Young people under the Youth Pillar Anti- Corruption Drive condemned what it describes as attempts to sweep under the carpet corruption allegations made by former deputy chief executive officer (DCEO) for Nocma Helen Buluma.
In November last year, as National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) DCEO, Buluma alleged that Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba had attempted to influence the awarding of fuel supply contracts to her preferred firms.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau vowed to investigate the allegations.
Briefing reporters in Lilongwe Monday, the youths noted that eight months after Buluma made the allegations, there has been no action to probe the matter.
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National Youth Pillar Anti- Corruption Drive representative Rebecca Hami has since called for Zamba to step aside to pave the way for the investigations.
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“We have noted with sadness that there has been no action on numerous media reports and allegations associating the Secretary to the President and Cabinet with corruption deals,
“This has left young people with the impression that she is operating with a degree of impunity and this does not resonate with the values and principles that underlie an open and democratic society,” Hami said.
Among others, during her appearance before the Public Appointments Committee (Pac) of Parliament in November last year, Buluma claimed that Zamba, who is Chairperson of Nocma Board, was pressuring her to give a fuel importation contract to a Nigerian called ‘Chief’ in addition to four other companies.
She also told the committee that Zamba instructed her to ensure that she gives substantial amount of business to an agent of a South African company that deals in oil and gas.
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Zamba has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Pac’s attempt to interrogate Zamba on the matter hit a blank wall after the SPC snubbed the committee’s invitation.
A legal opinion from Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda reportedly backed Zamba’s nonappearance, with Nyirenda saying each committee of Parliament has a specific mandate, “otherwise there would be chaos.”
Pac Chairperson Joyce Chitsulo said in an interview Monday that her committee left the issue in the hands of the office of the Speaker.
“We wrote the Speaker according to our Standing Orders. It is now up to [the Speaker] to follow the necessary procedures to summon the SPC and all those involved,” Chitsulo said.
