By Hon Heartson Mabeta,
The government of Zambia through his excellence President Hakainde Hichilema has come to the rescue of the people of Mufulira who have been subjected to daylight robbery by scavengers in Public offices who awarded themselves a K701 million overpriced road contract without following the tendering procedure on 25th July 2016. The project was expected to be completed on 29th June 2019.
The fraudulent contract was awarded to Inyatsi Roads Zambia Limited in a joint venture with Marks Industries Limited. The two companies had no machinery, expertise, and experience to execute the works hence subcontracted Swift Cargo to do the job.
Swift Cargo mobilized a water bowser, Grader, loader, and two tippers on 30th June 2017. Just after grading some deviation on the main road, NRF was instructed to pay the contractor without any certificate of works done.
Despite the contractor having failed to complete the works as per contract terms, the contract was extended three times with the revised completion date of 28th September 2021. The amount of the contract was also revised upwards to K745 million on which RDA was instructed to continue paying the contractor without measuring works done.
Before the 2021 election, the contractor had been paid a total of K238 million. Despite the change of government on 12th August due to the rampant corruption in the PF government, RDA authorized another payment of K29.7 million kwacha on 12th September 2021 to the contractor.
The member of parliament for Kantashi Hon Anthony Mumba questioned the government why they had paid 30 million to a contractor who had done nothing on the road and asked the government to terminate the contract, the contractor went on radio to denounce the member of parliament for misleading the public and sued the Mp for Kantashi for defamation claiming K1 million in damages.
Despite the member of parliament for Mufulira central Hon Golden Mwila, member of parliament for Chifubu Hon Loyd Lubosha and myself, having visited RDA to get the right information on the money paid to the contractor and value of works done on the road on 1st October 2021, RDA couldn’t give us the information.
On behalf of the people of Kankoyo, I was asked to write a letter to request the information, having in mind that the contractor on this road was Swift Cargo, after 60 days of following the issue, RDA responded saying that the contract was awarded to Inyatsi Roads Zambia and not swift cargo hence our question to know the value of works done and amount paid was not responded to.
On 2nd November 2021, we wrote another letter quoting the correct contractor but RDA couldn’t respond to our letter.
The member of parliament for Mufulira decided to officially write to the speaker of the national assembly, hence the minister responded to the question yesterday on 25th February 2022.
During the parliament session, it was shocking to learn that the total money paid to the contractor was in fact 267 million kwacha and not the 30 million Hon Anthony Mumba knew hence I asked the minister to tell the people of Mufulira if the works are done was equivalent to the money paid. The response from the minister was not very satisfactory hence we looked forward to RDA giving us a more detailed report.
After parliament, RDA called me to pick up the response to the letter we wrote on 2nd November 2021. In the response RDA has advised that the contract was terminated on 28th September 2021, the agency is in the process of procuring another contractor to complete the remaining works the project, the contract is under investigation by various security wigs as such, they shall advise at an appropriate time on the various requested details when the sharing of such information can longer jeopardize the on-going inquiries.
It’s our prayer that the investigation will be concluded soon, the 267 million robbed from the people of Mufulira will be recovered and anyone found wanting will be punished heavily for betraying the people of Mufulira.
What unites us is more than what can ever divide us as we are always and ever stronger together.
The Author is the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) Member of Parliament for Kankoyo Constituency in Mufulira
I don’t know about the money but Nyatsi did M18 on schedule. The contractor who received the money is known why not just go and make him do the road or make him refund the money.
And you STILL don’t want to arrest the thieving incompetent and corrupt PF president Edgar China Lungu??????
MP so far nothing has been done…. just pledges.
It’s easy for a grade 1 to add 1 + 1. Inyatsi were mentioned in the controversial eSwatini land that was gifted to ECL and his Press Assistant so one wouldn’t be surprised that the Company is being mentioned in this fraud. Swift Cargo or whatever should be the same Company that didn’t the bad part of the Chingola – Solwezi road. We know who is involved in the Company. Swift is linked to the man who survived 21 bullets and a former Minister at the Ministry of Infrastructure. If investigative wings can’t conclude this case then their integrity will be put into question. In Zambia money often speaks louder than words
Why is there Sunday Chanda on the picture?
Emmanuel Mwamba and his PF wish this was never raised. But they have a staunch defender who will ensure that no successful prosecution takes place.
That is Mabeta..
they just look together in this picture.
Oh eff off! This is getting boring. Why can’t you just fulfil your promise/lies to Zambian people? Not a single corruption conviction to date because it only exists in your hateful president’s mind. Good morning tikki aka tarino aka zennia
I am also fed up hearing corruption which has not been proved up to now. Stop your nonsense talk and do the work. Leave those things to investigative wings which to me fall should of minimal skills required for the job.
@ Yauka Mbuzi meeeeeeeee, spewing foul tantrums – the whole story stinks with PF corruption dehumanising Zambians, yet some still kiss PF
Why no arrests …we are tired of reading about all this whilst the thieves continue to do the same jobs and enjoying the money.
I do not condone Lungu’s corrupt deals on this project. He must face the law but why is this report saying govt has come to the rescue of the people of Mufulira? How? The road is yet to be done, the money paid hasn’t been returned.
Be careful of celebrating the fall of one thief to another thief
This is part of the clique the president is talking about……….
We want to start seeing arrests now………..
Even that thieving corrupt fraud convict moron Lawer lungu needs to start answering questions………
When Briden called out the lungu regime as corrupt……….
We had the local PF monkeys on LT jumping up and down………
This is what he meant…….
Spaka @ 14. Soon they will jump from one branch to another up there, fearing that if they jumped down, there will only be one way to Chimbokaila never to jump up again.
@ Deja Vu What is M18?
The government’s plan to restore noble ideals in utilization of national resources may be appealing to the people of Zambia but the pace at which the plans are being implemented is very worrisome and annoying for many people who would like quick results not withstanding the legal processes. Corruption seems to have been entrenched in the administration systems of the civil service and the preservation of the management staff is contributing to the hindrance of getting results.