Lawyers acting for the UPND have written to the Attorney General requesting clarification over the decision to allocate K1.5 billion to the Office of the First Lady.
Dindi and Company has also written to Attorney General Mumba Malila seeking clarification over the budgetary allocation for the construction of Fifth Republican President’s House.
In letter obtained in Lusaka dated December 6, 2012, the UPND wants clarification on the two issues before proceeding to apply for judicial review.
On the issue of the retirement house for President Sata, the UPND says the decision at this early stage flies in the teeth of the spirit and tenor of the Benefits of the Former President Act.
They said this is because indisputably, Mr. Sata is neither a former President nor has he retired as to be entitled to the benefits under the Act which included the house.
They stated that the allocation of K1.4 billion in this year’s budget for the construction of a house for the incumbent President is premature and illegal.
They further contended that the construction of a house is also unreasonable in light of the fact that the houses for the 2rd, 3rd and 4th Presidents are yet to be constructed.
The UPND legal team is now demanding that the said allocation be withdrawn by return of post on grounds of illegality and unreasonableness so that the money is channeled to more urgent and needy areas such as construction of houses for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Republican Presidents.
On the K1.5 billion allocation to, the UPND says where as it recognizes the important role that the First Lady and every woman in the country plays, it maintains that the allocation of funds to the First Lady is illegal.
They said the allocation is illegal because the First Lady is just a title for the Wife of the President and by no means an established or recognized office either under the Constitution or at Cabinet Office.
They added that the budgetary allocation to Dr. Christine Kaseba is unconstitutional as it goes against the provisions of Article 115 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia.
The legal team is now demanding that the budgetary allocation be annulled by return of post until measures are put in place to either constitutionalize or in any legitimate manner establish the Office of the First Lady in Zambia so as to enable her to draw from the national treasury.
The first lady has done a commendable job. she needs more more money. just leave her alone
You are in the US and can’t imagine what would happen if Obama decided to make such an allocation! You are well placed where you are to be objective and help Zambian leaders to respect the constitution and not base their decisions using the heart to think because one is doing a good job.
Blessings I agree with you , how many awards did previous first ladies bring to zambia??? None viva PF viva dr Kaseba sata
Day light Robbery by PF Government! Zambia a shameful place to belong to.
You are such a shame yourself and not Zambia…..my blessed country with it’s leader SATA
waba e T. ukaye ko Goma mbuli
They have a very solid case, it will keep the pressure against illegalities in the current psychopath government.
We are back to this nonsense again.Pipo the first ladys office is an institution and surely needs a budget.Even in the united states the first lady’s office is apportioned with a budget.President Jimmy Carter introduced one in the USA in 1978 (public law 95-570).You think Michelle Obama depends on Obama’s budgetary allocation ?
you are very right jimmy carter introduced one in 1975 meaning before that there was no provision,likewise if you want the first lady to benefit from the treasury introduce it in the act…simple as that
Well spoken zebige !!!
IF PF wants the First Lady’s office to be institutionaliused, they should table that in parliament.
But we dont want that money to end up in the Junior Doctors pocket who we hear has been bonking her.
UPND this is good opposition. Don’t let these grade fives play with our money. I personally contribute more than K12 Million a month in tax only these stupid people to abuse it. Sata is the worst so called president Zambia has ever and will ever produce. The man has shown that he is clueless on how take Zambia forward. How can he be creating districts every day? The guy flies to Muchinga and comes back without doing the commissioning, that is total madness. Now he is deporting all sorts of people. Shame on this man from hell
And if you are so educated as you seem to suggest, why are you not the one in Power, *****? Why is your under 5 in not power you galu wa watch imbwa?
Who is Sata? A big thief, if in doubt of what iam saying ask M’membe to produce some of his artcles of some few years ago when he regrouped with the late Chiluba.He has clearly told the ACC to wash their hands off from doing anything with the fatty valture in his govt. I doubt if the AG has tooth in his young mouth to bite with’
The first lady’s office really backing of all Zambians. do we need to go back to the old days where we had HOPE, MMCI and etc ? These organisations failed because we all know where they got the mone from. UPND should just fight for establishing a legitimate office which willbe audited regardles who is in office and it will be upto the incurbert first lady’s discretion on how to use the money.
Walasa shichands
Pf should be ashamed of eating their vomit!
ZAMBIA my beloved country, leaders will come and go but SATA will leave a mark will all live to remember…
HH Chilila lila Number 1
HH has very bad advisors. The VP has already clarified that in the MMD era the allocation come from cabinet office and that the PF has just decided to set it apart. This allocation is subject to the auditor general’s audit. Suppose HH had won the election, was he going to fund his wife from his pocket for national duties? Just table a bill in parliament for a seperate vault if thats what he wants. Such petty issues will not get HH into state house. People want development and not time and money wasting legal battles.
#6 NDIWE WA BOZA MANINGI. KODI ZOONA MUNKALA MUMA NGALANDE, IMWE?
from #13. BECAUSE IF YOU LIVE IN ENGLAND YOU SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DECENTRALISATION BECAUSE LONDON ITSELF IS A HIGHLY DECENTRALISED CITY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TOWNS IN LONDON RUN BY MAYORS WHO VERY AUTONOMOUS FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT- THEY MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, ETC. BWANA, MWIKALAFYE MU LONDON YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE AN IDEA ON HOW IT IS RUN?
#6 expressing yourself in anger does not show any sense. Read Peter’s sober and mature contritution. It shows you are not able to move with time. History will judge you badly. Since Late Chiluba time to Ruphia Banda First ladies have always been allocated money. Where was UPND? This party amazes me so much. They show double standards, Ruphia regme allocated K7billion for building his accommodation where is the money gone? UPND can not ask. Starting building Sata accommodation will save the govt from paying rentals like K1billion less than a year.Lack of planning for previous presisdents this is the result where Maureen ended up moving into a rented house. Ruphia had known but thought he will continue ruling but people they hire and fire. Sata is aware and weldone for thinking positively.
Note: When Mrs Obama is is on her visits, without her husband, she does not use air force one. That plane is exclusively for her husband and government officials. But Kaseba flies the challenger like her personal taxi, even to Namibia.
So then let’s put an end to all first Lady charitable works if they are funded by government and let the law visit all the past first ladies who have utilised public resources without their husbands revealing it!!
@5 Mpangula Mputyu- The item was debated in parley to which UPND have members. Unfortunately HH is not part of that house. In any case the PF have come out in the open about this money whether right or wrong. This was normally done privately.
Iwe UPND this issue has been explained umpteen times. All offices of previous ladies were receiving this allowance, etc. Howling all the time, UPND, why so? Make people sick and tired, man.
She wants to run a parallel ministry to the health ministry. She is confusing Dr. Kasonde who is the substantive head of the Ministry responsible for health. This is plunder being legitimised by government.
Why is itthat these upnd tribalist, their comments are full of nosense nd very emotional? It is not dat dey want de right thing b dn,it is just dat dese flipflops are jearous 2 the bone nd can’t stomach de fact dat deir HATE HATE WILL NEVER RULE.
CAN ANYONE LIVE IF WHATEVER HAPPENS IS WRONG? IS THAT WISDOM,IS THAT EDUCATION ? WHY IS IT THAT DESE CLAIM 2 B WISE AND DE ONLY EDUCATED ONES . WHY IS IT DAT DEY ARE NOT EVEN TELLING US WHAT THEY WILL DO? FIRE WITHOUT HEAT. HH U HAVE DULL ADVCERS
LT ,I HAVE RESPECT FOR YOU COZ YOU ARE BALANCED UNLIKE ZWD. BUT U ARE TOO BEHAVING LIKE TUMFWEKO WHO ARE BLOKING MY PEACEFUL AND EDUCATING COMMENTS. MEANWHILE U ALLOW COMMENTS FROM LUNATICS LIKE TONGA BULL AND OTHER UPND THUGS. IT IS 0 INSULTS.
This particular law on housing presidents after they leave state house should be changed. I mean, the whole thing should be stopped. They should also buy/build houses just like other Zedians working for the govt. They eat and live well at SH; and continue to live well after their comfortable stay in that building at our expense. Is this not Animal Farm? If not what is it, then???
HH please use your brain wisely. You are making gradually making yourself irrellavant to well intended Zambians. Come off the high horse, the fact that you are rich is ok it’s your personal money but does not mean you are a leader. I suspect you intimidate chaps around you, they are scared to tell you the truth. Start fighting for Zambians and not to get to state house. Leave the first lady alone. Do you have any respect feo women, the way you spoke to madam Nawakwi. Kapoko, his uncle Nevers, Dora, RB and sons the fat MMD man (cash in floor),Miti etc have stolen or ‘misplaced’ public funds. The court system is corrupt, you just want to talk petty stuff do you even love Zambia i wonder?
There is noticeably a bundle to grasp this. I assume you have got produced specific good points in capabilities also.