President Edgar Lungu has again asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take interest and find out how contracts are being awarded by government institutions.
Speaking yesterday when he inspected Mwenda Secondary School in Chipili District in Luapula whose works have stalled since 2017, President Lungu said that the request does not mean that he is interfering with the work of the ACC.
President Lungu said that he will not shy away from telling the Commission to fight all forms of corruption as opposed to concentrating in one area.
The President said that he was disappointed that construction works have continued to be given to private companies when there are government wings such as the Zambia Army and Zambia National Service that can do the works at lower costs.
The President observed that the tendency to give expensive contracts that can be executed at a lower cost is motivated by greed and corruption and that this must be investigated, before adding that the Zambia Army and Zambia National Service can deliver quality works at a lower cost compared to private companies.
The President called on officers to treat government projects as their own if the people are to benefit and questioned why the Ministry of General Education has not completed the project in a phased manner so that people can start using the facility. The President has since directed that the school be completed in a phases.
Speaking earlier, Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Vincent Mwale said the government will practice the model that is being used to construct schools in Zambia by the World Bank. Mr. Mwale said the government will be using internal engineers to work on projects. He said it is 70 percent cheaper to use internal government engineers to work on projects than engaging contractors. Mr. Mwale said the model which had so far worked on 15 schools countrywide will help the Government to complete schools on time and save on resources.
And General Education Minister Dennis Wanchinga said he will ensure key infrastructure is completed at the school in the next few months. Later, President Lungu held a meeting with chiefs and village headmen. Speaking during the meeting, President Lungu said money for the construction of key roads has been found. He said works on the roads will start in the next few days.
“Edgar Lungu takes another swipe at ACC” As well he might. ACC as currently led is rubbish. They’re not capable of taking a hard look at wht they do. There are too many silos at ACC.
Edgar Lungu means well when we reminds the ACC to do it’s job. Lots of corruption in these contracts. Reading what Isaac Mwanza said in feature article and what Lungu days now, i think ACC must wake up and follow these contracts. He is not discouraging them but reminding them that corruption is not just focusing on his ministers. These civil servants are colluding with businesses to inflate prizes but u want to focus on the Lungu inner circle? Hell No
What’s the matter with this man?
What is wrong is that you are armchair critic. Read the story and appreciate the President for once. Also take time to read a feature article posted here that evaluates his fight against corruption.
What’s wrong is that you are an armchair critic like many UPND. Read the story and agree with him for once. Lungu is committed to fighting corruption.
HE THINKS BY HIM DOING THAT HE IS WINNING THE HEARTS OF ZAMBIANS.THIS MAN FOR HEAVENS SAKE HE HAS DONE MORE HARM TO ZAMBIA. AND PLEASE BE CARE KZ IS STILL WORKING AT STATE HOUSE. HE WAS ELEVATED.HE HAS A KA SERIOUS CHARM WEEE.
You on point Mr. President. This is what Issac was talking about. He is asking ACC to do more
when someone is so so deceptive in wat he does its abit dificult to take their word. He wd say let will of pipo b reflected in their votes. Bt same person sends sacks of cash to use to buy voters. One hs to be careful with such human beings..
Lungu is a joker without a clue. Where did he find the money for those PF tribal projects?
He should just have told them that money for completing the project has been PRINTED after I fired Kalyalya.
Mr President where have you been for u to talk about the amy now are you telling me that u didn’t know that the amy has brick lays engineers etc. Kaili u re full now
Well said my President. We can reduce the cost if we all vigilante. Regrettably, it’s civil servants who have connived with businessmen who have made it appear like your administration is corrupt. Coupled with ACC focus on your Ministers and ineptness, the public perception gets to be against you. But don’t relent in saying what you have been saying. ACC is targeting your inner circle to make you unpopular
Well said my President. We can reduce the cost if we all vigilante. Regrettably, it’s civil servants who have connived with businessmen who have made it appear like your administration is corrupt. Coupled with ACC focus on your Ministers and ineptness, the public perception gets to be against you. But don’t relent in saying what you have been saying. ACC is targeting your inner circle to make you unpopular.
Lungu is right. ACC seem to be targetinb politicians when they must evaluate these inflated contracts
i will not fire chilufya. i ve the permanent Secretary to take disciplinary action against management at Kitwe central Hospital???????
THIS MAN IS A TYPICAL HIPPOCRATE, TO SHAME HIM LETS SIMPLY NAME HIS CONTRACTOR FRIENDS AND HOW MUCH THEY HAVE BEEN PAID. LAST TIME HE TOLD US THAT HE HAD INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE DEPOSITING LARGE SUMS OF MONEY (OTHERS WILL CALL THEM MONEY LAUNDERS). WHAT HAS HE DONE, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR ACTION?
PLEASE, LEAVE COMEDY TO THE COMEDIANS!
Timely wise advice. My president is million miles ahead in his thinking compared to the privatisation crook who is desperate to win an election to pay people he owes. A lot of information will soon come out to prove how corrupt hh was during privatisation. Unfortunately or rather fortunately this means diasporans who vowed to return only when their regional demigod wins, will continue languishing abroad
Timely wise advice. My president is million miles ahead in his thinking compared to the privatisation crook who is desperate to win an election to pay people he owes. A lot of information will soon come out to prove how corrupt hh was during privatisation. Unfortunately or rather fortunately this means diasporans who vowed to return only when their regional demigod wins, will continue languishing abroad. Kaizar
The problem is that our system vests all power in one office and person. If indeed Edgar, whom we consider as a rogue President, has any desire to fight corruption he should move to enact Laws that define how officers serving in these institutions must be appointed and dismissed. He only hints at why he has appointed someone during the swearing-in ceremony but he doesn’t explain why he fires and no procedure is followed. Now people are saying he fired Kalyalya because Kalyalya refused to print money. Even Mvunga that he has appointed won’t make independent decisions for fear of being dismissed unceremoniously. This is what causes Heads of these institutions to always wait for a cue from the appointing authority. ConCourt Judges now behave in a certain manner since he threatened them
So the back stops at Edgar himself. These people report to him regularly. If he indeed doesn’t want to interfere in their operations let him devolve the oversight function of these institutions to others.
The President has very good intentions but he is always misinterpreted. The costs of some of these projects are exorbitant and yet ACC only follows his Ministers and those around him. What is their intention?
When something doesn’t work, you re-engineer the setup. It is too easy to just say the word and hope everything will automatically rearrange itself. We need to dig down to the root cause to come up with the right solution proposal.
Thank you to all those that have contacted me with concerns about the libellous article circulating from news diggers alleging that I owe ARC tours about 132 grand. Firstly I don’t owe this silly company any such money and surely even if I did, i am sure this is money i can afford to pay. However out of principle why should I pay for things I don’t owe. I understand the economy is rough for small business.ngafyashupa better to just call me and ask me for money rather than making silly allegations
He has known about corruption all along and been part of it. Now he wants to play holier than thou because the elections are around the corner. A clue about how useless he is with his cabinet is in his forever issuing ‘directives’
This man should seriously stop jocking
Who said “Ubomba Mwibala alya mwibala” and what did he or she mean? And according to Lusambo, it’s no longer “he” but “she” … Kikikiki
The President is playing to the gallery. He can have the acting Director General of ACC in his presence even at 04:00 if he wants to. How come when the youth criticised they were told that that there are channels to follow, but the boss is washing his government dirty linen in public. Furthermore, Lungu is being double faced. On one hand he denies that there is corruption in his government and challenges anyone with evidence to come forward, while on the other hand he blames ACC for not fighting corruption. Which is which Dr Lungu?
Seer 1 where are you. Help help
Kick out Pf
Seer 1 where are you. Help help
Kick out Pf
Why did interfere with Chitalu Chilufya’s, trial. We know you don’t mean well for fight against corruption.
You must shut up and wait for your own trial after 2021 elections.
PF must go!
Look who is talking about corruption… what a hypocrite!
He’s rich now and want to pretend he is now fighting corruption… negro please! How long has he been president for him to start talking about this now?
The little guy at a district and provincial level just want to steal and do what the bosses in Lusaka are doing. Can Lungu account for his wealth on his publicly declared salary?
Of course the ACC focus on ministers because these are the big fish who award these contracts in the first place. A guy at the provincial wouldn’t have a legal backing to award a huge contract of a certain amount according to the Public Procurement laws.
And a lot of these private companies are owned by these same ministers either directly or indirectly through proxies, including Lungu’s…
Does this inept bum know the role of ACC?
At the end of his term that is when he gets surprised that contracts are not being given to ZNS and ZAF, Where have you been bwana?
So HH is in the microscope for his source of wealth? Very good, this is the way it should be. But we should extend the microscope to our ruling class too, how come they are so filthy rich in the short time that they have been in power? I mean the donations they make daily to the povety stricken have a source either legit or not, not so? I mean one of them even boasts that K2m is small change. Come on ACC, get your act together!
Jagaban of corruption
Thats one way of saying guys stop looking my way & start looking that way if you want peace with us. ACC is just useless anyway.
Lungu thinks we are dum…….
He know lungu has absolute power , we know lungu has the remote controls.
You is trying to make like he is powerless to intervene in the looting of the Zambian tax payers …..
Lungu wants to paint a picture of him standing powerless complaining about corruption
We know you lungu.
Lungu thinks we are dum…….
He know lungu has absolute power , we know lungu has the remote controls.
You is trying to make like he is powerless to intervene in the looting of the Zambian tax payers …..
Lungu wants to paint a picture of him standing powerless complaining about corruption
We know you lungu.
We know you have the ACC remote controls in your pocket…..
And a lot of these private companies are owned by these same ministers either directly or indirectly through proxies, including Lungu’s friends and family members. Get real iwe Kawalala Lisholi Lungu!
And look orders the ACC who to investigate and who not to so what nonsense is this dude talking about?
Who ever appoints the ACC boss should fire them with immediate effect. ACC has failed the people of Zambia and perhaps they are accomplices to corruption that’s why they are hibernating.
The president is asking a valid question and now is the time to let the Zambian people know the state of corruption in Zambia. If you have nothing to hide, tell us. you will be fired anyway.
LET’S EDUCATE THE PF
1. Government and the job market at large CONNOT absorb ALL engineers and construction professionals graduating from our universities and colleges. So some must form companies and create more employment opportunities. That’s how economies grow – construction is one of the quickest ways of creating mass employment opportunities. So a government that’s committed to solving the unemployment problem will allow these companies to flourish by doing business with them.
2. Lack of capacity and sheer incompetence in government should be no reason to stifle private sector and SMME growth, stop employing your cronies and get well qualified, experienced and competent professionals in government to monitor and evaluate the work of service providers. 3. You only need ONE…
3. You only need one Ministry of Public Works, Housing and General Infrastructure, with DEPARTMENTS of ROADS, HOUSING and GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE (there’s a duplication of thee functions in Lungu’s govt)
4. Projects are temporal assignments and have specific durations, so it makes sense for government to engage private sector for these assignments, at the conclusion of which it has no financial obligation to them – as opposed to having a huge staff complement of construction professionals perpetually drawing huge salaries and other perks whether they have projects to manage or not.
5. The President needs the right people to advise him correctly -both Vincent Mwale and Wanchinga are *****S when it comes to infrastructure