By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
FORMER Tourism and Arts minister Sylvia Masebo has been found with a case to answer in a matter in which she is charged with abuse of authority relating to the cancellation of wildlife hunting concessions.
The former Chongwe member of Parliament has, however, been acquitted of one charge of abuse of authority in connection with the sacking of five Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) top officials.
Lusaka Magistrate Irene Wishimanga has since placed Masebo on her defence to explain her side of the story.
Masebo is alleged to have abused her authority of office by cancelling the tender for the hunting concessions when she was the minister of Tourism and Arts.
In her ruling yesterday, Ms Wishimanga acquitted the former minister on a charge of unlawful dismissal of the ZAWA officials, saying there was no evidence that she committed the offence.
Ms Wishimanga said the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Masebo, warranting for her defence on the cancellation of the concessions.
On the charge of firing the ZAWA officials, Ms Wishimanga said it was clear from letters which were tendered as evidence that the dismissal letters were written by the permanent secretary and not Masebo.
Ms Wishimanga said it was not correct that Masebo dismissed the workers as her pronouncements at the media briefing were not authority enough for the officers to lose their jobs.
She said the permanent secretary in the ministry of Tourism was the one who terminated the employment of the ZAWA officials.
Masebo said in an interview that she was not shaken by the fact that she had been placed on defence in one count, claiming that time would vindicate her.