Friday, March 29, 2024

Stardy Mwale must resign-TIZ

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Defense Permanent Secretary Stard Mwale
Defense Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale

Transparency International Zambia says Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale must resign for allegedly involving himself in corruption.

TIZ Executive Director Wesley Chibamba said it is improper for Mr Mwale as a serving public official to continue rendering for public contracts using his company.

Mr Chibamba said reevaluations that Mr Mwale’s company was awarded a contract to build a Maternity Annex at Kabushi Clinic but failed to complete the works are saddening.

He was speaking on Tuesday when he featured on Frank on Hot, a radio programme hosted by veteran broadcaster Frank Mutubila.

“That issue makes very sad reading. It is sad that people in these privileged offices can abuse their authority and award themselves tenders, that shouldn’t be happening because they are using peculiarly advantage and the law is clear on that,” Mr Chibamba.

He added, “In other jurisdictions, if you are a public official, you are not supposed to participate in public tenders for that very reason because you exert a certain level of influence over tender evaluation committees because if they see your company tendering for the contract, they will be thinking there will be repercussions if they don’t award it to you. Nigeria is one example, they have stopped public officers from tenders for public tenders but here in Zambia you find that a Permanent Secretary somewhere has a company and that the corruption and resource drain happens.”

Meanwhile, Financial Analyst Blessings Kafwanka has called for the dismissal of Mr Mwale.

Mr Kafwanka has also commended Kabushi Member of parliament Bowman Lusambo for exposing the contractor that failed to deliver the maternity annex at Kabushi hospital.

“The contractor was compelled to move on site at titanic speed to complete the works. From the video circulating, you can easily tell from the freshly painted walls, paint buckets and droppings, the wheel burrows and other building tools still in the rooms that the works where done in a hurry,” Mr Kafwanka said.

“With the challenges the country is facing, we cannot allow selfish politicians to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor. We need proper accountability.”

He added, “This explains why the Auditor General’s report makes revelations every year about undelivered materials and other glaring irregularities but the relevant authorities are always reluctant to act.”

“How many other companies owned by politically exposed individuals have failed to deliver?”

He stated, “In the same manner government dismissed 12 Accountants from various Ministries after the release of the 2017 Auditor General’s report; action must also be taken in this matter. We must not be selective in dispensing justice. When the 12 accountants were fired, the auditor general reported a 98% decrease in misappropriation of funds in 2018.”

He said dismissing Mr Mwale is the only way government can demonstrate its commitment towards promoting fiscal discipline in the way public resources are utilized.

“His firm together with other suppliers who fail to deliver materials after being paid in full must be blacklisted and legal action taken to recover tax payers’ money.”

“We cannot afford to allow this to pass at the expense of the poor Zambian women who have been deprived of a Maternity health facility in Kabushi.”

12 COMMENTS

  1. Stardy Construction was awarded the contract when its proprietor Stardy Mwale was PF Copperbelt Chairman, what has that to do with his current position? The NCC, the supervising engineer and the Buildings Officer must audit the contract to see who was wrong. PF Govt has defaulted on almost all contracts. Good for nothing NGOs must analyze issues before they speak

    • Resigning is impossible. Its akin to putting the cart before the horse. Its not in our leaders DNA to step aside gracefully. This is clearly a conflict of interest. I recall when I was working in the private sector, we hard a gift register were you had to declare any gift from a customer even if it was a bottle of wine at Xmas. I wonder if this happens in GRZ

    • what has that to do with his current position? You even have the audacity to ask such a question? No civil servant is supposed to be vying for contracts in the government

  2. Of course he must resign. It appears our appointing authority is allergic to disciplining his crowd and relies on legal technicalities to maintain frauds and mobsters in his administration. Some of these things have a way of catching up with one – do not game government. It grinds slowly but it does so exceedingly…

  3. Such people don’t resign, think of Chitotela will all the evidence, the burger walked free to temporary freedom… What a mess of government officials

  4. Such people don’t resign, think of Chitotela with all the evidence, the burger walked scotfree to temporary freedom… What a mess of government officials, if only our president was merciless to fire such rotten thieves 2021 and beyond would be his

  5. This question should have asked to the so called humble President about awarding contracts to briefcase construction firms with zero track record, our hungry journalists were bribed with snacks that they forgot to ask trending questions. he wont resign because he is a Defence PS he signs of behalf of the people in State House on inflated Defence procurement contracts.

  6. Dream on!! 2turdy is going nowhere.
    We have a Charlatan, sorry excuse for a President in Zed today, simply a Playboy, just interested in playing, flying aimlessly, drinking Whiskey, & dancing Kwasa -kwasa day & night.
    WHO HAS J0N4 EVER SACKED FOR MISDEMEANORS??? J0N4 IS NEVER PROACTIVE UNLESS ITS STEALING. J0N4 HAS THE VOLITION TO SACK ONLY WHEN P.F MEMBERS DARE CHALLENGE HIM FOR THAT TOP POST.
    As we speak violent dangerous repeat offenders like K@!zer are still in post, despite volumes of piling up cases, & catalogues of assault charges reported to the useless P.Folice, now weaker than uneducated thug C@dres.
    Ba Ch!mpy0ngo a Helicopter t3rror!st is still issuing directives to his C@dres to infinge on citizens rights, & J0N4 STILL NDWII.
    DREAM ON DREAMERS.

  7. Leaders are born not made the more you critisize the President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his government the more he raise like an Eagle. Let us all focus on how will develop our country, because the government is you and your ability to work.

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