Thursday, March 28, 2024

I won’t be distracted by cheap baseless allegations of corruption-President Lungu

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FILE: President Edgar Lungu unveils a plaque with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Yang Youming (middle) and Avic International Vice President, Liu Jen during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Copperbelt International Airport

President Edgar Lungu says he will not be distracted by people making baseless allegations of corruption each time government unveils a major project.

President Lungu said the interest of his critics is to cause fear so that government does not implement massive developmental projects around the country.

The Head of State stressed that government remains resolved in ensuring that it delivers according to the promises it made to the Zambian people during the 2016 general elections.

ZANIS reports that President Lungu said this when he officiated at the diversion of Kafue river to mark the construction of the US$ 2 billion Kafue Gorge Lower hydro power plant dam which is expected to be completed in mid-2020.

President Lungu vowed to fast track all long delayed developmental projects and reiterated that government will continue to deliver development in accordance to the law.

He wondered why for 14 years the Kafue Gorge Lower hydro power plant dam was not being implemented despite visibility studies being done.

President Lungu said he will continue to make bold decisions especially on projects that benefit the majority of the Zambians.

The Head of State said he was ready to lose popularity for making bold decisions aimed at spurring national developmental.

The President explained that the completion of the Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro power project will help to address the power deficit in the country.

And speaking earlier at the same function Southern Province minister Edify Hamukale praised President Lungu for making a bold decision to kick start the hydro project.

The provincial minister noted that once the project is completed it will benefit the entire country.

Chinese ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming who witnessed the event assured President Lungu that China will continue to support government’s infrastructure development agenda.

Mr Youming said the construction of the Kafue Gorge Lower hydro power project will help in improving the social economic welfare of local communities.

He noted that power is critical in driving the country’s economy and commended government for using natural resources to enhance development in the country.

Mr Youming said China recognises the efforts government was making in spearheading developmental projects.

And Energy minister David Mabumba disclosed that 4, 000 jobs will be created during the peak of the project and that currently 3,000 jobs have been created since the project was launched in 2015.

The Minister said Zambia stands to be a power hub for the region once the 750 megawatts project is completed.

In a vote of thanks, senior Chieftainess Nkomenshya Mukamambo II thanked President Lungu for gracing the occasion.

She saluted ZESCO for following laid down procedures when acquiring land from traditional leaders.

The senior chief urged other companies to emulate ZESCO when embarking on projects that involve customary land.

92 COMMENTS

  1. But we the people of Zambia are bothered.

    You are either blind or too drunk mr president to see what is going on.

    • Corruption fight then has reached you sir! You feel it whether you like it or not; pretend or not; respond or not. To be associated with corruption is shameful to a person of conscience because it’s a negative thing. Only thieves don’t mind being called such because they are.

    • This is why people think either Lungu has a serious disconnection with the suffering of many Zambians or he is seriously connected to corruption.
      We have no qualms with huge developmental projects its the cost!
      When there are other suppliers with cheaper alternatives is it prudent to spend three times the average cost of a project? Is this the best way of spending tax payers money in a poor country ?
      Where is your moral conscious? Would you spend the same if it were your money ?
      If the president is oblivious to all this why is he there?
      This nation is in big trouble he makes chiluba look like a saint?

    • Lungu says “he wondered why for 14 years the Kafue Gorge Lower hydro power plant dam was not being implemented despite visibility studies being done.” ?? Where has this man been all this time? Drunk? Asleep? Travelling out of Zambia? Someone must tell him that it was HIS PF PARTY that CANCELLED this project being implemented in 2011 !!! And then brought it back for THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS MORE !!!!
      https://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/08/13/zambia-signs-15-billion-power-plant-deal-china/
      https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/10/15/gover-may-pay-350-million-more-on-the-kafue-gorge-power-project/
      https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/10/20/zesco-signs-deal-to-construct-the-kafue-gorge-power-project/

      Baseless allegations of corruption? MY FOOT! —- STEALING BY PF, LUNGU and his…

    • Mr President sir…its public record you made 21.5 million kwacha in one year…explain to me how I CAN GET INTO YOUR BUSINESS LINES SO THAT MANY OF US Zambians can enjoy the good life like you and yours!

    • YOURS IS A FULL MANDATE: ZAMBIA YEARNS FOR DEVELOPMENT
      ==================================
      I shall judge you at the end of your tenure.
      It’s your show,so perform.
      Bola ni 90 minutes.
      So far so good except for your increased trips. Nashako ukuseya ECL.
      That said, I have a feeling Zambia will not be the same again at the end of your tenure. Yours are campaigns in progress.

    • Is Mr Lungu normal! It is the stake holders (citizens) of this country who are concerned. It is not your country where you can do as you please, respect the people who gave you the mandate. Saviour Chishimba is right! these men have to be taken to chainama to be examined.

    • AVIC international built 50 mansions for lungu. Now they are being given all the over-inflated contracts without following proper tender processes. Last week it was Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway.

      wwwDOTlusakatimesDOTcom/2017/06/27/savior-chishimba-links-president-lungu-luxury-villas-lusaka/

  2. Lungu is not corrupt, but his thugs. Hanging out with pastors people will think you are born again. With thugs like Kaiser and those fighting at Parliament, definitely people will call you anything worse than corrupt.

  3. Corruption fight then has reached you sir! You feel it whether you like it or not; pretend or not; respond or not. To be associated with corruption is shameful to a person of conscience because it’s a negative thing. Only thieves don’t mind being called such because they are.

  4. mr president dont worry about those crying babies we want development.HH and CK are the bitter people we cant take them serious.majority are solidly behind you sir.

  5. jelous and envy is what is causing all the negativity that is going on in our country.if you are a thief you think every one is a thief.its so sad.

  6. jelous and envy is what is causing all the negativity that is going on in our country.if you are a thief you think every one is a thief.its so sad.

  7. Pretender! PF is not executing these projects in utmost good faith. Our concern is not about projects being implemented, rather we are concerned about the thefts by you the politicians which accompany these projects. You still a lot under the camouflage of carrying out these projects.

  8. PF is a bunch of thieves. Thieves, and I mean thieves. Stop pretending you are innocent and hard working. You don’t mean well to us the citizenry. More than 21.5 million acquired in less than 1 and half years. Got that money from where if you didn’t steal it? Meanwhile the marity of us are wallowing in abject poverty.

  9. He cant be bothered because he may clubbing with he that have been mentioned or he is the engine this corrupt government which has intentions of developing Zambia but their bank accounts.

  10. Just work your excellence!! Kambwili’s back ground is as a scrape metal thief. So once a thief always a thief. Thats why he wants associates!!!

    • Once a thief always a thief….
      Edgar store a clients money. He was suspended from practice for many years.
      So it’s still true that he is still a thief like you said.

    • @ Dununa

      You are 100% right.
      Once embezzler, always embezzler!!!
      Well said. Only difference is that humble, anointed and visionary embezzler was found GUILTY by the High Court of Zambia and he DID NOT CHALLENGE the ruling.

    • Don’t listen to power hungry Hyena. He thinks he can do a Michael Chilufya Sata but the people of Zambia have said no. Just roll out the massive projects and let those not happy commit suicide.

  11. HOW can people fail to complain when things are NOT clearly explained, LEGAL PROCEDURE IS NOT FOLLOWED and THOSE ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION ARE NOT PROSECUTED?? Now Mr.LUNGU,even now THIS SAME POWER STATION was INITIALLY COST AT US$1Bn when MMD contracted for its construction. PF came, cancelled it and NOW IT IS COSTING US$2Bn according to this report-TWICE THE COST and we end up LOSING 7 GOOD YEARS, by now we should have been enjoying electricity from there! NOW, IF THIS IS NOT WELL EXPLAINED, HOW CAN IT NOT BE CORRUPTION?? SINGLE SOURCING CONTRACTS TO SAME COMPANIES EVEN WHERE IT IS CLEAR THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TENDER, AWARDING CONTRACTS TO NONCOMPETITIVE BIDDERS SIMPLY BCOZ THEY ARE FRIENDS- THAT IS ALL CORRUPTION!!

  12. What is bothering us sir is:
    1. Over pricing
    2. Same companies been awarded contracts without competition
    3.your suspicious friendship with business men / contractors
    4.your unexplained wealth beans

    We understand you benefiting so it can’t bother you.

  13. He can not be bothered because he could be clubbing with the people that have been mentioned or he is the engine and fuel of this corrupt government which has intentions of developing Zambia but their bank accounts. You cant have your sh!t ministers and MP fighting inside Parliament ground and look away .These pieces of sh!ts represent people and their behaviour in private and public should of high standards because they represent you nomad Chagwa

    • Lungu is not normal. He only cares about helping himself to as much taxpayers money as he can because he knows it will soon end.

  14. Its alleged that the widows case was a warning and now all Zambians are in her shoes..the worst law breakers are those in power. How can a policeman arrest himself? The same mouth that speaks profanities is also the one that boasts of not being like others. We men are wretched things

  15. So interesting how the cost of this project seems outside the norms for similar projects. It is a widely accepted fact that in general it costs about USD1m per megawatt of power. In my informed view, this project should not cost more than a billion dollars should someone chose to pocket something. I was looking at the cost of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. It will cost USD6.4bn and produce 6,400 mw of power! Even DRC which we think is so, their proposed construction of the Grand Inga Dam is USD80bn to have installed capacity of almost 40,000mw.

    So by this standard our project should not exceed USD1.5bn. But remember that there is no iota of infrastructure in DRC as such there will be need to build thousands of Kms of roads and transmission lines, which could explain diversion…

    • Make comparisons that make sense. Your two examples are talking about Dams – there is no dam here and so this is completely different. Therefore, comparison on costs will not be accurate.

    • Thanks @ ambilima

      But give us your basis for your statement. Share costs of similar projects elsewhere. This is certainly not the only one of its kind in the world.

    • Can Lungu please tell the people of Zambia why they now have to pay this EXTRA THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ?

      For exactly the same project? Why is he quiet on this? What was this additional money for?

      Was the 42 million for fire trucks not enough to top up his fat bank account? Does he really need another extra 350 million dollars?

      Why is he quiet?

    • @abilima At this Kafue Gorge Lower there is NO dam to construct! !!!!!!! So the price per MW should be even LESS!!!
      Instead it is much, much more! This deal stinks of corruption even WORSE than the fire truck tenders. Zambians now have to pay and EXTRA 350 Million Dollars for THE SAME THING – NO DIFFERENCE in specs! Why? What is the reason that Lungu added on another HUGE AMOUNT of 350 Million Dollars to this project? It can only be because this money is earmarked for stealing.

  16. YOU ARE ALMOST THERE MR. PRESIDENT. NEXT TIME DON’T EVEN HINT THAT YOU LISTEN TO CHEAP CRITIQUES. GO ON WORKING. WHEN THESE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE, THE CRITIQUES WILL BE THE FIRST ONES TO SAMPLES.

    • Ati “cheap baseless allegations of corruption” …. Lungu. How does he know they are cheap and baseless allegations if they have not even been investigated??? IF Lungu is TRULY INNOCENT he must open an INDEPENDENT Commision of Inquiry that can examine the evidence and answer Zambias questions. The useless ACC cannot investigate its own boss who gave them their jobs!

      If he fails to do that we will know why — He is GUILTY of stealing and corruption as much as the rest of these PF thieves!

  17. Mr Lungu i’m bothered bcuz you’re behaving like an ostrich burrying its head in the sand.The smoke of Zambian corruption can be seen all the way here in Atlanta Georgia.

  18. At the rate the government and the president are working, the other guy is HISTORY! In fact, he always has been but his lieutenants are so blind that keep on voting pa ka Red (Fires) and losers they are too!

  19. This is what we call visible development.

    Because even the reporter says “visibility” studies have been completed on this project!!!!

    • The only “invisible” thing here is where the stolen money has gone and who stole it!

      US $ 350 million means that at least 350 PF THIEVES can have a MILLION DOLLARS EACH.

      Or maybe Lungu kept it all for himself? And that is why he is calling this “baseless”?????

  20. @Mzambia wa Zamani, @18, On the contrary, here in Atlanta, I can see only a working President and his government and Namwala tribesmen who hate him not on principle but because he is not from the South and trounced their loser who got rich by selling Zambia’s assets.

    • @ Victor
      Here in Lusaka we see corrupt traveler pretending to be President been send-off at airport by bunch of parasitic intellectual failures only to be received 1 or 2 days later by the same bunch.
      On the other hand, freedom of expression experienced by the people of Atlanta is just distant dream thanks to the MOST CORRUPT BUNCH OF PLUNDERERS ever been in power in the world.
      Victor, if you want to kiss his arse or suck his d1ck, please due-it in private during his annual trip to New York

  21. The mammals have no talking points so all they cry is “Corruption!” BASELESS semantics! I think Hazaluza Hagain! Keep working hard Mr. President! Everybody visiting Zambia is amazed at the fast rate of development going on! HH and his henchmen are cancer and demonic.

  22. You will transform this nation and the time you leave after two terms we will be honoring you! Don’t listen to Namwala tribesmen.

    • He has already transformed this Nation. Zambia is ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD which has President who is CONVICTED EMBEZZLER.
      If your CORRUPT idol was resident in USA, RICCO was going to be slapped on him and his thieving arse licking and d1ck sucking associates.

    • Transform the NATION INTO WHAT?

      Another Zaire? At the rate this plundering of our taxpayers money Lungu is going to outdo Mobutu!!!

      And leave Zambia in the same or even worse condition! He is digging us a CORRUPTION HOLE that we may never recover from!

  23. Well said Sir.never mind bitter people such as Kambwili,HH,broke Mulongoti and others.MMD spent 20 yrs in power without anything serious to point at.these failures want PF Govnt to fail too so that they can have a field day in 2021.in 2016 “sonta apowabomba” killed HH,hence opposing these huge projects.THANK GOD,YOU’RE TOO WISE AND ABLE TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES!!BEMBAS SAY “UWAKWENSHA UBUSHIKU,BAMUTASHA NGABWACA”.so HH’s blind and tribal followers will only appreciate these huge projects done by PF Govnt once they are implemented.SO JUST KEEP IT UP SIR.WE SHALL JUDGE YOU AFTER 10 YRS IN OFFICE BY 2026!!HH and Kambwili must be ignored 100%!!as for CK,more beatings for him are around the corner if he wont repent!!
    GO PF GO!!

  24. PF and Lungu are pretending that they are the initiators of these projects. Most were signed for under the MMD. This one in particular was agreed in 2010 before MMD lost the elections the following year. PF is resurrecting them at flared costs so as to pocket the difference. This is going on in a lot of contracts being awarded. The amassing of wealth and extravagant personal expenditures by PF officials is clear to see for those who do not choose to say that the GREAT LEADER is finely clothed when he is actually stark naked.

  25. IT sound goog to see many comments againest the statement confirming how strong president lungu his and above upnd its true by 2020 you will evaporate that will be the end of you

    • Another member of PF “intelligentsia” (LOL) exercising his Constitutional right to do arse licking and d1ck sucking in order to survive

  26. Why do have to be told that this is what we are starting to build just build as it is the job of the government in power at the time. You don’t impress by putting down the foundation for each project being down. This does not happen in developed nation as it your duty to do so. Yet you are so crazy about this even opening up a project that has been done with your name on the placard so childish who is interested? Cheap politics cause that is your job.

  27. Since PF came to power, especially under President Lungu, Lusaka stock exchange has been stagnant.

    Consider two statements, p and q.
    If p being true always leads to q being true, we have a conditional relationship
    “if p is true then q is true”, “if p then q”, “p? q”.

  28. Cumbu munshololwa! Don’t burry your head in the sand if you are normal human being! Sorry to say that Mr President! Listen to what the people are saying and be wise….you can not be the only one not seeing or getting what is going on!! You will lose badly!

  29. Lungu is a theif……from the $42 million fire tender corruption he got $5 million.
    That is why he has not said a word. That is why he has not initiated an inquiry…

    We know what We are taking about.
    We will be vindicated.

  30. Humility is a virtue! Tough guy mentality is bad leadership! To say sorry is not a sign of weakness! The best you can do if you want portray that you are stubborn and your own driver of this nation you can secretly institute a group of investigators to look into some of those allegations….some of course you know them there is no need…but change your approach…in short stop this short cuts you are making because they are wha is known as corruption! I feel so sad that you guys can be so busy raping our poor country like this!

  31. You Upnd donkeys continue with your hatred us we are working we are going to beat you hands down in 2021. Continue with your hard work Ba Kateka we love you

    • MAMBWE STOP BEING AN *****., IF YOU ARE CHEWING WITH HIM PREPARE YOURSELF, BECAUSE TIME IS APPROACHING FASTER THAN YOU THOUGHT. DO YOU REMEMBER YAHYA JAMMEH, RECENT PHOTOS SHOW HIM WORKING ON A FARM IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA WHERE HE HAS BEEN HIDING.

    • @ Zambian Citizen, I am sure you can answer your own question without me even mentioning it! But for your information, why aren’t people being arrested and trial dates being set???

      Because the ‘people” are Lungu! And every one of those useless spineless people at the ACC are afraid of losing their jobs! Can you imagine one of them asking Lungu if he will give them permission to investigate himself? Wake up dude!

      As Bwalya said, Lungu is in control of the Military, Judiciary, Parliament and the Civil Service. There will be NO INVESTIGATION.

      As they say, the figures don’t lie! 350 million dollars were added to this contract, but for exactly the same work!

      Ati “if there was a modification to the original project, is it surprising that it might cost more?” “Do you even know…

  32. Lungu is not bothered about Corruption allegations and he wont be distracted from making more money from these projects.By 2021 Lungu will be a multimillionaire and will rig the Elections again to continue Ruling. There is nothing anybody can do about it. Lungu is in control of the Military,Judiciary ,Parliament and the Civil Service. He has absolute power to do as he likes. Lungu is in control of those who count votes and doesn’t need popular vote. What matters is to control State Machinery and Rule Zambia till death.

    • President Lungu has put it very right. If there is corruption and people can prove it, these matters would already be with the authorities and people would have been arrested. But all the allegations are just media frenzies with no evidence brought forward, why would you lose your sleep over it?? These “corruption” issues are exactly the same as what we experienced in the Mwanawasa era with Fred M’membe and his vile newspaper as the chief accuser and saint but was infact corrupt himself as he evaded taxes and statutory obligations and obtained loans fraudulently amongst other disgusting things he did while calling his perceived enemies corrupt. After the petition furore, the dictatorship nonsense, corruption is the latest wave of attack by the useless and inept opposition and their…

    • @ BWALYA

      Funny isn’t it.
      6 years ago, that is what Rupiah Banda also thought. Until elections came and he lost and cried on TV! Never take people for granted boss.

    • @Judge: You have got your fundamentals wrong. You cannot compare RB and ECL without taking into consideration the political mood at the time. 1991, people wanted change, even Chama Chakomboka would have beaten KK because people wanted UNIP out. 2011, people wanted MMD out after a 20 year rule. 2015, PF had only served one term, if indeed people were tired of PF, hh could have won easily!!! 2021 will be PF’s second term, going by fundamentals like infrastructure development (eg. Level 1 hospitals have already brought healthcare to the people), economy (copper outlook looking strong, agricultural output strong, mealie meal prices and exchange rate very good), demographics (hh still confined to his stronghold and the southern chiefs recent tribal displays!!), hh is the only competitor, I…

    • @ Zambian Citizen …. “allegations are just media frenzies with no evidence brought forward” !!!!

      Are you BLIND or just plain stupld? The EVIDENCE is staring you in face and you cannot see it?

      This Kafue Gorge project was CANCELLED by PF. And then EXACTLY THE SAME PROJECT was signed AGAIN but for another EXTRA 350 Million Dollars! Explain that???

      This is DAYLIGHT STEALING IN ACTION! Are you blind?

    • @Dumdum the brainless twit: The evidence is staring me in the face, which evidence???? So why aren’t people being arrested and trial dates being set??? BECAUSE THESE 1D!OTIC MEDIA REPORTS CAN’T STAND IN COURT, TWIT!!! Why do you want to repeat the same rubbish over and over??? So if there was a modification to the original project, is it surprising that it might cost more??? Do you even know the technical specifications of the Kafue Gorge project?? I very much doubt so: JUST A LOUD USELESS EMPTY NOISY TIN!!!!

    • Mind you there dozens of Kambwili’s standing by the fence, it’s a question of time before they tell us the truth the levels of graft.

    • @ Zambian Citizen, For your information, why aren’t people being arrested and trial dates being set???

      Because the ‘people” are Lungu! And every one of those useless spineless people at the ACC are afraid of losing their jobs! Can you imagine one of them asking Lungu if he will give them permission to investigate himself? Wake up dude!

      As Bwalya said, Lungu is in control of the Military, Judiciary, Parliament and the Civil Service. There will be NO INVESTIGATION.

      As they say, the figures don’t lie! 350 million dollars were added to this contract, but for exactly the same work!

      Ati “if there was a modification to the original project, is it surprising that it might cost more?” “Do you even know the technical specifications of the Kafue Gorge project??” YES I DO…

    • @ Zambian Citizen,

      Ati “if there was a modification to the original project, is it surprising that it might cost more?” “Do you even know the technical specifications of the Kafue Gorge project??” YES I DO !!!

      AND THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT! Do YOU even know the technical specifications of the project? OBVIOUSLY NOT and you are talking out of your backside!

  33. He can not be bothered because he could be clubbing with the people that have been mentioned or he is the engine and fuel of this corrupt government which has no intentions of developing Zambia but their bank accounts. You cant have your sh!t ministers and MP fighting inside Parliament ground and you look away as if nothing has happened .These pieces of sh!ts represent people and their behaviour in private and public should be of high standards because they represent you nomad Chagwa . All these things you are opening and countries you are visiting can be done by your not fit for purpose minister while you stay at state house Tarven and sort out your irresponsible and useless government .

  34. When he loses elections that’s when he will realize that listening to people is important. Right now people are not important to him. He should ask Rupiah Banda, since he is the only living immediate past president.

  35. That’s quite interesting. You will get interested when these allegations are all you will be deling with.

  36. Jonathan is too focused on “more money” for he’s pocket!
    Every dog has its day!
    “Azakamba bwino kusogolo”

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