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DEC arrests a Farmer who cultivated 3.9 Tonnes Cannabis

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Cannabis
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a 43-year-old peasant farmer of Sinazongwe district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis weighing over three tonnes.

DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo said Leonard Mansanga, 43, a peasant farmer of Mulonga-Munene village in Sinazongwe district has been arrested for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 3.9 tonnes.

Ms. Katongo disclosed the development to ZANIS in a press statement in Lusaka today.

She said the commission has also arrested Christine Lufupa, 63, a peasant farmer of Mitec area in Solwezi district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 110 kilogrammes (kg).

She explained that the cannabis was intercropped with maize.

Meanwhile, the commission has arrested Benson Mukwakwa, 45, a peasant farmer of Nyambe village in Shibuyunji district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants which was also intercropped with maize weighing 39.3kg.

Others arrested are Venancio Phiri, 38, a peasant farmer of Chinyaku village in Chipata district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 11kg, Abraham Kaoma, 30, a peasant farmer of Kanyanta village in Kasama district for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 21.5kg, Daniel Siulapwa, 39, a peasant farmer of Katipa village in Mbala district for trafficking in 3.7kg of cannabis and Fridah Chisanga, 29, a housewife of Ngungu-Bwacha compound in Kabwe district for trafficking in 2.72kg of cannabis.

And in the Copperbelt province, the commission has arrested and jointly charged Edward Mbembe, 34, a peasant farmer of Kwa Kabwe area in Lufwanyama district and Ackson Phiri, 37, a peasant farmer of the same area for trafficking in 8.2kg of cannabis.

Ms. Katongo said Kennedy Chola, 19, of old Mushili Township in Ndola was also arrested for trafficking in 9.1kg of cannabis.

She has since cautioned peasant farmers to desist from engaging in unlawful cultivation and trafficking of cannabis as this may affect the food security of the country.

PF popularity is growing-Kapata

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PF popularity is growing-Kapata

Jean Kapata prepares the audience for the Lukulu Rally
Jean Kapata prepares the audience for the Lukulu Rally

Mandevu Member of Parliament Jean Kapata has observed that Zambian people still have confidence in the ruling party because it has continued to fulfil its promises.

Ms. Kapata, who is also Tourism and Arts Minister, thanked the people of Chawama, Masaiti and Senga Hill constituencies for electing Patriotic Front (PF) candidates in yesterday’s parliamentary by-elections.

She told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today that the victory, which the PF registered, was an indication that the ruling party’s popularity was growing not only in the three constituencies but in the rest of the country.

Ms. Kapata has since assured the people in the three constituencies that government will continue delivering its promises for their benefit.

She has meanwhile thanked the political parties which took part in the three parliamentary by-elections for their spirited fight.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) said it has penetrated most of the areas which previously were viewed as stronghold of the ruling party.

Party Deputy Secretary General Kachunga Simusamba said although the UPND lost the Chawama, Masaiti and Senga Hill parliamentary seats, it emerged as the second best contender.

Mr. Simusamba said this was a true testimony that the UPND will form government in 2016.

He said UPND has penetrated most of the areas where it previously had no support.
He cited Copperbelt, Northern and Lusaka provinces as some of the areas where UPND was gaining ground.

Mr. Simusamba however, stated that the UPND won almost all local government seats in Western and few seats in Eastern Provinces.

He said this was good for the party as it was a testimony that it was a force to reckon with.

Mr. Simusamba has meanwhile congratulated the PF for its victory in Chawama, Masaiti and Senga Hill parliamentary by-elections.

The ruling PF has scooped all the three parliamentary seats following a by-election that was held yesterday.

In Chawama, PF candidate Lawrence Sichalwe was declared winner after polling 7, 502 while UPND’s Charles Kaselwa got 3, 219.

In Masaiti, PF’s Michael Katambo polled 5,032 votes against his closest rival Peter Mumba of the UPND who managed to get 2,150 votes while an independent candidate, Lyton Mokola was third with a paltry 41 votes.

UNIP’s candidate Lason Musumali was fourth with 36 votes while 4th Revolution party candidate Mobby Mutaya received only 16 votes.
A total of 92 votes were rejected.

Mr. Katambo, who held the seat under MMD before it was nullified by the courts of law due to electoral malpractice, was declared winner of the Masaiti seat at exactly 04:30 hours this morning by returning officer Modest Simuntala.

The voter turnout was poor as only 7,367 people cast their ballots against 26,362 registered voters in Masaiti constituency.

UPND representatives quickly conceded defeat while other political parties did not show up at the totaling centre.

Meanwhile, Mr. Katambo has thanked both the PF and MMD members for ensuring that he wins.
He has since dedicated the victory to President Edgar Lungu.

In Senga Hill constituency, PF’s Kapembwa Simbao polled 7,815 votes while UPND candidate Giles Yambayamba got 4,570 votes.

Zambian High Commission in SA issues a travel advisory in light of xenophobic attacks

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The Zambian High Commission in South Africa has advised Zambians travelling to Durban to exercise caution at this time due to the high threat of attack on foreign nationals.

The mission said although the pattern so far shows that shops owned by foreigners are being targeted, it would, however, wish to advise that Zambians pay close attention to their personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

It said it is engaging all relevant South African Government wings to ensure the safety of all our citizens in South Africa.

It added that Zambian citizens who travel to or reside in South Africa are urged to register with the High Commission to make it easier for the Mission to contact them in case of emergency.

Online registration is available via www.zambiapretoria.net. Zambians without internet access may enroll directly with the Zambian Mission in Pretoria.

The Mission is located at 570, Ziervogel Street (Off Hamilton Street), Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; telephone (+27) (012) 326-1847/97; fax (+27) (012) 326-2140.

In the event of an after-hours emergency, you may wish to contact:

+27 (0) 83 757 6499
+27 (0) 73 557   8328
+27 (0) 84 637 0900
+27 (0) 81 002 7548

Movie Review : Get Hard

Entertainment Editor
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Movie Review : Get Hard

 

get hard

Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart headline this Warner Bros. comedy about a wrongfully convicted investment banker who prepares for prison life with the help of the man who washes his car.

PROS

  • Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart worked superbly together , they were comedic gold.
  • Interesting story line with many funny situations .

CONS

  • Kevin Hart always plays the same character in all his movies , which makes it predictable .
  • Some of the humour is extremely crude

FAVOURITE QUOTE

Rita: What reason did you give him to assume that you went to prison?
Darnell: I was being black.

Joaquin: We gotta roll, Mayo.
Darnell: Who’s Mayo?
James: It’s my gang name. It’s short for Mayonnaise.

CONCUSSION 

Get Hard is a movie full of racial stereotypes ,crude humour and innuendos . With that being said , it is one of the funniest movies I have watched this year . Kevin Heart and Will Ferrell were tremendously funny . They will have you laughing out load from beginning to end .

The only negative about this movie is that Kevin Heart plays the same character in all his movies and in his stand-up comedy shows . Therefore before watching you already know to expect . That is a good thing and bad thing; Good because you know he will be hilarious , Bad because it makes things predictable . He needs to show more diversity in his acting .

RATING

3 out of 5

3stars

BY KAPA187

 

HH on the just concluded by-elections

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Statement on the recently concluded by-elections

We would like to start by thanking all UPND supporters and party members who worked hard throughout this by-election campaign. Your energy and dedication is greatly appreciated. In these by-elections we have once again demonstrated that the UPND is providing the only major opposition to the current PF Government. The inroads we have made into Eastern Province and our strong performance in the Senga Hill parliamentary by-election also provide further evidence that the UPND’s popularity continues to surge across the length and breadth of the country.

We would also like to congratulate the wining candidates and appeal to them to serve the public’s interest at all times, putting aside selfish or personal interests. However, it would seem that voter apathy was once more the real winner yesterday, with low turnouts recorded. Just 15% of registered voters are reported to have turned out in the Chawama parliamentary by-election.

Zambians, having been let down by government after government, are understandably fatigued by politics. Elected representatives must regain the confidence of the people by working hard, working in a transparent manner and serving the interest of all their constituents equally, and not just those that have voted for them. From the opposition we will continue to deliver our message that Zambians deserves better from their Government and that change is well within our reach in 2016.

As the UPND has rehearsed time and time again we believe the staggering and unprecedented amount of by-elections held under the PF Government has been a colossal waster of money that could be better spent on much needed investments into our health and education systems. It has also taken up a large amount of Government time and attention when they should be focused on addressing the plight of the people and not campaigning here, there and everywhere. Our position remains that by improving the credibility of the electoral process and introducing the new constitution we can avoid the need for so many by-election and thereby avoid this waste.

We must now all work together to ensure free and fair tripartite elections in 2016. We are please to note that President Lungu has acquiesced to our demand for the nomination of a new Chairperson for the ECZ. We must now turn our attention to scrutiny of the nomination, the upcoming voter registration exercise, and working with the ECZ to ensure problems presented by past elections are address, so that a level playing field and a transparent process for 2016 is ensured.

Hakainde Hichilema
President UPND

Issued by: UPND National Campaign Centre, Lusaka

Dear South Africa

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xenophobia

Dear South Africa

This is not Xenophobia, this is Afrophobia.

You bring down statues of hate and yet you build the biggest statue of all. To kill the very people who helped liberate you. You have made this soil a monument of hatred for your brother.

We trained Mandela , we funded and armed uMkhonto we Sizwe.Chief Albert Luthuli was born in what is now Zimbabwe.

The Greek lives safely in this country
The Asian lives safely in this country
The American lives safely in this country
The English
The Dutch
The Jewish
The Indian lives safely in this country

Yet the brother who shares your story, the very sisters who share your bloodline . This is who you burn on the streets, axe and slaughter . You are divided against yourselves and that has always been the bedrock of failure. The brothers and sisters who bled by your side, the blood that helped liberate this great nation . You thank their seeds with fire and unforgiving blades.

RHODES HAS NOT FALLEN

UCT-Cecil-Rhodes

The greatest achievement of the colonial project was to divide and conquer. To create hatred where non existed. To draw false borders of division . That is how Rhodes grew the British empire in Africa. Through planting seeds of hate.

So you took his statue down , and three days later began to murder your own brothers. Who is the fool! For Rhodes lives in you. The seeds he planted are bearing fruit in your lives. Rhodes does not turn in his grave ,he is smiling jubilantly, to see the seeds of hate he planted sprout.

Mzilikazi fled from Shaka, settled in Bulawayo and two hundred years later, the very same bloodline class him foreigner and says he must return home. Isizulu and Isindebele are the same language , isiXhosa is a very close relative. These are massive signs of a bond that unites.

Umfecane never ended.

Colonialism never died, it flows in our blood. When kings call for the killing of cousins , RHODES HAS NOT FALLEN.

WE ARE RHODES

By Mighti Jamie

Kitwe braces for football feast

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The City of Kitwe is set for an early-season football feast over the next three weeks in the 2015 FAZ Super Division.

Big guns Nkana and Power Dynamos are set for some marquee league fixtures with less than ten games played into the 2015 season.

This weekend, Nkana’s 11-year winless streak against Zesco United will be put to the test when the two sides clash at Nkana Stadium in a Week Five game.

Power will then steal the limelight on April 25 when they host old foes Mufulira Wanderers at Arthur Davies Stadium.

That match will be a big warm-up for Power ahead of the first installment of the Kitwe derby to follow in Wusakile on May 2 when they visit Nkana in Week Seven.

Napsa Stars rue away results

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Napsa Stars coach Hector Chilombo has admitted that playing away has not been easy for his club in the early days of the FAZ Super League campaign.

Napsa have been bad travellers this season, losing their first two away games by 2-0 and 3-0 to Zesco United and Power Dynamos respectively.

The Lusaka outfit have four points from the first four matches.

But Chilombo is hoping that Napsa will bounce back and find solace in home games.

“Away games are very difficult and if we can also win at home we can compensate for these away losses,” he said.

“We just have to pick up our pieces and move forward because the league is still on,” Chilombo said.

Napsa on Saturday hosts struggling bottom placed and Chilombo’s ex-club Forest Rangers -who have one point from four games.

“We will plan for them (Forest)and hopefully we will have home advantage as well.”

Aka calls for a boycott of South African products after xenophobic attacks

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Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika
Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika

Pan-Africanist Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika has called for a boycott of all South Africa products.

Mr Mbikusita-Lewanika who posted on his Facebook page also called on the African Union to suspend South Africa from the continental body.

He declared that he will not be buying anything from a South African shop or any South African associated shop.

Mr Mbikusita-Lewanika also stated that he will not fly on South African airways until what he called murderous savagery ends.

‘Meanwhile…. South Africa should be suspended from AU! ….No to one man, one vote and mass murder year after year…This more savage than Soweto ’76!’ he wrote.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International South Africa has urged the South African government to urgently take steps to combat impunity for xenophobic violence.

In a statement, Amnesty International South Africa says South African authorities will need to do much more if impunity for xenophobic violence and other relating longstanding human rights violations are to be effectively combated, has said today.

“We acknowledge that the police are conducting arrests. However the authorities must launch full, transparent and independent investigations, and bring suspected perpetrators to account,” said Sicel’mpilo Shange-Buthane, Executive Director of Amnesty International-South Africa.

“The prevailing culture of impunity must be stopped.”

In the past two weeks, at least four people have been killed, many others seriously injured, shops looted and over 1,000 people displaced in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province.

Government will construct King Lewanika University and Mongu Stadium-Inonge Wina

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Inonge Wina
Inonge Wina

PEOPLE should stop listening to falsehoods being peddled by the United Party for National Development (UPND) and other opposition political parties that Government will not construct King Lewanika University and Mongu Stadium, Vice-President Inonge Wina has said.

And Mwandi member of Parliament (MP) Michael Kaingu has urged the people of Western Province to shift their support to President Lungu and his administration because the UPND and its leader Hakainde Hichilema will allegedly continue “dribbling” them.

Addressing a series of public meetings in Kalabo, Mongu and Nalolo districts on Monday, Mrs Wina said there is massive infrastructure development taking place countrywide and the PF administration has plans to take development closer to the people.

At Namushakende School grounds in Mongu, Mrs Wina said UPND members are so scared of Mr Hichilema that they and are failing to interact with Government officials.

“This is why we have these ward by-election because UPND councillors prefer to resign when they want to work with Government since their leader does not want them to contribute towards national development.

“These are the same people telling lies that King Lewanika and the stadium will not be built but we have money allocated in the 2015 budget and contractors are on site clearing the bush and levelling the ground and soon the President will come to commission the works,” Mrs Wina said.

Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Emerine Kabanshi said Government has plans to ensure provision of quality health services for all.

And Dr Kaingu asked the people why they still think that UPND will ever come to power.

“How many times have you given support to UPND? President Lungu has given you a Vice-President and we shall build universities and other school projects. UPND and other opposition parties just criticise for the sake of opposing even good things. If we don’t shift support to PF, UPND will continue dribbling us,” he said.

At Muoyo School grounds in Nalolo, Luampa MP Josephine Limata advised people not to be cheated because the development currently taking place in the country is visible for all to see.

And Dr Kaingu warned civil servants, especially teachers that Government would ‘flush’ them out if they continue working with UPND.

“We can’t have people drawing salaries yet they campaign against us, they are failing to implement programmes because of spending so much time doing UPND work,” Dr Kaingu said.

We have not abandoned plans to re-establish a National Airline-Mukanga

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Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga (left) addresses new Zambia Railways Board members at his office as the new Board Chairperson Davies Chama looks on in Lusaka
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga
(left) addresses new Zambia Railways Board members at his office as
the new Board Chairperson Davies Chama looks on in Lusaka

GOVERNMENT has not abandoned plans to re-establish a national airline, Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga has disclosed.

Mr Mukanga said plans to establish the airline are still active and are in the pipeline.

The minister said in an interview recently that Government will at an appropriate time release to the public details of the national airline and how it will operate.

“We have not abandoned plans to re-establish a national airline. We are actually progressing well. The process seems slow because we had to do a fresh Cabinet memorandum so as to get approval to proceed but we are still waiting for a response from Cabinet.

Once Cabinet makes a decision on the direction, operations and funding modalities, the nation will be informed,” he said.

Mr Mukanga said a statement on how the airline is expected to perform financially was submitted to Cabinet.

He said the Patriotic Front (PF) administration is determined to ensure that a national airline is re-established to contribute to the country’s growth.

Mr Mukanga said the ministry has been consulting and engaging various stakeholders on how best to achieve the dream.

“It is in the pipeline and you will soon see these happening. We are more than committed to having an airline, No jokes about it,” Mr Mukanga said
He said there are a number of investors that have expressed interest to partner with Government in setting up the airline.

Mr Mukanga said the Zambia Air Force has also been engaged to identify trained pilots and air hostesses in preparation for the launch of the national airline.

Cabinet’s action on mineral royalty tax regime averted job losses

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President Lungu Chairs Cabinet Meeting
President Lungu Chairs Cabinet Meeting

SPECIAL assistant to the President for economic and development affairs Hibeene Mwiinga says Cabinet’s approval of changes to the mineral royalty tax regime will avert job losses and save the mines from collapse.

Mr Mwiinga told a press briefing shortly after a Cabinet meeting on Monday that Cabinet’s approval of changes to the mineral royalty tax regime will resolve concerns by investors who were planning to place their mines on care and maintenance and to wind up operations.

“The changes to the mineral royalty tax regime that have been approved by Cabinet will save thousands of mine jobs that would have been lost due to this tax,” Mr Mwiinga said.

He said while the changes to the mineral royalty tax regime will have revenue implications, they will save some mines from closure.

On Monday, Cabinet approved changes to the mineral royalty tax regime President Lungu’s directed the ministers of Finance and Mines to table the agreed changes to the mineral royalty tax regime in parliament for approval.

The President also said his directive follows extensive consultations with stakeholders in the mining industry.

PS not happy about “No intellectual capacity” remarks by by Public Accounts Committee

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MINISTRY of Local Government and Housing permanent secretary Stanford Msichili yesterday protested over remarks by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member January Zimba that Kitwe City Council management lacks intellectual capacity.

Mr Zimba, who is Chama North member of Parliament said: “managers at Kitwe City Council have no intellectual capacity to assimilate issues.”

This was when Kitwe City Council town clerk Bornwell Lwanga and Mr Msichili appeared before PAC to respond to audit queries raised in the auditor-general’s 2013 report.

“It is not fair for the Honourable member to say that my officials have no intellectual capacity to understand their roles as managers,” Mr Msichili complained.

But PAC acting chairperson Brian Chituwo defended Mr Zimba’s statement, saying the committee did not insult management at the local authority.

“Surely what contribution did your staff give when preparing your report?” Dr Chituwo asked.

He said it is important for controlling officers to ensure that all questions raised by the committee are answered.

Mr Zimba’s remarks came after Mr Msichili contradicted himself in his response on contracts offered to investors by councils.

Mr Msichili failed to satisfy PAC on the memorandum of understanding and contracts signed by the council, prompting Mr Zimba to utter the words.

PF set for a hat trick as it takes Chawama and Masaiti and leads in Senga Hill by election

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PF set for a hat trick as it takes Chawama and Masaiti and leads in Senga Hill by election
PF Chawama rally in pictures
PF Chawama rally in pictures

The ruling PF has scooped the Chawama and Masaiti parliamentary by elections and is in a commanding lead in the Senga Hill by election.

In Chawama, PF candidate Lawrence Sichalwe was declared winner after polling 7, 502 while UPND’s Charles Kaselwa got 3, 219.

In Masaiti, PF’s Michael Katambo polled 5032 votes against his closest rival Peter Mumba of the UPND who managed 2150 votes while independent candidate Lyton Mokola was third with 41 votes.

UNIP candidate Lason Musumali was 4th with 36 votes while 4th Revolution party candidate Mobby Mutaya received 16 votes while 92 votes were rejected.

Mr Katambo who held the seat under MMD before it was nullified by the courts of law due to electoral malpractice was declared winner of the Masaiti seat at exactly 04:30 Hours this morning by returning officer Modest Simuntala.

The voter turnout was poor as only 7,367 people cast their ballots against 26,362 registered voters.

UPND representatives quickly conceded defeat while other political parties did not even show up at the totaling centre.

Meanwhile, Mr Katambo thanked both the PF and MMD members for ensuring success and dedicated the victory to President Edgar Lungu.

And latest results from Senga Hill shows that PF’s Kapembwa Simbao is in strong lead with 5,408 votes with 10 polling stations remaining.

UPND’s Giles Yambayamba was trailing in second place with 3,292 votes from the 37 polling stations whose resulted have been counted.

Government Resurrects Controversial Project to install CCTV cameras on Lusaka streets

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New street lighting on major roads in Lusaka city centre has improved the outlook of the central business district following acquisition and installation of the lights. Above is part of Freedom Way where motorists and pedestrians are now able to do their activities without fear of being mugged
Lusaka city centre

Government has started receiving fresh bids for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera on the streets of Lusaka.

In September last year, then Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu was forced to cancel a $210 million tender awarded to Chinese firm Zhongxing Telecom Services (ZTE) to install CCTV around Lusaka streets after a public outcry.

Mr Lungu was forced to cancel the tender which was named the Public Security Safety Network Phase III project or the Safe City Project after allegations of corruption in the bid process emerged.

At the time, Mr Lungu announced that he had terminated the contract following mounting allegations of non-compliance to standard regulations in the manner it was awarded.

Stakeholders such as Transparency International Zambia had even demanded that government suspends officials who took part in the signing of the contract after it had handed over a 57 paged dossier of evidence on the alleged irregular signing of the contract with ZTE to the Anti Corruption Commission.

But Home Affairs Deputy Minister Colonel Gerry Chanda told Journalists on Tuesday that Government has decided to re-table the bid and will soon announce the successful bidder for the project.

Without disclosing financial details of the project, Colonel Chanda said this time around, government has decided not to single source the contract in order to satisfy all stakeholders who raised transparency issues in the initial contract.

‘We have continued to receive fresh bids, in fact, just yesterday, I received some bids for the Lusaka Safe City project and the last day for receiving bids should be sometime next week Friday,’ Colonel Chanda said.

He added, ‘We have taken care of the concerns raised by all stakeholders and we want to ensure that Government pays the correct price for the contract and no kick backs will be entertained.’

Colonel Chanda said Government is restarting the project to ensure that Lusaka City becomes an even securer city in order to encourage investment.

‘This time around, there shall be no corruption involved, we don’t want inflated costs. Whatever will come out of this bid process will be made public because we want to encourage transparency in selecting our bids.’

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