25 June 2009
PRESIDENT Banda is not impressed with the pace at which investigations into the financial irregularities at Zambian Airways are progressing although he expects the probe team to do a thorough job.
Mr Banda said it was important that the investigative wings were accorded ample time as the investigations were complex.
"Of course I am not happy that they are taking long but let the people investigate," he said.
He also announced the appointment of a committee of ministers, chaired by Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, to manage the process of finding a strategic partner for Zamtel.
In addition to finding an equity partner, he tasked the committee to manage the conditions of the partnership.
He said Zamtel had US$90 million as liabilities, which should be sorted out before an investor was invited.
The president said Zamtel staff costs as a percentage of revenue comes to 85 per cent, compared to one per cent for ZAIN Zambia and 4.5 per cent for MTN Zambia.
He said with regard to mobile subscribers per employee, Zamtel stood at 108 while it was 3,158 for ZAIN Zambia and 5,382 for MTN Zambia.
On the appointment of former Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya to the Ministry of Education, Mr Banda said that Judge Philip Musonda had cleared her following a judicial review.
He said he found it strange that people should condemn him for re-appointing Ms Siliya.
"What is peculiar about accepting what the judge ruled?
"All along people were saying let us accept what the courts will say and I do not understand why women groups are not coming out to defend her," Mr Banda said.
He also said that during the Zambia Business Advisory Council meeting in Livingstone, he did not sit next to Ms Siliya as was portrayed in a picture in The Post.
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