By Oliver Chisenga in Nkeyema
VICE-PRESIDENT Mutale Nalumango says the previous government should be ashamed and not be “shouting infrastructure” with regard to abandoned construction works in Nkeyema district.
Speaking when she inspected incomplete Nkeyema central government structures on Wednesday, the Vice-President said there was a concern that construction at the centre had stalled for over eight years despite contractors having received an upfront percentage payment from the previous government.
“The concern indeed is for the administrative centre for the district. These are supposed to be offices and where we were passing is the council, but you can see… And this [construction work] as you have heard goes eight years [back]. My concern is that how much were people paid, that’s one part I have called you for, because we don’t know the percentages,” she said. “Remember, I said that they were paid upfront but sometimes the upfront could be as much as 60 per cent, so I am just requesting the provincial leadership to help us with percentages so that as we go we look at what percentage were people paid and at which per cent were the infrastructure left, because when tomorrow we call the contractor and say you got more money than the work you did then you start saying ‘vindictiveness’.”
She requested that her office be furnished with details regarding the stalled building in Nkeyema so that Zambians judge on how their money was used by the previous government.
Vice-President Nalumango wondered how a responsible contractor and government would start such projects and then abandon them midway.
“We want people to be accountable, so this infrastructure right now I can’t tell whether they did more than what they got. But sooner where we are going next we will have those percentages so that you Zambians can see whether your money was properly used or it was simply put in people’s pockets,’’ Vice-President Nalumango said. ‘’We will have to verify before I can make that declaration but why start something and leave at this rate, abandoned for years? Colleagues should be ashamed, the former regime should be ashamed, they should not be shouting ‘infrastructure’. Where is the infrastructure? The infrastructure is what? It’s buildings like these, it is the roads that we are going to go on; it is the schools like the one we went to – you saw the dilapidated infrastructure. I keep asking ‘where’? Lusaka is not Zambia.”
She said the PF had nothing to show today regarding its much talked about infrastructure development.
Vice-President Nalumango said she would also make time to undertake a media tour to see what is obtaining in areas such as Milenge, Chiengi and Chifunabuli.
“They [PF] must be ashamed. I am not speaking about Kaputa because they will say I have special interest. No. But I am a Vice-President for the entire Republic and that’s why I am giving you areas. You go to Nsama, it’s this same story…really you can’t finish with one project and then move. Really, what kind of planning is that? Ciipantepante, chimbwi no plan. Come on, let us plan!”
Earlier, soon after arriving in Nkeyema district ahead of a four-day working tour of Western Province, Vice-President Nalumango addressed residents, highlighting projects and activities President Hakainde Hichilema had committed to and promised in the UPND manifesto.
“This government of Hakainde Hichilema has brought free education. With education you will participate freely in the governance of your land. No child should fail to go to university because there is no money,” said Vice President Nalumango.
“We want by the time Hakainde Hichilema’s term is coming to an end after 10 years, poverty is a thing of the past. With CDF we want to make sure that at every health post, there is a maternity…watch [this] space. Trust your President, Hakainde Hichilema. Your President is working.”
Source: The Mast