President Hakainde Hichilema has sworn in Andiseya Lengalenga as Director General of the Public Private Partnership Office (PPPO), Jamie Mukuwa, as Controller of Internal Audit and Ricky Akafumba, as High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Hichilema emphasised the need for those appointed to align with government’s vision for the Country, noting that it is only then that they will be able to contribute to the delivery of development.
He urged the newly appointed Director General of the PPPO to support the government’s agenda to drive more public, private partnerships in the country, for infrastructural development and economic growth.
President Hichilema also instructed the PPPO Director General to ensure ongoing projects being implemented under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, in the country, are expedited.
The President also called for diversification of projects under the PPP model to include infrastructure such as hospitals, among others.
“We just don’t want PPPs in roads, we want PPPs in hospitals, we want PPPs in different sectors, infrastructure, interconnectors”, he indicated.
And the Head of State urged the newly appointed Controller of Internal Audit to ensure speedy and efficient audits in order to protect public resources.
He stressed that it is important for the Internal Audit Unit to detect any flows in the system as this accords a chance for them to be rectified, thereby protecting government resources.
The President further directed the newly appointed High Commissioner to Nigeria, to attract more investment to Zambia.
And speaking in an interview with journalists, shortly after being sworn in, Director General of the PPPO, Andiseya Lengalenga, pledged to spread the focus of PPPs beyond just roads, disclosing that her office has also come up with Dry Inland Ports to help boost inter trade.
“We are also coming up with small and medium scale PPPs, where we want sub-national government, local authorities to also participate in PPPs”, she said.
In another interview with the media, Controller of Internal Audit, Jamie Mukuwa said she will ensure internal controls are strengthened and timely, to avoid queries by the Office of the Auditor General.
And newly appointed High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ricky Akafumba pledged to not only woo investors but also secure a market for Zambian businesses, in Nigeria.
