And Mr Chanda disclosed that President Lungu has elevated key offices within government such as the function of the internal auditor to the level of Permanent Secretary and that of the Accountant General in order to curb the misappropriation and misapplication of resources.
Speaking during a media engagement at Bonanza Estates in Lusaka yesterday, the Presidential Spokesperson stated that civil servants are being surcharged and punished internally almost on a daily basis.
“….to be be very systematic, the President has taken major steps to ensure that control of the misappropriation of funds, control of misapplication of funds is done in a systematic manner.
“It is not when you stand on the anthill and shout that that is when you fight corruption, that is when you fight leakages of finance or that is when you stop misapplication of resources, the President has elevated key offices within government that deal with controls such as the internal auditor function, the person holding that Office is at the level of Permanent Secretary, Accountant General and also, he has increased the interaction between these key Institutions; the Auditor General is talking regularly with the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Finance, Secretary to the Treasury, Accountant General and also that Civil servants are being surcharged and punished internally and quietly! It is not every offence in government that require the dismissal of a Civil Servant but these things are happening on a daily basis,” he said.
Mr Chanda who is Special Assitant to the President for Press and Public Relations reiterated that the Head of State hopes to see the thickness of the Auditor General’s report reduced.
“The President as he has said, hopes to see the thickness of the Auditor General’s report maybe halfed or reduced to below half of what it is and he has given instructions to controlling officers that the surcharges and the stiff statutory pernalties will be implemented if there is no improvement. So there is strong conversation going on within government about misapplication of funds.
“Because we are in government, we suffer unnecessary criticism about misapplication of funds is labelled as corruption against Ministers and the President and individuals who have nothing to do whatsoever with somebody who, the Controlling Officer has authorised Mr Chanda to go and buy a Nokia and it costs k6000 and when Mr Chanda because he has to communicate to Washington within the shortest possible time, he goes to that shop and doesnt find a Nokia, he buys a Samsung that also cost k6000, that is misapplication! When all these things are out in the Media, unfortunately you colleagues of mine cant distinguish between misapplication, misappropriation, theft and corruption – but that is not to justify anything. With all those things, the President is very strong, very clear that he does not want to tolerate,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Mr Chanda warned against unnecessary excuses in the administration of public resources.
“The reason why you write a budget isbto follow it. The reason why you write a programme and say at 10hrs, you want to finish and then at 12:30hrs, you want to go for Snacks is to follow that. So he doesn’t want unnecessary excuses of misapplication that is ending up in the newspapers as corruption and theft, he wants people to stick by the book.
“So measures are being taken, internal conversations within Ministries is taking place and robust conversations in Cabinet are taking place and when the President speaks, publicly as he did when he was addressing the Controlling officers and Ministers and the Director General of Anti-Corruption Commission is in the audience, DEC, Police and says you must act, he means it!”
Has he started issuing “authorization” to plunder as the first step?
Amos, I know you read these comments so let me speak frankly to you! Politics aside the issue here is we need to spend the little resources we have wisely. We cannot go on spending sprees which see govt depts such as RDA, RATSA, ERB, ZRA, PACRA, NAPSA, including the Ministries and Councils etc continue to purchase expensive liabilties such as luxury SUVs and dish out huge allowances and salaries to many of your fellow non performing top govt officers! The bill on the above mentioned items is in the millions of dollars per month, I appeal to the new Finance Minister to carry out an audit as to whether we are getting any value from such high expenditure. Enough is enough- the cake is small but if eaten wisely can last longer so prioritise on drainages, health, education, support SMEs and…
Yes Lungu has taken steps to further advance corruption. Actions speak louder than words;appointment of a corrupt Margaret Mwanakatwe as Finance Minister and invitation of Kabila one of the most corrupt presidents are examples
Marabishi! What steps? Let’s start by investigating the known current corruption regarding fire trucks, mukula, ambulances, roads before we can start talking about steps. We have the auditors report to start with.
Corruption is when you take Dora to be information minister and government spokesperson… just to fight Kambwili & opposition as she did in her disbanded MMD government.
I am a PF supporter, BUT … You are clearly glossing over facts.
The president cannot do all things and is doing his part as a human albeit with some flaws.
Not so sure whether you guys are taking the country for f00ls or it is becoming clear that you are incapable. Reason why I say this is you seem to be glossing over transparency… let the Zambian people as citizens see Open books.
Amos, the reason why we cannot differentiate between misapplication, misallication and corruption is simple… our government is not transparent. Do not blame us for the problems you are creating by not being transparent.
According to the Open Budget Survey, Zambia’s Open Budget Index scored 8, meaning that citizens have little or no access to the budget information they need to understand the…
Cont… budget and hold the government to account.
I support the president… it is people like you who are pathetic trying to explain the strength in your weaknesses.
I experimented this using my 13 year old on transparency in my Home and threw in your defence in this article, am not joking, he was laughing and giving reasons why it was a joke. He emphasised on a point that unless I want to steal condensed milk from the fridge so that his brothers including Mum and Dad were kept in the dark… Thirteen year old! And you guys are how old? Running a country?
Spending more by promoting the said offices to the level of PS. What a paradox. Now that the bala is dry and send eaten, one engages security officers at such a cost. What a strategy
Ctn… Enough is enough- the cake is small but if eaten wisely can last longer so prioritise on drainages, sanitation, better roads, health, decongesting towns, education, support SMEs and give farmers better price for their maize. These are areas that add value directly to the economy not buying the latest Toyota GX at USD 100,000 so that after 5 years some non performing apamwamba govt officer buys it at K50,000- this is the MMD mentality which must be done away with! Let’s be serious with life!
We do not need IMF bailouts if only we learn to manage our own scarce resources wisely.
2020 well articulated and reasoned but I believe some comment on the borrowings and use of single sourced contractors is necessary.. the way in which mr chanda trivialises misappropriation of public fund is to be deplored.misappropriation of public funds is a crime and should not be treated with internal censure.
Can mr chanda realise thst transparency in government is essential
Amos Chanda cannot justify misappropriation of funds he and his boss are involved in. Why Lungu and Chanda have failed to prove Kambwili wrong when he alleges you and your boss the humble leader building all over Lusaka. Chanda when IMF sees your thieving behaviour, you are not trying to cover up the IMF straight forward answer. Stop stealing we cannot trust you anymore.
This little rat is feeding you lies…the key word there is internal, meaning behind closed doors…if you work in a bank or private company and you misappropriate funds the penalty is jail and instant dismissal why can it not be the same for govt.
Have you not heard about the people who’ve been retired and fired in nations interest. You’re the same *****s who cry foul togather with your hh that tongas are being sucked. That’s why ecl has now taken a systematic approach in dealing with offenders.
You jj been an under5 as you’re can’t understand these steps. Just go back and continue sucking from your mother. There’s nothing you can tells us which is sensible. Try your blogs on zwd where your equals are.
The only people we hear of being retaired in national interest are the the ones calling lungu a corrupt thief……why don’t they tell us why a person was retired in national interest ??? What are they hiding ??
Kambwili mulusa are your examples.
Because all of them would be incarcerated or pegeonholed, where they belong!
Deep down they know it and we know it. They can’t throw the ones who’ve been caught in the coolers, because they might just reveal their acts.
P.S … am not Kainde’s supporter … the tribalist seller of Zambia’s treasure! But screw PF for thieving, they could have done much better.
Chanda is lying as usual , why should thieves be punished in secreate corners ?? You need to make examples of people , prosecute the culprits in public, what are you hiding ??
In a nutshell the problem lungu faces when trying to combat corruption is he has been compromised earlier on as president with corruption , he entertained and engaged In corruption with his associates only now he realises that things are not looking good…
I think 4.4 has answered this one
It is appreciated to hear that the President is making steps towards fighting corruption in Government. However, the nation wants convincing answers on The Fire Tenders,Ambulances,The Lusaka Ndola Dual Carriage way, The Fertilizer Deal, The $600m Housing project and many others…The President must face the nation and clarify these matters..
As long as he remains mute, these issues will forever haunt PF…
And 2021 will not be easy..
As long as transparency is not there… we might as well forget this and only welcome it as music that will stop at some point.
@ 6 gk… that is a very BIG ASK! Are you sure the president can explain that?
Though I support their programmes which have cost every Zambian arm and a leg except themselves. We know what has happened, the president is not about to crucify himself, we clearly understand what has happened here.
Stop asking those questions, they will never be answered until they are thrown out of power. Let’s use our mental focus to think better than them.
I mean look at the quality of thinking which is a proper parry to the proverbial ukunyela mumenshi munwa which by the way can only be cholera as a consequence.
So you plunder resources in your own country? It means these guys can be outthought and kicked out, they are not clever!
P.S kainde is not part of the solution, he is one of them!
MISAPPLICATION IS WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A JOB AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT EVEN RESPOND TO YOUR APPLICATION
Honestly does the elevation of certain senior positions in government contribute to reduction in misappriopriation of government funds??How?Those elevated positions will now require more resources in terms of salaries,allowances and other entitlements that go with those offices.Twebeniko fimbi please!
Amos, a problem of this magnitude can only be solved when you acknowledge it exists. You and your wider political family have denied that there is massive plunder. So what the heck are you going to address which does not exist?
Mr. Chandra for me I would want to urge your Government to uphold the Laws of this country. If people are saying there is corruption, it must be investigated. As things stand now, Zambians everywhere are all talking about how corruption has been legalized in Zambia by those who swore to protect the Zambians. Look at what is happening around us? Not even the so called USA is clean from this vice. I respect the former Ethiopian PM.
This fella is really bird brained. He gives a small example of buying a samsung phone instead of a nokia phone as an example of misapplication of funds but fails to justify buying mercedes benz ambulances at exorbitant prices instead of land cruizer ambulances at a lower cost. Zambian are really sinking deep into the sh^thole.
They think we are stupid… Chiluba cried about this, there is presidence of the law taking its course.
Zambia knows best, the merrier it becomes, the more careless you have been. A journey, life and indeed a song always has an end.
P.S … all those who’ve plundered the country’s resources be it as consultants in opposition or ruling party have to be brought before the courts of law. Umulandu taubola iyo…
President Lungu should also take immediate decisive action against the Zambian intelligence also infamously known as the Office of the President (OP).
OP is the biggest culprit in Wasteful, Extravagant, Reckless, and Unregulated Expenditure of Public Funds.It has illegally acquired instruments of Torture and Death and even paying for witchcraft services.
OP has allowed the Culture of Corruption and Plundering of National Wealth, by a few, to thrive in Zambia. With its Network, OP can’t feign ignorance about the illegal cutting and export of the Mukula Trees and rampant Corruption in State House and all government ministries.
With its Hidden Agenda of usurping power, and steeped in the Occult, the OP is using everything to achieve its ultimate goal, including: Assassinations, Torture,…
Lungu this, Lungu that won’t work. Everyone knows that you Amos and your boss are Master Thieves. Whom are you fooling? You tribalists? You failed leaders. Visionless thugs!
Lungu this, Lungu that won’t work.What does Lungu know? Everyone knows that you Amos and your boss are Master Thieves. Whorm are you fooling? You tribalists? You failed leaders. Visionless thugs!
This regime’s downfall will be harder and painful than you all in this current regime anticipate.. people have been taken for granted for long! Remember this is a technological era, whatever happens will be digested faster by the people than the kaunda era. You can enjoy now, but the clock is ticking
You very right ma brother
That us the reason someone has suggested to cut off social media.
I mean do right by your people and people will do right by you. You enrich yourselves at the expense of a poor Zambian, whichever which way you try to block the victims’ rebuttal will not be controlled.