Produce SABL inquiry report in organised manner

Source: The National, Monday September 9th, 2013

THE chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the controversial Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABLs) denies claims of not delivering the final investigation report to the Government (The National, Aug 28). Chairman John Numapo stated that the COI report was completed and presented to the government’s chief secretary and then also said that a fellow commissioner is still finalising his report.

Thousands of affected communities who have been losing their patience over this prolonged tabling of the final SABL report are now surprised to hear Numapo’s statements. What must be seriously noted here is that the progress and statutes of the COI is of public concern.

The public and the affected communities need to be kept abreast of the progress of the COI from beginning to end. However, this has been totally lacking from the commission.

Now we hear from the chairman that two final reports from the commissioners have been submitted while one commissioner is still finalising his. This is an indication of a lack of organisation.

The final COI report should have  been completed and presented as a team before it is officially announced as a completed investigation report. The facilitators of the COI which comprised  prominent lawyers were entrusted to carry out a comprehensive investigation. K15 million of taxpayers’ funds was spent for the commission to come up with appropriate recommendations to fix the mess.

It is up to them to prove to the people that it is money well spent.