Masebo tribunal warns journalists

THE Rhoyda Kaoma-led tribunal probing Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo’s alleged professional misconduct has threatened to bar the media from covering the inquiry if it is proved that the proceedings had been recorded and broadcast live.
Justice Kaoma said on Thursday concerns that the proceedings of the tribunal being broadcast live are uncalled for and if media institutions are found wanting, they will be stopped from covering the inquiry.
“There is a serious concern that some media houses are broadcasting these proceedings live. Let me warn you that under the Inquiries Act, we can exclude journalists from covering the tribunal. You should stop doing so because no one was given leave for the broadcast of the proceedings. Take this as a serious warning,” she said.
And a safari operator, Peter Goetsch, testified that most safari operators described the tender process for the concession of the 19 hunting blocks as most transparent.
Mr Goetsch, who owns Tiyende Safaris based in Mkushi, said Ms Masebo cancelled the tender process claiming that there were some irregularities but most safari operators said the process was the most transparent.
“Talking to some safari operators who have been in this business for a long time than I, they said it was the most transparent process,” he said.
Mr Goetsch said the nullification of the tender process for the hunting concessions has left a lot of families in Game Management Areas (GMAs) in misery.
He said apart from the people suffering, animals are also being depleted in GMAs through poaching.
Mr Goetsch said he did not influence or corrupt any member of the evaluation committee to award him a concession license for one of the 19 hunting blocks.
He said he was also summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2013 to answer questions of corruption involving a member of the evaluation committee.