Vice President Inonge Wina has revealed that Government spent about K4.89 million to organise the constitution signing ceremony at Lusaka Heroes Stadium last month.
Ms. Wina said the funds went to cater for security, entertainment and transport and meal for delegates.
She said the event held on 15th January 2016 was funded through the treasury.
Ms Wina was speaking Friday morning in Parliament during the Vice President’s Question Time.
The Vice President added that the funds were also used to pay for the flypast by the Zambia Air Force, performances by entertainment groups, protocol, stage, chairs, printing of invitation cards, accommodation and transport for delegates.
Meanwhile, Ms Wina says diplomats accredited to Zambia are free interact with any political party leaders.
Ms Wina said the diplomats are free to associate with any leader of any political party but that they are only expected to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the sake of courtesy diplomats.
She told Parliament this morning that it is only prudent for visitors working in Zambia to go through normal channels before meeting politicians.
Ms. Wina said there is no reason for diplomats not to interact with opposition leaders but that there are other considerations that need to be followed.
She warned that Diplomats should observe the laws of the country adding that they can be sanctioned if they go overboard.
And Ms. Wina says it is incorrect to insinuate that President Edgar Lungu will have difficulties handing over power in an event he loses the August elections.
She said President Lungu is a true democrat adding that it is an unlikely scenario that he would refuse to surrender power.
The Vice President also reiterated that the PF is not bothered because President Lungu is going to win the general elections.
She said it is a well-known fact that President Lungu will emerge victorious saying opposition MPs should not believe what they read all the time especially from online media as it is very misleading.
“We know who sponsors some of those social media institutions and some print media with the sole purpose of destabilising the country and to urge Zambians to vote out the PF but we are not worried because Zambians are very clever, they know wrong from good. We expect 50+1 mandate and win,” Ms. Wina said.
Ms Nawakwi, we know you will get at least that figure when you get a funding circle diplomats visit sooner than we know.
Let the citizens celebrate their Landmarks. The Amended Constitution is a BIG deal for Zambians. A constitution enactment is a big deal for ALL citizens of the world. Frankly if it had been spent on less an occasion you might have a point, but as it is you demonstrate your lackadaisical Pride in Zambian matters.
Let citizens celebrate their Landmarks. The Amended Constitution is a BIG deal for Zambians. A constitution enactment is a big deal for ALL citizens of the world.
Much as diplomats are free to mix with politicians they are also required to be diplomatic. During this period there is no need to make justifications that any opposition is likely or is a Major contender in the election and to base a diplomatic visit on that. Such a visit would have been more tolerable after Parliament dissolved. These diplomats know the Zambian Political landscape and ought to have known it would cause large ripples.
Comment:chimbwi no plan u was refusing wen we was telling u tht u had spended lots of money to just put a sgnature imwe ba mpompwe u will cry come 11th august hh sunga bana chalo chachula
Aba Ba Kolwe ni mbwa sana
Lets advise HE lungu to pick kaseba sata as his running mate. The move will not bring much dvision in the party becoz PF is sata’s thing, she is educated, alot of political experience, friend to all tribes, very humble and hard working. May I appeal to Fr chilinda and KK to help
Kapuba aka ka Mayo she even got guts to mention that amount of money was spent on just signature of her clueless,visionless,brainless,useless and a drunkard president.
Misplaced expenditure priorities. Where in the world especially poor countries, does a president’s signature cost more than $350,000? This is a senseless, f*oolish expenditure.
Where in the world, especially in poor countries, does the signature of a president on an amended constitution cost more than $350,000??? This is a s*enseless and f*oolish expenditure.
Spending more than $350,000 on signing an amended constitution is senseless.
Kwena ubu ebupuba! Spending more than $350,000 just to sign an amended document?
K4.89 billion zoona spent on the partially amended constitution signing? Elo lwanya ba PF.
This grandma has no shame at all yet in her constituency people are living in poverty!!
This money could have been used to build a school or a hospital without contracting a loan. Clear case of misplaced prioritres. The President could have signed the amended constitution at state house.
That money could have been used to repair some part of the kariba dam or buy medicines for hospitals. Shame on your poor planning madame vice president. The signing ceremony could have taken place in the President s office with the press and shown on ZNBC?
What about the civil servants who were given half day off? How much did that cost the country?
Lack of priorities, ba unza and cbu that’s where you meal allowances were diverted to, K 4 million for chagwa’s signature, that could have been done at his office, vote wisely in August.
….if ECL can look back now and consider that move to have been ok then it speaks volumes of our so called leader….infact that figure is understated… could have been much more than that…
Civil servants and defence force personnel go without salaries while playing around with K4.9 million. What an insult to Zambians!. Zambians votololeni PF. HH ‘sunga bana bachula’
KK would have signed the constitution for ‘s song’ sang by himself using his old cheap guitar. The song would have been TIYENDE PAMODZI. I hope you understand my metaphor you cheap bloggers.
Only 1mbeciles can understand metaphor by another 1mbecile
We as?ed for it as Zambians!
We entrusted our national treasury into the hands of one who is on record as having misappropriated client money and lost his licence to practice! They obviously shared that money in the name of signing a paper with less than a quarter of stadium capacity. No wonder there is no end in sight to our Zambian problems! We should expect the worst with the new debt ceiling of 160trillion!!
We as?ed for it as Zambians!
We entrusted our national treasury into the hands of one who is on record as having misappropriated client money and lost his licence to practice! They obviously shared that money in the name of signing a paper with less than a quarter of stadium capacity. No wonder there is no end in sight to our Zambian problems! We should expect the worst with the new debt ceiling of 160trillion!!!
Even another drunkard can write his name on a piece of paper for less money than this!
Time to tell this clown to go and join a circus. Lungu is a total disaster in State house!
Can we really afford to continue borrowing and paying for these clownish acts by this failed lawyer? Who can also add FAILED PRESIDENT to his CV?
Get out you ***** before we GADAFFI YOU!
For Lungu it is easy to spend money that is not his!
That is why he stole his clients money.
Wake up Zambians. This cheap Crook is just helping himself to our money. 300, 000 for his trip to New York!
What an insult to the Zambian people. !!!!
He is saying f**k you people. I will use your money for myself — just shut up or I will send my Police Force – PF to keep you quiet!
August is coming! Vote wisely!