The Patriotic Front (PF) Media Director Antonio Mwanza has taken the Zambian Minister of Infrastructure, Hon Charles Milupi, to task over the controversial Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway deal. The deal has sparked public discontent and uproar, prompting Milupi to issue a Ministerial Statement in Parliament. However, the statement has raised more questions than answers, and stakeholders have sought answers from the minister regarding the deal.
Mwanza has raised several concerns regarding the deal. Firstly, he questions how the government intends to guarantee the interests of the public, as well as quasi-government institutions, NAPSA and Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB), in case the concessionaire fails to deliver the project according to the agreed timeframe and specifications.
Secondly, Mwanza questions whether the reduction in the cost of the contract from $1.250 billion to $649,976,167.00 was due to a change in the scope of works or a price adjustment. He also requests the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) for both the initial contract and the new one to compare the scope and cost of the works to be done.
Thirdly, Mwanza questions the criteria used to pick the concessionaire in the absence of a conclusive financing arrangement, as well as the government proceeding to sign the contract with the concessionaire before the conclusion of funding agreements with NAPSA and others.
Fourthly, Mwanza raises concerns about the profits that the concessionaire will rake in, totaling $1.849 billion, which represents 289% of the investment. He suggests that NAPSA could pay the concessionaire for the works and then recoup its money by taking over toll fees for the period of the concession. This way, all the estimated $1.8 billion profit will go to the public coffers and be used for other developmental projects.
Lastly, Mwanza questions the need for a sovereign guarantee when the money being used is public money for pensioners.
Mwanza believes that the deal does not make any financial sense and must be withdrawn and redone. The public deserves transparency and clarity on this matter, and the government must address the concerns raised by stakeholders.
This new look LT is a big bore. Firstly, remember you thrive on readers posts. But now to post you want us to navigate through a hoard of franchised stories which we have read on numerous other sites -because they’re paid for. We have to search for Zambian stories among this huge archive of mostly fake stories of no local relevance. It makes LT very boring and tedious to read. Yes it looks as boring as Zambian Observer and Watchdog. You don’t have to copy your rivals. Is LT aware of brand identity? Or are you chasing us to the rival sites ?
Secondly its interesting to see where Kaizar or Tarino are blogging from but with this “Watchdog/Observer” format its all a big yawn.
Has he read the documents that have been released?
I am sure he will find the answer to the questions he is asking.
There are too many ignorant so called politicians in Zambia, who when they were in government were thieves are now trying to make themselves relevant.
Is it so hard to accept that the current administration is free of graft and therefore could negotiate better prices?
$1.250 billion included money for corruption.
@Ben. If you have read the documents and have the answers please share so that wemini can all be enlightened. All I heard from Milupi today was total BS and does not answer the various critical questions being asked including the ones Antonio Mwanza is asking here. Just release the full document on the RDA and other ministries involved websites, unless there’s something you are hiding!!! Simples. It won’t take you a day. You have been trying to justify this scam for the past two weeks bwana and very few gullible people (especially UPND) are biting
This agreement is not new, what about “The GED Africa Route Project” which will operate as 25-year build-operate-transfer project between the subsidiaries of GED Africa (GED Congo and GED Zambia), and the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Zambia under separate concession agreements.
PFofficials are miffed that the chance for them to get corruption money is gone.
This one who advised lungu to reject the election results is only trying to be relevant………..
By asking silly questions and raising dull points……….
You have been outclassed, outplayed, outdone and shown up………..
Where have you ever heard of the Chinese borrowing money from a developing
country as in this case ????
Imwe ba LT. First of all your website is now cr@p and you are busy moderating posts for no reason. Even when they are within the rules
Could be that the public is saying there’s no smoke without? Contractor to operate and collect toll fees for 23 years?
Antonio mwanza you had your on time but you decided to misuse it by ligalized tribalism nepotism gassing insults thuggerism police brutality land grabbing and corruption.Today you can not talk about the government which you failed to do.pf you mean that apart from politics you can not survive unless to steal money from government? coming back into power forget.