SUSPENDED Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) chief executive officer Clive Chirwa has defied the presidential directive to leave Fallsway Villa apartments and live in a company house and is now lodging at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.
Last week, President Sata ordered Professor Chirwa to vacate the up-market Fallsway Villa apartment in Lusaka, which he was occupying on company expense, and move into company accommodation until further notice.
But sources said that Prof Chirwa, who attempted to leave the country on Tuesday but was blocked by immigration officers at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, has shifted from Fallsway Villa to Pamodzi Hotel.
When contacted yesterday, Prof Chirwa refused to comment on the matter, saying he is “keeping it safe” because his statements are usually misinterpreted by the media.
“I apologise that I can’t speak. I have been told not to speak to journalists no matter the topic or subject. I need to keep it safe,” Prof Chirwa said.
Alert immigration officers at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on Tuesday morning stopped Prof Chirwa from leaving the country to an unknown destination.
Prof Chirwa did not get clearance from the appointing authority and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prior to the aborted trip, said Ministry of Home Affairs public relations officer Moses Suwali in a statement yesterday.
Professor Chirwa is currently on suspension and under investigation for suspected corruption.
Mr Suwali said Prof Chirwa was blocked as his intentions to leave the country were unknown and that the appointing authority was not aware of his trip.
Mr Suwali said Prof Chirwa was further denied exit as his absence would have jeopardised on-going investigations into corruption allegations at ZRL.
He said Prof Chirwa has been asked to ‘stick around’ until all investigations at ZRL are concluded.
“In the event that the ACC wants to interview him over the assets he was overseeing as chief executive officer and he is out of the country, it will make investigations for the ACC very difficult. Hence, he has been asked to stick around,” Mr Suwali said.
Prof Chirwa has since been advised to get clearance from ACC and other relevant authorities if he wishes to leave the country.
Mr Suwali said Prof Chirwa is not in any way being harassed or persecuted but merely being asked to follow procedure.
He said the Ministry of Home Affairs has a duty to protect ZRL assets and property in the interest of the public.
Last week, President Sata suspended Prof Chirwa pending ACC investigations into corruption allegations at ZRL.
Earlier, Government dissolved the ZRL board of directors following alleged financial mismanagement and corruption at the company.
Prior to the dissolution of the board, a war of words erupted between Prof Chirwa and the board members following allegations and counter-allegations of impropriety and corruption at the company.
Daily Mail