YOU CAN’T USE MAGWENDE AS A SACRIFICIAL LAMB – ANTONIO MWANZA

Lusaka ~ Thursday, 11 August 2022

By Brightwell Chabusha

PF Media Director Antonio Mwanza has accused the New Dawn Administration of stealing US$100 million.

Mr Mwanza has bemoaned the firing of former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary in charge of Administration Dr George Magwende.

He argued that the former PS cannot write to the Secretary to the Treasury to ask for US$100 million without the approval of Cabinet.

Mr Mwanza said this when he featured on 5FM’s “State of the Nation.” Today.

“……today, within 11 months, baba (they have stolen) US$100 million, they can’t account for it. And I look at Dr Mangwende, I feel sorry for that comrade for simple reasons. First of all, Zambians must be told the truth. A US$100 million deal cannot go through without the approval of Cabinet which is headed by the President,” he said.

“The Permanent Secretary cannot write to the Secretary to the Treasury to ask for US$100 million without the approval of Cabinet, without the approval of the line Ministry. The people who are supposed to be held accountable for this US$100 million yamene baba, it has to start with Cabinet, which is headed by the President. Iyi US$100 million yamene mwaba in 11 months, inayenda kuti? Who approved it?”

Mr Mwanza has however encouraged the former PS to tell Zambians the truth when the matter goes to court.

He stressed that Dr Magwende was a very junior officer was never used to make policy.

“What role did the ministry of finance play? What role did the ministry of health play? What role did the Secretary to the treasury play? You can’t use Mangwende as a sacrificial lamb. And I just want ukukoselesha umunandi Mangwende, ba Mangwende nga mwaya ku court, tell the Zambian people the truth,” he said.

“You were a junior officer in the group, an implementation officer, a permanent secretary employed by the president on a contract of three years. A very junior officer, you don’t make policy, the policy is made by government officials, Cabinet. You don’t approve government expenditure; it is approved by cabinet.”