Shamenda challenged over bribe offer

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has challenged Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda to publicly state whether he complied with the provisions of Anti-Corruption Act No.3 of 2012 when he rejected a bribe from a former employee of Dangote Cement.

Mr. Shamenda has disclosed that he rejected a bribe offer from Dangote’s former human resource manager Bala Zango whose aim could have been to persuade him to overlook the critical labour issues at the cement manufacturing company which is under construction in Ndola.

TIZ Executive Director Goodwell Lungu says Mr. Shamenda should publicly state whether he specifically complied with section 39 Subsection 1 which requires that a public officer to whom any gratification is corruptly given, promised or offered shall make a full report of the circumstances of the case to an officer of the Ant-Corruption Commission (ACC) or a Police officer within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the event.

Mr Lungu has told Qfm News in a statement that while it is commendable for Mr. Shamenda to reject the offer of a Bribe, failure on his part to comply with the provisions of section 39 sub-section 1 of the ACC Act means that he has in fact obligated the law.

Mr. Lungu says this is because the Act further provides that failure to comply with provision 39 sub-section 1, a public officer commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both.

He says it is for this reason that TIZ hopes that the Mr. Shamenda, being as a public officer, complied with the law by reporting the said incident to the ACC within the required confines of the law.

Mr Lungu further states that his organization is also demanding that the ACC takes interest in the matter by thoroughly investigating it and taking the necessary measures.

He states that TIZ hopes that this action by the ACC will save as a deterrent to other private companies that it is a serious offence in Zambia to offer or give bribes to public officials.
( Monday 15th September 2014 )