Thirst for intoxicating liquor has landed a Patriotic Front-PF Lusaka Councilor who has been detained by Ethiopian security officials for allegedly incurring a bill of US $ 2000 dollars, about Ten Million Kwacha, in unpaid for beer at a named hotel.

Councilor Chikutalo Nkhoma of Lusaka’s Silwiza ward in Northmead area is said to have gone to that country with other council officials where he incurred the bill to quench his thirst.

Upon checking out, other council officials left Mr. Nkhoma in the hands of the security personnel as they could not pay the accumulated bill.

And Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga has expressed disappointment over the development describing the incident as embarrassing to the nation.

Mr. Chisenga further said that Mr. Nkhoma will face disciplinary action as soon as he is released by the Ethiopian officials.

MUVITV

STATE HOUSE is dismayed by some unfounded and unjustified concerns being raised over the allocation of the sum of one billion, five hundred million kwacha (1,500,000,000.00) to the office of the First Lady and therefore wishes to provide the following clarifications.

If the various stakeholders expressing concern had genuinely wished to understand the actions of the Government, they could have sought clarification from the Government and been accordingly advised that the reference to the office of the First Lady is merely for transparency and as a departure from the old culture of Government incurring illegal expenditure on this office.

The activities and items funded under the estimates of revenue and expenditure, commonly referred to as the yellow book are based on the offices and activities permitted by the constitution using revenues of the republic from the consolidated fund. The application of activity based budgeting in Zambia has existed for several years now.

In the budget estimates for 2013, the Government decided that it was necessary to provide further explanation for the activities falling under the Office of the President as they relate to the activities of the First Lady. Thus, there is nothing illegitimate with this process given that the Government and State House in particular has upheld the tenets and principles of good governance.

Note that through this method, the Patriotic Front Government is being accountable and transparent in accordance with the promises it made to the people through its manifesto. In addition, it is a legal requirement that at the end of the year the expenditure to the office of the First Lady will be subject to an audit by the office of the Auditor General. It is not our desire or intention to spend unbudgeted for funds. And on that basis, State House deserves commendation and not vilification and wanton condemnation as shown by certain stakeholders.

You may wish to note that these funds are used for the payment of security staff, transportation and other logistics that are necessary for the effective operation of the First Lady in undertaking assignments that are of a formal nature on behalf of His Excellency, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia and the state in general.

Further, there is no specific reference in the estimates of revenue and expenditure to the office of the First Lady as there is no such office constitutionally established except by convention, which has evolved over time. In any case, if there had been anything illegal about this expenditure, parliament certainly reserved every right when considering the budget not to pass this particular vote.

Issued by:
GEORGE CHELLAH
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Vice President Guy Scott says government through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and the Public Private partnership is in the process of setting up an industrial development Commission.

Dr. Scott says the industrial development commission will be response for upgrading the industrial structures for increased economic growth.

He has added that the government has realized that the country has a backlog of development arrears and that it is for this reason that government is relentlessly trying to implement programmes aimed at creating jobs so as to reduce the poverty levels.

Dr. Scott was speaking when he officiated on behalf of President Michael Sata at the Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC) meeting in Lusaka today.

And Dr. Scott says President Sata will give the Bank of Zambia and the ministry of Finance a limited timeframe to reduce the interest rates stating that high interest rates continue to hinder economic growth.

Dr. Scott further added that in the last one year that the PF has been in government, it has learnt that resource misdirection has been high due to deep rooted corruption in the public sector.

The Vice President however indicated that the PF government will continue to implement measures aimed eradicating graft in the country.

QFM