reaching consequences to regulatory authorities.
It is clear that these shares were given to officials of the ruling party and those associated with State House for the investor to have ownership of the mine guaranteed, to have bottle-necks of exploration and mining licences removed, and to have the investor’s stay in the country through work or residence permits guaranteed.
The investor will likely use public authorities as a lashing whip to challenges facing the mine such as location, size, encroachment and any other existing disputes with authorities and the Community.
Further this presents illegal take-over of the mine by UPND Officials.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states that foreign companies in Africa are heavily pressured to secure their businesses and usually seek to survive through offering bribes, corrupting both public service and politcal party officials.
The Mkushi Mine scandal fits perfectly in this secnario and raises serious corruption elements.
It is perceived that foreign companies need to pay or offering bribes as the “only way to survive” whether as a company or an individual.
Corruption is detrimental to economic, political and social development. It distorts market competition, undermines productivity and ultimately impedes sustainable economic growth.
I hope that your office will investigate and accord this matter serious attention and help prevent corruption and abuse of state power.
Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
LUSAKA