VICE -President Guy Scott has challenged Zambians serving in missions abroad to justify the huge sums of tax-payers’ money being spent to sustain their operations.
Dr Scott said staff at missions abroad should desist from being on “luxury holiday” but strive to fulfil their mandate by performing to Government’s expectations.
The Vice-President said this here on Wednesday when he visited the Zambian mission.
He was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Wylbur Simuusa and his senior private secretary Robert Kamalata.
Dr Scott said the country should get a return on the investment in the various missions abroad.
“K30,000 per month for each member of staff on accommodation, that’s quite a lot. We need to work hard and perform to the expectations of Government and the people of Zambia,” Dr Scott said.
He also emphasised the need to open up more trade opportunities between Zambia and Angola.
Dr Scott said there are various trade opportunities in Angola due to the economic activities taking place in that country.
He said Zambians can greatly benefit once the rail, pipeline, roads and canals are constructed to link the two countries.
“Angola can be a very good market for us, already we see Mongu harbour loading up ‘Katundu’ [luggage] in those banana boats to take into Angola, so I think it is a promising situation,” Dr Scott said.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Angola Barbara Chilangwa expressed concern about the high cost of accommodation in that country.
Ms Chilangwa said the Zambian mission in Angola has 10 members of staff and Government is currently spending an average of US$6,000 (over K30, 000) monthly on accommodation for each member of staff.
She also said the premises at which the mission is housed belongs to the Angolan Government but that rentals are also paid to two other individuals.
“This building belongs to Government [Angolan] but two of the offices belong to individuals and how that came about is a little bit difficult to explain but that is the position. So we write three cheques, one to Government and two to the other individuals,” Ms Chilangwa said.
She appealed to Government to consider buying houses for staff at the mission instead of renting houses to reduce costs.
And Mr Simuusa said Angola is key to Zambia’s development agenda because it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
“Our mission here should be proactive and inform us what is causing this massive development as they are overtaking us and yet we are neighbours,” Mr Simuusa said.
He said there is need to develop the aspect of economic diplomacy as addressed by President Sata during the last session of Parliament.
“Those days, international relations was for peace but this time, it is focused on the economic agenda. It is those who effectively use their relations that are able to succeed and become wealthy nations,” Mr Simuusa said.
Dr Scott should have challenged Sata’s extended clan stationed at those mission to justify the huge taxpayers funds spent on them.
Bana what do expect from the Ambassadors who were just Walters in guest houses to represent Zambia? couple with the current one in Congo DR.
Thus the New constitution to require at a 3 year diploma for diplomats.
@Italian Presidential Material, I have met educated people and career diplomats in embassies, the majority are not diplomatic material. just feeling jealous of Zambians abroad and trying to throw spanners at every opportunity. so that 3 year diploma may not be a solution
Ba @Tumbuka pride, I thought that’s exactly what the V.P. did!
It is spelt out (in bold letters for that matter) right in the headline and you can’t see that???????????
Thanks boss they can’t read properly,or are blinded by constant negative blogging.
Ya ! Trade with Angola needs formalization, yet we have more issues here at home that more urgent attention from you VIP ,advise my president for direction in the party before its too late…
Bring them back home and consider the issue of returns on investments or acquiring own accommodation, from home. They can’t stay at house rentals of USD6 000 pm while you do that; and that is just house rentals – what about office rentals to the three parties, and salaries and other allwoances? And that is in Angola for that matter – what is at least one thing we are benefiting from this mission, at such a cost?
The Angola embassy saga was a case of one short diplomat who has since passed away. He served in KK’s government and only when he was leaving for Japan was it discovered what he had done. He was never brought to book expected to be arrested on drug related charges when his son and him used the diplomatic poach to smuggle the same….one Zambia….
US$6000 PER MONTH ACCOMODATION FOR EACH MEMBER OF STAFF is rather TOO LOW, the mission must strive for better living conditions because at that amount they stay in outskirts of Luanda like Kaunda square in Lusaka. How can people take our embassy serious like that with offices staying in cheap houses?? of k30,000 only
The Pretoria mission should be immediately closed. I dont see what it does. It never assists anyone except the mission staff ‘s CVs