Zambia’s opposition MMD leader Dr Nevers Mumba has asked President Michael Sata to set up an inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption involving his two close lieutenants Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Wynter Kabimba.
Mwamba, the defence minister, popularly known as GBM is accused of physically soliciting a tender to supply poles to Zesco while Kabimba – recently appointed to justice ministry – is accused of benefiting from oil kickbacks.
The Zambian government awarded an oil procurement contract to Trafigura and Kabimba allegedly benefitted kickbacks using his newly set up Midlands Energy firm.
The two are, however, are locked in a shadow dogfight for succession in their ambition to take over the Patriotic Front if President Sata decides not to seek a fresh mandate in 2016.
Addressing the press in Lusaka this morning, Dr Mumba said the PF has failed to provide quality leadership as seen in their early battles for succession even where there was no vacancy in the party.
He said allegations of corruption surrounding the President’s most trusted ministers were worrying but grave therefore requiring the establishment of an inquiry.
Dr Mumba is further concerned with President Sata’s decision to transfer the Road Development Agency (RDA) from the Ministry of Works and Supply to State House where he has now quietly appointed his September 2011 campaign manager and notorious ex-call boy Willie Nsanda.
Nsanda’s career is traced from Kitwe’s KMB, a notorious bus terminus, where the new RDA chairman was the ringleaders.
The lucrative road project which is overseeing the Link Zambia 8000 road construction project is considered a money spinner with the decision by President Sata seen as a corrupt way of fundraising for his family and the ruling party.