by Ronald Toito’ona

Disciplinary action against Calvin Ziru, head of the Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI) accused of mismanaging more than $1 million of TCSI funds, has started.

Minister for Communication and Aviation and Deputy Prime Minister Frederick Kologeto revealed this in parliament today.

“The process of investigation has started,” Kologeto said in response to questions Opposition leader Matthew Wale raised in parliament.

“We’ve met with the TCSI Evaluation Committee and have issued a show-cause notice to Ziru to respond to the allegations. So to date, that is the current situation,” the minister said.

Ziru, a lawyer by training, has served as Commissioner of TCSI since 2021. As head of the organization, he has the authority to request or authorize payments from TCSI funds.

But a report the TCSI office had produced alleged that between 2021 and 2023, Ziru engaged in spending that baffled TCSI staff, prompting them to refer his spending behaviour to the Evaluation Committee..

The allegations against Ziru include:

• Awarding two contracts without a tender process, totaling SBD$340,000, to two Fijian men.
• Spending SBD$207,000 of TCSI funds on medical bills he was not entitled to.
• Paying out SBD$250,200 of TCSI funds to his boxing club and for other promotional activities.
• Using up to SBD$98,532 of TCSI funds for private family trips.
• Spending SBD$30,000 of TCSI funds on hosting events without providing any supporting evidence.
• Paying SBD$66,798 for a hotel invoice covering accommodation, meals, and events unrelated to TCSI.
• Taking salary advances totaling more than SBD$141,000 with no indication of repayment.
• Purchasing a private portable sawmill for SBD$150,000.
• Working only once a week—and only when he needs to attend stakeholder meetings or in need of money.
• Garaging two of TCSI’s three vehicles.

The Technical Evaluation Committee referred (TEC) the allegations to Minister Kologeto in June 2024, but no action was taken until In-depth Solomons exposed the matter in February this year.

TCSI, established under the Telecommunications Act (2009), is the government agency responsible for the economic and technical management of the telecommunications sector in the Solomon Islands.

According to the Act, allegations such as those raised against Ziru must be investigated by an independent and impartial person.

The disciplinary process begins with the minister convening a TEC meeting and informing both the TEC and the Commissioner of his consideration to suspend or remove the Commissioner due to the allegations.

The TEC then appoints an independent investigator to review the allegations.

Based on the findings, the TEC advises the minister on whether to remove or retain the Commissioner.

Kologeto also told parliament today that Ziru is still in office despite the allegations hanging over his head.

“The Commissioner is still in office,” the minister said.

He added he expects Ziru to file his response to his office mid this month. 

“As soon as I see his response, I will give further notice to him whether it needs an independent inquiry or what actions we need to do.”

Kologeto also said his ministry is reviewing the Telecommunications Act, and that the Commissioner, at some point, is acting within the Act itself.

“I can say that the Commission has acted in accordance with the Communications Act. So, the Ministry has taken steps to review the Telecommunications Act so that issues like this one did not happen again in the future,” he said.

Kologeto also revealed that Ziru is the third person in charge of TCSI since its establishment in 2009.

“The first and second commissioners were even worse. So, if the Act has not been reviewed, the next Commissioner will do the same or even worse,” the minister stated.

He said this is also what is happening with the Aviation Act, where the Director of Aviation is in charge of the division’s finances too. Therefore, the ministry is looking to review both Acts so that funds for both divisions are properly managed.

While appreciating efforts to review the Acts, Wale said it’s not good enough for the Minister to say that the current Act allows the allegations of personal use of funds. 

“That cannot be consistent with the Telecommunications Act” he stated.

“….there are fundamental structural weaknesses with the Act.  And it’s important that that review takes place. 

“But in the meantime, this matter, in terms of investigation, does need to happen.”

Kologeto also revealed that Ziru’s case was already reported to the police by the Evaluation Committee. 

“That’s what I was told. So, I’ll leave that to the Evaluation Committee to do that. Me, as a Minister, I must make sure we follow the process for addressing this issue,” Kologeto said.