Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya says the Treasury has released K200 million to clear debt owed to small scale contractors.
And Siliya has encouraged political parties to practice intra-party democracy.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Siliya announced that the K200 million which was released by the Ministry of Finance had been paid out to over a 190 small contractors, 24 sub-contractors and consultants.
“I did announce two weeks ago that government was going to pay Zambian contractors beginning with small contractors. I’m happy to report that K200 million which was released by the ministry of finance has been paid out to over a 190 small Zambian contractors and a further 24 sub-contractors, as well as consultants. It is important that Zambian contractors who do their work are actually paid so that we keep the economy commerce going and that the workers in the industry continue to look after their families. I know that some monies are still owed to some other small, medium and big contractors, government is really hoping that we can come to an end of this debt issue,” she said.
And Siliya encouraged political parties to practice intra-party democracy.
“Government has noticed with great concern the continued violence during elections. Elections should be a time when citizens can freely choose the leaders they prefer. As government we condemn in the highest order violence elections and we are calling upon all well meaning political parties to do the same. It is the reason why government continues to encourage all political parties to practice intra party democracy because without intra-party democracy we will continue to see violent traits,” she said.
Siliya further urged politicians to criticise government in a civil manner and offer solutions.
“I was fairly impressed with one independent member of parliament that I watched on Sunday interview last week for Kantanshi, honourable Anthony Mumba. He could discuss matters of governance, he could criticise government and offer solutions in a very civil manner. Even we in government, as we watched we were able to take what he was saying because he was proving that its possible for people to disagree in a civil manner and to offer solutions if they have. He set an example of how it should be that in a democracy people must be able to put ideas in the political space and even when they disagree they can do it in a civil manner so that even those being criticised can be able to take the criticism because its constructive,” she said.
Siliya said government had completed a temporal alternative crossing point on the washed away Kawambwa-Mbereshi road.
“On the washed away bridge on Kawambwa-Mbereshi road, they have completed the temporal alternative crossing point. However, we are hoping that the consultants would have finished very quickly making their recommendations to government on the permanent structure to be build. We are hoping that the permanent solution would take four months to complete hopefully beginning in June,” said Siliya.
Ok twaufwa! Nomba start discussing maize floor price so we know where to sell our maize this year. Last Year’s price was a joke!
I stopped eating ifitumbuwa because Dora looks like it.
I don’t like this woman.
what an insult to Zambia.
Neither do I. What is sad about it is that Africa is losing to many good women like Dora herself, Zodwa and Iris Kaingu, through there poor behaviour making a mockery suffragettes and other women’s groups.
positive news!!!
How is this even positive news when some of these companies have folded up …imagine waiting 2 years to receive a payment, what good is that payment!!
Does she know how much damage has been caused by delayed payments? No word on that because she doesn’t and won’t care. This is the same govt that demands performance bonds from contractors and these bonds have to be paid for. That is the PF way of encouraging local participation in the economy.
PF know nothing about running a business as they just steal funds and tenders..
Like her or hate her, Dora is on top of her game. She is miles better than she was when she did the same work under RB. Bushe ba opposition don’t you have ‘informed inkaka’ to debate with the likes of DORA? I forgot. you are waiting for impeachment and you have petitioned New York to recall Rogan. Good luck.
What game? Corruption? Isn’t the individual ministries supposed to pay for their contracts from their budgetary assignments? How do they all wait for two years to pay small businessmen who used up their capital in excitement that they finally managed to get tenders from their own government? How is informing the nation that they screwed several small businesses for years a good thing? Yes, this is a game, but a very very stupld game. Playing with people’s lives is not a good game bwana. Shame on you for praising failure.
Indeed appointing siliya to chief spokes person was a very positive move by GRZ when you compare her to the other empty tins before….
Siliya well done , continue informing this public in a civil way….
The delay of payments to local contractors is so evil that one can not imagine the damage that these contractors have faced. Some have lost their equipment because either their loans where called in by the banks….the problem is that GRZ is doing things as if Zambia is a stall at the market selling tomato!
Shame on you!
Jim Banda: Spot on my man. The so-called public media will not go out to see the small scale contractors and inform the public what circumstances they are in. And when you come to think of it, even if they did, the story will not be published or aired on tv as it would embarrass the powers that be.
Imagine …these companies have even been blacklisted by the banks so can not borrow because of delayed payments …no wonder the Chines are doing well as they have China Bank to back them up and you have a useless politician reading a speech about including local firm.
Immediately the pay after a two year delay these fooooools rush to the construction site and start shouting at the local contractor why they have abandoned the project…its laughable!!
Is it Zambian money or borrowed again??????
They borrowed from Peter to pay Paul…
Sometimes even when money is available to pay the contractors, the delay is caused by officers who will sit on the papers because they need an assurance of a bribe to get the process going.
The sad reality is that most of these contracts have a fixed contract sum.When there is a delay in paying , it works against the contractor, as prices of materials often go up due to various economic factors such as fuel increase, devaluation of the Kwacha against the dollar , etc
People have gone into construction thinking it is an easy and fast way to get rich but a lot have gotten to understand that it is suicidal to venture into this business where payments are made after 2-5 years at the same contract sum.Total loss and heavy debt burden !
Lack of Payment has turned local contractors into…
Your opposition to everything about Zambia is based on hate! We know that! Beautiful intelligent woman! Good job madam! They oppose because they are whiners! HaTribals!
Yes .. Dora is always on top of things. Pf made a good move to bring her in their camp. She always performs where ever she goes. I see now why some people are kind of jealous of her.. The out come of local government by elections shows that the corruption and not Zambian campaign messages by the opposition are not selling well. Opposition need to change the campaign messages….NDC ,UPND wake up.. start using intelligence in your campaign… corruption talk and citizenship messages are boring
Please be clear on this one. When say local contractors which one do you exactly mean. The ones under RDA,NFRA,local government or ministry of supply? You say local contractors fail when you the major contributors to the failing and every time you want the president to be involved in the process.
This is not news. Payments are daily transactions, unless government had settled all the local supplies ,P-F-F-o-o-l-s. and F-O-O-L-I-S-H Lusaka Times.
My company transported farming imputs for 2016/2017 up to now no single cent has been paid. We subcontracted some transporters just to see to it that the imputs were delivered on time who have even resorted to sue us. Whenever we inqure from the ministry we are always receiving same answers of not being funded by the ministry of finance. We are afraid our Money will loose value and end up paying legal fees
Ala so Dora Slit akali umoyo? I thought someone told me that Kasai Mupalaba throttled her to death!