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Heavy Abuse of Office Hit Permanent Secretary, Augustine Seyuba
Highly placed sources have revealed to Tumfweko that Permanent Secretary for North Western Province Augustine Seyuba has gone out of his way to start abusing his office by extending his government privileges to his son and friends.
The abuse of tax payers’ money, according to credible sources is something that the Patriotic Front Government is totally preaching against. But the very persons that have been charged to control government resources by His Excellency the President Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata are busy abusing the facilities entrusted to them by the people of Zambia.
Augustine Seyuba’s son Mesele Seyuba a director at Infinity Minerals and Resources a Lusaka based mineral exploration company was in Manyinga District on 8th March 2013, accompanied by his white friend John Stacey and being driven by a government driver at tax payers’ expense in Gold Pajero, a vehicle owned by Provincial Administration( Vehicle Registration Number GRZ 300 CB).
This was when Mesele Seyuba and his friend (John) were on an exploration expedition during the long weekend that was immediately after the International Women’s Day.
Sources at Provincial Administration confirmed that GRZ 300 CB was allocated to a driver Webby, to take Mesele and his friend to Manyinga for an unknown reason.
Efforts to get a comment from Seyuba failed as his cell phone went unanswered. Further efforts were made to contact the Controller of Government Transport and the Transport Officer at Provincial Administration but their phones were switched off.
Seyuba’s son hid under the cover of the long weekend and the festivities to gain access to government facilities while being aided by his father Augustine.
And sources wondered how Augustine could have allowed such a serious breach of the Abuse of Office clause in his own office when he is on record of being a prince in the fight against corruption.
Augustine has allowed his son to use tax payer’s money in order to promote his interest in his son’s mineral exploration company. This company has been allocated mining exploration licenses to explore large tracts of land in Manyinga District by the Ministry of Mines.
Infinity Minerals and Resources have been granted 3 large scale mineral exploration licences numbered: 16757-HQ-LPL, 16759-HQ-LPL and 16760-HQ-LPL totaling approximately 2500 sq km. The licence is located principally in Manyinga District lying between the Angolan border and the West Lunga River. Small portions of the license overlap into Mwinilunga and Mufumbwe Districts.
All these deals are being done under the supervision of Augustine who is the custodian of government resources in North Western. Augustine is set to obtain pecuniary advantage over the responsibilities that has been given to him. If left unchecked this situation is likely to develop into web of corruption that will choke economic development in North Western Province. This deal is similar to the way problems in Kalumbila were created.
The large tracts of land being offered to Seyuba’s son and his friends in North Western have led to some village headmen to complain that they have not been consulted on the land allocation. The headmen wanted to know what will happen to their villages, as there is a possibility of displacement in the whole area. To make matters worse members of the public are now pointing a finger at the Government and asking as to what action must be taken to stop the rot.
We would like to bring it to your attention that, Permanent Secretary for North Western Province Augustine Seyuba has gone out of his way to start abusing his office by extending his government privileges to his son and friends. The abuse of tax payers’ money is something that the Patriotic Front Government is totally preaching against. But the very persons that have been charged to control government resources by His Excellency the President Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata are busy abusing the facilities entrusted to them by the people of Zambia.
Augustine Seyuba’s son Mesele Seyuba a director at Infinity Minerals and Resources a Lusaka based mineral exploration company was in Manyinga District on 8th March 2013, accompanied by his white friend John Stacey and being driven by a government driver at tax payers’ expense in Gold Pajero, a vehicle owned by Provincial Administration( Vehicle Registration Number GRZ 300 CB). This was when Mesele Seyuba and his friend (John) were on an exploration expedition during the long weekend that was immediately after the International Women’s Day.
Sources at Provincial Administration confirmed that GRZ 300 CB was allocated to a driver Webby, to take Mesele and his friend to Manyinga for an unknown reason. Efforts to get a comment from Seyuba failed as his cell phone went unanswered. Further efforts were made to contact the Controller of Government Transport and the Transport Officer at Provincial Administration but their phones were switched off.
Seyuba’s son hid under the cover of the long weekend and the festivities to gain access to government facilities while being aided by his father Augustine. We wonder how Augustine could have allowed such a serious breach of the Abuse of Office clause in his own office when he is on record of being a prince in the fight against corruption. Augustine has allowed his son to use tax payer’s money in order to promote his interest in his son’s mineral exploration company. This company has been allocated mining exploration licenses to explore large tracts of land in Manyinga District by the Ministry of Mines. Infinity Minerals and Resources have been granted 3 large scale mineral exploration licences numbered: 16757-HQ-LPL, 16759-HQ-LPL and 16760-HQ-LPL totaling approximately 2500 sq km. The licence is located principally in Manyinga District lying between the Angolan border and the West Lunga River. Small portions of the license overlap into Mwinilunga and Mufumbwe Districts.
All these deals are being done under the supervision of Augustine who is the custodian of government resources in North Western. Augustine is set to obtain pecuniary advantage over the responsibilities that has been given to him. If left unchecked this situation is likely to develop into web of corruption that will choke economic development in North Western Province. This deal is similar to the way problems in Kalumbila were created.
The large tracts of land being offered to Seyuba’s son and his friends in North Western have led to some village headmen to complain that they have not been consulted on the land allocation. The headmen wanted to know what will happen to their villages, as there is a possibility of displacement in the whole area. To make matters worse members of the public are now pointing a finger at the Government and asking as to what action must be taken to stop the rot.
Documents of confirmation by Infinity Minerals and Resources directors claiming the land in question and a map showing the size of the land were made made available to Tumfweko this morning.
Posted by Admin
on March 21, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Hutch
March 21, 2013 at 1:25 am
Do u ve prof ? Mere driven in grz 300b may nt form abuse. go further wit ur facts.thtz hearsay. Frm dr hutch.
kakolwe
March 21, 2013 at 3:47 am
Iwe hutch, the whistle blower has gone as far as he/she can. All we can do is to wait for Seyuba to switch on his phone. For govt vehicle, try citizens arrest if no permit is furnished.
Ba Medza
March 21, 2013 at 5:53 am
Thanx for the imfo & am sure neccessary investigations will be carried out & the culprit will be brought to book if proven guilty.keep up the spirit you are a real zedian bashi mwana.
Jaga
March 21, 2013 at 6:20 am
Kwaliba iyaso???
ved jah
March 21, 2013 at 7:26 am
Some one is after Seyuba most probably a Kaonde civil servant because the same letter in similar taste was posted on this site , now he has even gone on ZWD. Though its necessaly to report abuse practices, I find this one to be out of hatred and probably vegency from a lazy Kaonde civil servant who had something not approved by the PS. The vehicle in question was used during holidays and no government duties were affected. The PS at that level can use his privilages and descrition to help a visiting son once in a while with transport . The fact that he used the driver shows that he was not hiding anything. How many of you mwankoles use government vehicles for buying mealmeal,picking up girlfriends,funerals and even going to drink. I found this abuse report for the PS to be petty. Am sure the same vehicle picks up his children from school everyday, do you call that abuse? That’s a privilage. Lean to accept that you are not at same level and start working hard so that they promote you to chief orderly, you will also have priv ilages of making tea for your sons when they come to your work place
Icifukushi Tekusova
March 21, 2013 at 7:38 am
If the driver of a Permanent Secretary was sent to take the PS’s child and his friend to school or the PS’s wife and her friend to the salon in a GRZ vehicle, is that a serious breach of the ‘Abuse of office’ clause? I’m just thinking allowed.
shikulu
March 21, 2013 at 8:07 am
Yeah, yeah I like the way ved jah has put it. The way hatred can manifest into someone’s head leaves me buffled. This is the same way even some politicians behave like… they take HATE for breakfast,enjoy HATE as lunch,have HATE for supper and finally embrace HATE in their beds. The whole circle of hate repeats itself day in and day out till kingdom come. WHAT A SHAME!
sleek24
March 21, 2013 at 8:31 am
If only we can change the way we do things the president can’t. Do everything on his own these ministers are. Making him look bad eg some district commissioners are busy making deals saling ubunga to congo let the president give us examples some of these fools need to be locked up so that they see how serious this is
chomba
March 21, 2013 at 8:43 am
kwena niku munzi can being driven in ur fathers personal to holder car be worth writing all this about?
the rock
March 21, 2013 at 9:03 am
Mwembeshi prison isnt full 2 the maximum , cause bwezani and his sons started the same
bwalya_m
March 21, 2013 at 1:18 pm
This article will only appeal to those who harbour ill feelings towards Augustine Seyuba and his family. It is a great human flaw to resent those that you know nothing about. To the one(s) that brought this story to you – it is quite clear that you harbour a blinding amount of jealousy and malicious intent. You fail to see the bigger picture of how this company has the potential and ability to transform the lives of hundreds, thousands even. Mesele (educated up to Master’s degree level) has a passion for developing communities that he does business in – a passion I have only seen in a few. I came across IMR while doing reseach on business opportunities in Zambia and established electronic contact with them soon after. I eventually met the Directors of IMR at a recent mining indaba in Cape Town. They are a team of educated young professionals with a very bright future and I can see how this would evoke the petty jealousies of small minded people. I was incredibly impressed by them on every level but more so their transparency – a trait that is hard to come by in business and one that will ensure that I do business with them in future. Readers of this article – rather take issue with those who are trying to find fault in something that will assist in developing Zambia because they are the ones who should be named and shamed.
bwalya_m
March 21, 2013 at 1:23 pm
My company researched IMR after meeting them at the indaba, and the team themselves forwarded copies of their documentation. For those of you who are not aware – information about company registration in Zambia is open to the public through PACRA. Now here are some REAL FACTS that your “highly placed sources” neglected to tell you:
FACT: looking at dates – IMR was registered long before Augustine Seyuba was appointed as a PS.He is not listed as a director or shareholder so where is the “link to his interests”
FACT: The licenses were legally awarded long before Augustine Seyuba even became PS, never mind the PS of NWP. So how exactly do you suggest Augustine “supervised’ their obtaining of the licenses? Not possible is the answer. It is in fact quite insulting to insinuate that such an educated young man is not independent and capable of conducting business without his father’s influence.
FACT: The “white friend” you refer to is one of the Directors Jon (you can’t even spell his name properly with it written in the letter for you – such a joke)
If there is a legitimate claim here (which I highly doubt) take it to the relevant authorities to investigate rather than slander innocent people.
Danje Lacky
March 21, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Bwalya M- It is a pity that we in Zambia do not distinguish merit from favouritism. One cannot suffer just because one is related to an official. Merit is what counts. I have known August from our young days in Nkana West Kitwe and like in my earlier posting I have known him as a good manager.
just me
March 21, 2013 at 3:20 pm
I hate to say this, but why are people focused on the car situation and failing to see the real issue. How can the PS of western province be giving land exploration rights to his sons company; is that not a conflict of interest?
Riding in your fathers car is not the issue. If the sons company has exclusive exploration rights to the area and the PS is involved in that decision making process; that is a clear conflict of interest. Zambians surprise me. I would like to defend Jon, Mesele, and his dad but the government has to look into the process of how these rights some how landed in the sons lap. Zambians are quick to complain about corruption, even quick to celebrate lifted immunity, but the system continues to be broken. This is a failure of government not having a transparent process in how these things are handled.
just me
March 21, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Ok…Bwalya M I see your logic and in this case it seems more like speculation than anything else. After reading your comment; it all makes sense now, it looks like there is really no case here.
Chisenga
March 21, 2013 at 3:58 pm
THIS ARTICLE IS FULL OF MALICE
1. YOU SAID MESELE WAS IN MANYINGA OVER THE LONG WEEKEND AND YET YOU SAID HE WAS THERE ON THE 8TH OF MARCH WHICH WAS A FRIDAY. YOU HAVE NOT MENTIONED WHERE HE WAS ON 9TH AND 10TH.
2.DO YOU KNOW THAT EVERY PS IS ENTITLED TO A PERSONAL TO HOLDER VEHICLE & FUEL WHICH HE CAN USE TO TAKE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL OR TO PLAY ETC?
3. YOU ARE MAKING GENERALISATIONS HERE. DOES MESELE ALWAYS USE THIS VEHICLE AND DRIVER TO VISIT THIS PLACE?
4. DO YOU REALLY NEED TO GO AND LOOK FOR “CREDIBLE SOURCES” AS YOU CALLED THEM, TO TELL YOU THAT THE PF PREACHES AGAINST CORRUPTION?
5. WHY DOES IT HURT YOU THAT SEYUBAS SON HAS LICENSE TO TRACTS OF LAND?’
LEARN TO SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW ZAMBIANS. WE HAVE HEARD THAT IF ANYONE SUCCEEDS IN NW-PROVINCE THE LOCALS WILL ACCUSE HIM OF BEING A WITCH AND RAISE UP A ‘MOVING COFFIN’CALLED “KIKONDO” IN THE LICAL LANGUAGE TO HAUND HIM OUT.
Boss
March 21, 2013 at 8:18 pm
The Car issue is not what should interest anyone, but the mineral rights to explore 2500 sq km of land granted to Seyuba’s Son. RB is currently facing charges because of his sons. Maybe other interest parties should scrutinize the applications and give it a pass or fail. This is when we can know what is really happening. Zambians always want to complain when culprits have fled. Lets guard our resources with caution. Transparency is what we are now demanding. This is our chance to develop this cash stripped nation, but if left to vultures like these we will continue to wallow in poverty. Bury your political differences and sort out this mess. There is nothing wrong in asking these guys what is going on. If noting is wrong we can then support their cause, but otherwise then the due process of the law should be applied.
malili
March 21, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Its a very ****** story wat is wrong to ride in an offical car fo a same body.I have given a car to do my work for a top official. It seems the auther was jst cut off coz of his shallow n childhis manners get a life live ps alone u r free to apply fo rights as well ataa
Racheal
March 21, 2013 at 10:35 pm
A little research goes a long way. The great thing about what Bwalya_M has said is that you can go look at PUBLIC records and see for yourself. Something the vindictive people who put this story together failed to do. Augustine was NOT a PS when the licenses were LEGALLY applied for and granted to IMR. Anyone could have applied for those same licenses and got them. So Augustine was in no position to “give out rights” to his son and never will be. Why? Because in the application for licenses, a PS does NOT have the decision making power of who gets the license, NEITHER does a PS sit on the selection committee which awards licenses to applicants based on the merits and strength of the businesses applications. So you are suggesting that Augustine influenced an entire selection committee BEFORE he had any knowledge that he would be appointed as a PS and posted to NW? Does that make sense to you? In case you were not aware, the Mining Cadastre has recently lifted a moratorium where an overhaul was conducted and processes were put in place to eradicate corruption and ensure that deserving companies get concessions. You will find that the dates that the licenses were awarded are AFTER the moratorium was lifted therefore corruption in obtaining the licenses is HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Why do I know so much? I read! I do research! As for the use of the car – as far as I am aware family members may not drive GRZ cars. We are told there was a driver “Webby” so there was no irregularity there. Furthermore, surely Augustine must be entitled to some reasonable use of government vehicles for his family? I’d say one long weekend use of the vehicle (if that) is reasonable wouldn’t you? What could be investigated is if there have been more incidents in which case then there could be a case of abuse of office. I doubt the investigation will turn up any irregularities. This is the same man who is known for his anti-corruption stance… Why would he turn around and do something that would ruin his reputation and credibility! Come on! Here’s another thought – are these IMR gentlemen not also tax payers? Or you think they are corruptly getting away with not paying taxes with the assistance of the PS too? Hahaha… this is actually a joke of an article! So as “Danje Lacky” has pointed out, learn to distinguish between merit and favouritism/nepotism/corruption! I do not see why Mesele should suffer for holding the Seyuba surname. It was found that IMR has merit enough to obtain licenses legally, which they did! Do not make an issue about tax payer’s money being used when he himself is a tax payer. Probably on the upper end of tax payers! So he has payed for the use of the vehicle and more! The use of the car is petty and not reason enough for the slanderous article and disgusting comments I have read here and on other websites. It is very clear that sheer malice brought about this story! Move along… nothing to see here.
Judas Iscariot
March 21, 2013 at 10:53 pm
It is true people use official vehicles for other errands but not for stealing. Mining and Land deals are rife in Zambia. People are fighting over minerals in Congo, Nigeria, Mali, etc…! But if these thieves are in our own backyard, lets have them crucified. I need my 3 cents anyway. Its not about cars but about minerals and land. Anyway its both cars and minerals. Why did he use tax payers car to do shoddy deals. That’s why he was seen and exposed. its greediness that blinds these fools to start acting as if they own everybody. The law is catching up faster than they thought.