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Zambia probes dodgy land deals
02/03/2007 13:21 - (SA)
Lusaka - Zambian investigators are looking into a series of land deals involving top land ministry officials after President Levy Mwanawasa sacked his minister over accusations she improperly allocated plots to family.
Mwanawasa, who has launched an anti-corruption campaign in
the southern African nation, accused Gladys Nyirongo of using
her position to allocate eight pieces of land to herself, as
well as her husband, son and daughter.
During a swearing-in ceremony on Thursday for new lands minister Bradford Machila, the Zambian leader also said Nyirongo had issued 1 000 acres to an unidentified foreigner without presidential consent, a requirement in Zambia, where there is a shortage of farmland.
Law enforcement officials are investigating Nyirongo, who
was appointed by Mwanawasa, as well as other officials in the
department. Frightone Sichone, the land commissioner, also has
been suspended for alleged money laundering tied to land deals.
Nyirongo said on Friday she would not comment pending the
outcome of a government investigation.
"I would rather remain silent and let the investigation run
on its own," she told Reuters in the Zambian capital Lusaka two
days after being dismissed from her post.
Mwanawasa's anti-corruption drive has mainly targeted former
officials from the administration of his predecessor Frederick
Chiluba, who himself has been accused of stealing $488 000 in
public funds while in office from 1991 to 2001.
Chiluba has denied any wrongdoing and accused Mwanawasa of
waging a political witch-hunt.
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