ALERT Immigration officers yesterday intercepted former Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) chief executive officer Benjamin Even and his general manager Pelossor Yair at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport when they attempted to exit the country.
The two were scheduled to leave the country on an early morning flight to Johannesburg through the airport when they were blocked.
According to a statement released by Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Maxwell Nkole yesterday, the duo were found with RSZ employment permits which have since been withdrawn and their passports withheld.
Mr Nkole said that the action was conducted in the presence of their lawyer’s because Government wanted them to assist in the smooth transfer of management at the company.
“Further, this action was necessary to facilitate the audit of assets by the Government following the termination of the concession agreement,” he said.
Mr Nkole said it was important that a full audit of all assets was thoroughly undertaken with the assistance of the former management.
He advised that all former RSZ expatriate employees who intended to travel out of the country should formalise their travel with the Immigration Department.
The development follows Government’s decision to cancel the RSZ concession agreement and the subsequent take-over of the railway company on Tuesday.
The concessioning of ZRL assets and operations was awarded to RSZ for a 20 year period from 2003 in respect of the freight business and seven years for the passenger business. It covered the whole inter-mine railway network on the Copperbelt as well as the long haul railway from the Copperbelt to Livingstone.
sorry but 2016 is soon.all il be ok guys
Ba Nkole, Zambian borders are porous; ensure SADIC nations are aware about this issue; and that put the lads under constant surveillance.
Them running which means a lot under MMD was done in bad faith…but let me not preempt my thoughts on this and wait further….but still beats me why running away. Who benefited in the whole transaction of ZR, is now the question!!!
But this is not fair how can Benjamin think of escaping leaving Manda behind!!!!!or was he in the suitcase?
I thought RSZ should be questioned and audited as an institution ? Anyway kaya.I just ain`t sure if this move by the immigration was right.
An institution is made up of people not so. And we are talking about key peole like the boss escaping. Institution means what to you? something amorphous?
so Zambia Railways Limited has been running the passenger business since 2010 when the concession agreement expired? How can having the work permit be an issue Mr Nkole? Are they not the duo’s documents? I hope govt is not sensationalising this issue like the ZAMTEL CEO issue.
The work permits were supposed to relinguished and put away at immigration dept but these guys were about to go out carrying those permits. Meaning they did not follow the law to the letter.
Shoot first and take aim later aka Willard Romney! These PF chaps are pathetic excuses for human beings. Mr Even the RSZ Chief Executive not long ago had requested to sit down with the govt to iron out the points of disagreement because he did not agree with some of the accusations govt was making. The PF responded through Nawakwi its hired gun threatening Mr Even with a Citizens arrest. Next Chikwanda announces takeover of RSZ. Following day a Mr Karima is announced as CEO. The next day he started making commitments and assurances to workers. Presumably making these commitments without an audit. As for Mr Nkole he just appears idi.iot concerning the stuff about the work permits. Why should you be concerned when they are leaving your prosperous and wonderful country. Small minds indeed!
my friend you don’t seem to understand nor appreciate anything, life must be hard for you.
@Mwazawamba…and what exactly is your point? An intelligent person would have explained why he disagrees with me. Unfortunately you appear to be a dullard!
i first thought of guiding you on this issue but then i remembered that i have never seen a single comment from you on this blog that isnt anti PF government, even on issues where 90% of the bloggers agree, i figured i might be wasting my time to guid you. my brother, we all need a better Zambia, to achieve this we must all work together for the good of our country, and not just opposing everything just because we dont like those who are leading the country. as for me, i dont belong to any political party and only care about our country’s development, i support good ideas and oppose those i feel are not good! i have to go to work. good day!
@7.3 DR…
How do you arrive at 90% bloggers supporting the PF mess? In fact it may be the other way round, 10% of bloggers including yourself pretend to see good governance in the past 12 months.
If I were govt, it would not be my intention to sit down and solve matters with RSZ directors over a table. I would throw them in JAIL. My gut feeling is that the PF govt is thinking the same as I do.
These pigmentally challenged criminals must answer some questions and be cleared by govt. before attempting to leave the country.
They criminally colluded with World Bank to run down our railway system.
I anticipate seeing criminal charges against these mindless criminals soon.
That’s a racist comment!!!!
Honestly, am confused defused disoriented dismayed disappointed disgusted disillusioned by all these PF Satanic events without beginning nor end. Kaya tyala mwandi. Boma yafuntha. Kaput.
Boma ingafunthe tyani namwe? It is just doing what it is supposed to be doing. Full stop!
Nyambe-Nyambe. Indeed PF boma is doing what it is supposed to doing! I agree with you. It is acting irrationally and foolishly! Full Stop!
Are we sure? Lets trade cautiously here. Unless there was massive and unchecked capital flight coupled with fraudulent accounting to avade taxes, underdeclaration of revenues and profits to pay less fees by RSZ, I do not see these chaps being found guilty of stealing physical assets because these were still under ZRL for which CEO Karima was MD and had an oversight role to protect and report any misuse to relevant government authorities. I do not imagine that RSZ could have sold anything that did not belong to them. Who really is the owner of RSZ, a family, a consortium of investors or what? The veil of incorporation will need to be lifted if RSZ is found wanting.
He is right with what is going on “…..all former RSZ expatriate employees who intended to travel out of the country should formalise their travel with the Immigration Department.” if they do it quietly it will mean they are trying to skip the country. Its only right!
@Kelvin, why should they? If Nkole has any evidence that they did something wrong he should go ahead and arrest them. Don’t hold people prisoner if you have no proof that they did something wrong. Don’t destroy the country with your monkey primitiviness!
They need to surrender the work permits before leaving my friend. Read again, there must a smooth transfer of books. A proper hand over. Not running away.
# 7 (Livingstone)…..Dont you think there are some questions these guys need to answer?Dont you think they need to be around as the handovers are being done?Dont you think they want to run away bcoz something wrong has been done and its about to be unearthed?Let us look into all these things b4 we make comments.
We are yet to hear a positive comment from “Livingstone”.
Ba Livingi…hold your fire. You don’t also fire before you aim. You have little evidence with you about ZRL. I am sure you don’t know everything yet. Let wait and see what unveils in due course. I would not like you to come look sober once you really know the facts.
I think people are being harsh on Livingstone when he is right. These two guys are free men who should travel at will. Who says they are running away? And even if they were attempting to go and not return, they should only be stopped with reasonable suspicion of criminality in which case they should be arrested. Anything else, adds to the reasonable concerns over this Govt.
@Paola Di Canio, You are right these people need to be there when handing over the assets. Why should they run away? It means something fish with their work and railways properties. It is good that the chitima chabola alimwi.
@Livingstone nangu ni bitterness yachilamo, teifi. There must be a proper hand over and the work permits surrendered. Be sober my mfriend and take it easy,
Chindakwanda, I’m afraid I have to disagree with you yet again. The company was grabbed and how do you expect a “proper hand over”? It is on record that these guys offered dialogue before the forceful takeover but Govt was not interested and as far anyone should be concerned, these are free men who should go about their lives without fear. You do not detain someone to facilitate handovers or to audit assets. You detain someone on reasonable suspicion of a crime or where you have evidence of it, you charge them. The issue of work permits is a non-starter. I assume these have not been revoked yet and even if they were, they would be useless to the two individuals.
This man should be a man. Just stay back while waiting to hand over as per agreement. Account for every property you inherited and hand it intact. Why running away?
Let this be a lesson to GRZ ” you cannot expect the private sectre alone to develop your capital assets”
The UK goverment only sold off British rail after 200 yrs nauturing, then still has regulatory bodies looking on. It is with gods blessing of Zambia that the croked MMD bussinessmen that were selling off Zambia at any cost are nomore.
Bo Livingstone, Take it easy man. Don’t be so personal always otherwise soon you will die of bitterness, frustration and Ichikonko. Be sober as you discuss, give credit where it is due and advise where it is needed. Not always ranting and insulting like a very dull person. Are you the incarnated Meastro Hehehehehe Mwanga Mungungulu an SDA church elder??
The country is in the wrong hands and these Muppets must be told in no uncertain terms. I do not want posterity to judge me harshly. 5, 10, 20 years from now I don’t want to be asked the question : What did you do about it ?
To all those who didn’t do comprehension in Grade 5, please ask someone more intelligent than you to explain to you what I wrote @7. Stop insinuating that they are running away when it is your own pathetic gov’t that turned down the request from Mr Even to discuss the stupid allegations that govt was making. Didn’t Nawakwi tell Mr Even to shut up or she would effect a citizen’s arrest on him? You made the stupid allegations of criminal activity without any evidence. And now you want to sit down with them and do an audit to find out whether there was any criminal activity! Your heads must be deep in your arses if you do not see how illogical this is.
Calm down clever Livingston. You may be too clever!
He is not clever at all. he is intelligent but not clever. Are you one of the beneficiaries of the defunct RSZ? Mr Even wanted to discuss issues to do with how they could let them operate better, fundamentally leaving the concession agreement as it was. A government has to be firm and bold, not the wishy washy idiocy of the former regime. You can not be having foreigners dictating terms to the government on your assets man. On the contrary we are supposed to be in the driving seat when the matter comes the level it did. Firm taken back, then we tell him show us the stocks and books. That done, he hands back the things and the work permit cancelled then he goes away. Never to be needed again! Got that?
You cannot withhold or take away the freedom of a man simply to facilitate the smooth transfer of management or the audit of assets. If you have any reasonable suspicion of criminality then arrest them on those grounds and grant them bail pending investigations. If you dont have anything on them, then let them go and when you do, ask them to return and answer your charges. If the individuals refuse, call on the country of origin/residence to facilitate their return. Should the country refuse to co-operate issue Interpol call out. That way you maintain your credibility at international level but the course of action taken in this case is yet another cause for concern. Besides the company was grabbed from them so why stay around. Some people are already calling these guys criminals..how?
Guys look we all have the right to our own opinions. Simply post your comment without bushing other bloggers. This culture of thinking you are the most intelligent Zambian or thou holier than others is just ridiculous….
nothing good from this government.they stay you deport them,they leave on their on ,you arrest them.hie! did those libyans hand over zamtel before you deported them?
#5 mo taim & # 6 don’t be duped ; you should think through your contributions. Directors of any concession agreement must officially handover and answer to audit queries. So who will officially handover and answer the audit queries if Ben Even does a Usain Bolt? Livingstone @7 et al, refer to above and worse for you, as you are a self opinionated id!ot! # 15 & 18, forget it, you cannot debate facts with a sanctimonious opinionated bitter id!ot like Livingstone! Look at his comment @ #19, which ignores a basic tenet of a concession that it can be terminated by either party when obrogation of certain aspects has been committed. This then follows a formal handover and audit! This Livinstone thing is no brain and all emotions! Unpatriotic mongoose!
How do they handover a company you have forcefully grabbed? What is there to handover when you’re already in control of a company? Mr Karima is already in the office and in control of the companies accounts, what do you want them to give to you?
LET THEM TAKE IT EASY THE BIBLE SAYS WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE IT WILL COME BACK
@Livingstone, are you one of the beneficiaries of the poor operations of the defunct RSZ? Mr Even wanted to discuss issues to do with how they could let them operate better, fundamentally leaving the concession agreement as it was. A government has to be firm and bold, not the wishy washy idiocy of the former regime. You can not be having foreigners dictating terms to the government on your assets man. On the contrary we are supposed to be in the driving seat when the matter comes the level it did. Firm taken back, then we tell him show us the stocks and books. That done, he hands back the things and the work permit cancelled then he goes away. Never to be needed again! Got that?
IN THE FIRST PLACE, CONGRATULATIONS MR NKOLE. THOSE GUYS WANTED TO RUN AWAY AND START UNLEASHING UNPRINTABLES WHILE IN SOUTH AFRICA WERE IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ZAMBIA TO EXTRADITE ANY CRIMINAL. HENRY BANDA FOR INSTANCE.
BUT AS ONE OR TWO HAVE ALREADY SUGGESTED- JUST MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TIGHT SURVEILLANCE. AND ISSUE A WARNING THAT WHOEVER WILL RESPONSIBLE FOR LETTING THOSE CHAPS RUN AWAY WILL BE PROSECUTED AND POSSIBLY JAILED. IN ZAMBIA OUR SECURITY WINGS ARE SO CORRUPT,IRRESPONSIBLE AND UN PATRIOTIC JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY CA PACKET OF CIGARETTES OR A BOTTLE OF MOSI IS ENOUGH TO LET THEM THROUGH THE DRUG NET. THIS CAN NEVER BE DONE IN BOTSWANA OR NAMIBIA.
LIVINGSTONE DO NOT BE SHALLOW AND START MAKING IRRELEVANT COMMENTS TALK ABOUT REAL ISSUES AND LEARN TO BE OBJECTIVE AND APPRECIATE GOVERNMENTS EFFORTS TO CREATE YOUR RELATIVES EMPLOYMENTS,WHY DO YOU SOUND EXTREMELY BITTER LIKE SOMEBODY I KNOW…IT WONT HELP YOU BUT TO REASON AS A NORMAL BEING.SAME PEOPLE COMPLAINING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT CREATING JOBS.DO YOU THINK AS A COUNTRY WE HAVE A NORMAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION AND IT IS RELIABLE AS IT USED TO BE WITH JOB SECURITY????ASK THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE AND STOP BEING CHILDISH.
Ailing Maxwel Nkole can even talk and threaten anyone?????
THESE GUYS WERE BOASTING THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY RSZ FROM THEM, BECAUSE CONTAINERS OF MONEY WERE SENT TO STATE HOUSE . THEY HAVE FAILED TO FEED THE KING COBRA . DAY OF CORRUPTION ARE LONG GONE WE NEED TO DEVELOP OUR OWN ZAMBIA LIKE AMERICANS DID FOR THEM SELVES .
I believe pipo are over reacting to livingstone’s submission. I agree with him somewhat. The purpose of these people’s stay in Zambia was to run or mismanage ZR depending on which party you belong to it seems. After the termination of the contract there was no legal basis to remain in the country. Now the information missing in the article is whether they were told to be in the country until the audits were done. If they were told then, it is right to assume the running away but if not it means they where within their rights to leave. In the absence of these fact it is difficult give meaningful
@7Livingstone If I were govt, it would not be my intention to sit down and solve matters with RSZ directors over a table. I would throw them in JAIL. My gut feeling is that the PF govt is thinking the same as I do. And I would noyt let them slip out of of the country until they have “enjoyed the comfort” of CHIMBOKAILA
@32.Theoretician , off course you would throw them in jail as this is the way you and your PF operate. All it takes is an accusation to throw someone in jail. After all your so called law enforcement officers don’t even respect court rulings. Zambia is becoming a banana republic par excellence! Like I said you people are destroying the country! Stop shooting first and taking aim later!
Livingstone is a daft chap. he was bootlicking this Benjamin chap last weekend. You should have accompanied them to the airport and helped them carry their luggage after shedding the documents.
Livingstone is a daft chap; just an educated illetrate he was bootlickin this Benjamin chap last weekend. You should have accompanied them to the airport and helped them carry their luggage after they sheded the documents.
Most people commenting on this matter are what is wrong with this country and the government. You cannot have the majority of people sinking so low as to think we should throw away the law. The problem with today’s govt is firing fighting instead of having a real plan in place. when the Minister was announcing the termination, these pipo were not told to assist in any audit otherwise government would have withdrawn their passports so that they could be in Zambia for the audit. But as with most things this came as an after thought. I believe the immigration may not even have been told not told to prevent them from leaving
Lingstone:I believe in the a firm iron fist with criminals not willy nilly sissy approach of the MMD. We havent thrown them in Chimboikaila yet BUT they are suspects. and we dont want them to get away. Once we lock them up the you are free to take bottled water and food for them ( your buddies) in Chimbokiaila. Hope u will enjoy your trips/visits of your (soon to be inmate buddies) to chimbokaila.
The Minister contradicts what you saying, these people are being considered as suspects