Sata suspends Copperbelt Province Police chief Mary Tembo with immediate effect

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has, with immediate effect  suspended Copperbelt Province Police chief Mary Tembo for alleged corruption.
Ms Tembo is alleged to have received a motor vehicle from a mining company for her personal use without declaring it to her superiors, against the code of ethics for public service workers.
Mr Sata had since re-deployed Lusaka Province Police chief Joyce Kasosa to the Copperbelt to act during the period of investigating Ms Tembo.
Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu confirmed the development in a statement in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Lungu said the matter had since been handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigations.
“In view of the allegations of corruption levelled against the Copperbelt Province commissioner, Mary Tembo that she received a motor vehicle from some mining company for her personal use without declaring it to her superiors, President Sata has, with immediate effect, suspended her from exercising the powers and functions of her office,” Mr Lungu said.
He said Ms Tembo could not continue carrying out her duties because the alleged act of converting the motor vehicle or indeed any property donated by well-wishers to personal use without declaring the property to superiors contradicted the code of ethics for the public service.
The code of ethics states that a public service employee shall not accept gifts, rewards or hospitality or receive benefits of any kind from any person or organisation which might compromise or reasonably be seen to compromise one’s personal judgment or integrity.