A senior citizen in Western Province has accused the Provincial Administration of denying the people in the province the freedom of expression.

Mumbisho Mulele popularly known as Mwana-Muchembele said that the provincial administration has strategically made it impossible for the residents to freely express themselves.

Mr. Mulele said that some senior government officials in the province were in the habit of threatening people who go on the two community radio stations to talk about development and the mismanagement of funds in the province.

He further accused senior officials at the provincial administration of over exercising their powers by denying the residents freedom of association.

Mr. Mulele said that the provincial administration has on a number of times barred residents from holding public meetings by instructing the Police not to issue permits to hold meetings.

He said that people intending to hold public meetings aimed at discussing developmental issues of the province were normally labeled as anti-government and often accused of wanting to overthrow the Litunga.

Mr. Mulele said that situation was oppressive and retrogressive to the development of Western Province.

He has since vowed to continue exerting pressure on the erring officials till the situation changes for the better.

And scores of Mongu residents yesterday called for the immediate arrest of senior government officials that are cited in the Auditor General’s report as having misappropriated funds meant for development in Western Province.

The residents said that it was eminent from the audit report for Western Province that controlling officers at the Provincial Administration were corrupt and needed to be brought to book.

The residents demanded the arrest of the provincial controlling officers at a public forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of the Post newspaper.

A Mongu resident and senior citizen Lawrence Nyambe said that officials at the provincial administration were frustrating government efforts to develop the area by being corrupt and need to be arrested.

Another resident Samuel Wamui said that senior officials at the provincial administration were letting down President Mwanawasa who was in a hurry to develop the country.

AND former Permanent Secretary for Western Province Silumelume Mubukwanu said that the positioning of government officials in one place for more than ten years was retrogressive and detrimental as some officials tend to grow combwebs.

Meanwhile another senior citizen, Moto Moto appealed to residents to form a sub-committee that will sternly deal with the culprits that have been revealed in the auditor general’s report.

Mr. Moto further urged the residents to officially lodge a complaint at the Police so that a case can be opened to bring the culprits to book.

And Director for Mongu Diocese, Nathaniel Mubukwanu says part of the poverty in Western Province is created by government controlling officers.

Mr. Mubukwanu said the revelations in the recent Auditor General’s report were a vivid indicator that the controlling officers entrusted by government to manage government resources were mismanaging the funds.

He said it was sad that the province has remained the poorest of the nine provinces in the country in spite government releasing funds to develop the area.

Mr. Mubukwanu said that the grave anomalies that are enshrined in the Auditor General’s report for Western Province can not be accepted anywhere else in the country.

He said that it was sad that security wings were adamant to action by following up the misappropriation of funds as indicated in the Auditor General’s report.

And speaking at the same forum, the Assistant Director under the Auditor General’s Office in Western Province, Tackson Mweemba says auditors in the province get frustrated by non reaction by members of the public to audit reports.

Speaking at a public forum organized by the Press Freedom Committee of the Post in Mongu yesterday, Mr. Mweemba said that members of the public were supposed to take keen interest in the auditor general ‘s report because they are the tax payers.

Mr. Mweemba that as concerned citizens, Mongu residents were supposed to be showing keen interest and take appropriate action to rectify the anomalies that are exposed in the Audit General’s report.

He said that it was frustrating that the Auditor General’s Office produces reports every year without the public taking any action.

Mr. Mweemba has since assured that the Auditor General’s Office will continue doing its best in compiling the reports but that the final reaction should come from the people who are the owners of the money.

He has further appealed to residents in the province to utilize the Auditor General’s Office whenever they have an issue.

Co-Chair of the International Advisory Council Felix Mutati says all is set for the Global Southern Africa International dialogue which starts tomorrow.

Briefing the Media at Mulungushi International Centre, Venue of the dialogue, Mr. Mutati said three former Heads of State are among Heads of State and government, representatives of civil society, private sector and other stakeholders expected to attend the dialogue.

The former heads of state include Namibia’s Sam Nujoma, Botswana’s Festus Mogae and Mozambique’s Joackim Chisano.

Swazi land Prime Absalom Dlamini arrived this afternoon , while his Lesotho Counterpart Pakalitha Mosisili and Prime Minister of Malaysia are expected to arrive this evening.

About 25 countries are represented in the dialogue dubbed Mulungushi dialogue whose theme is “Smart Partnership in Economic Development and Diversity.

Mr. Mutati who is also Commerce , Trade and Industry Minister said the government is confident that about 400 delegates will attend the dialogue as earlier projected.

At the same briefing , International Advisory Council Member Dr. Sixtus Mulenga observed that participants are drawn from diverse background which will enrich the dialogue on various issues.

Dr. Mulenga who is Albidon Zambia Limited General manager said Zambia needs to learn best practices of conducting business to further enhance the country’s booming economy .

Private Secretary from Malaysia Datl Schoo said the dialogue is a vital tool in achieving a smarter way of solving problems.

Mr. Schoo who is also a founder member of the Smart partnership movement, urged political leaders to use the concept to address international problems such as conflict resolution.

And Speaking at the same briefing, Dr. Basil Spriager , a Fellow from the Caribbean said his country has developed to due the implemented of some of the concepts adopted from the dialogue.

Meanwhile, Global Southern Africa International Smart Partnership Dialogue 2008 Joint Convener, John Musukuma says media briefings for the dialogue will be held on a daily basis at Cresta Golf View Hotel.

Mr Musukuma, who is also Special Assistant to the President, said the facility at Cresta Golf View hotel will be fully equipped to enable the media process and transmit news materials to their various media institutions.

“I am assuring the media that starting tomorrow everything will be comfortable as we indicated earlier,” said Mr. Musukuma.

Earlier, Joint Convener, Mihaela Smith, said everything in relation to preparations for the GSAID is set.

Dr. Smith said so far everything has been put in place and all is going in the right direction.

Zambia is hosting the International Smart Partnership dialogue for the first time dubbed the ‘Mulungushi dialogue’.

Smart Partnership Dialogues afford governments, civil society and private business representatives, a forum for informal discussions on development challenges.

ZANIS/ENDS/CM/SJK