By Merlyn Mwanza
President Hakainde Hichilema says the PF administration signed a contract worth K2 billion, with an upfront payment of 20 percent for feeder roads with people who have never even held a shovel.
He said the same people behind this were even in Parliament today making noise, saying that was probably money they were flashing during elections.
“But since shame is not shared equally because maybe God made us different, we have to enforce measures to recover that money,” President Hichilema said.
He wondered how the Attorney General then approved these contracts, saying the public sector worked with the leadership to get money from the Zambian people as procurement officers became suppliers.
President Hichilema said it devolved to a situation where politicians were simply issuing instructions saying “I want that contract. I want that contract.”
He demanded that the people he had appointed should work with him to restore order so that they can lay a claim to be true servants of the people.
President Hichilema said he knew some ministers were already under pressure, but that they must be strong to remain relevant.
He said the permanent secretaries were key in ministries as they were chairman of the ministerial procurement committees and that if the UPND government should fail Zambians going forward, they will be to blame.
Giving a vote of thanks, Justice minister Mulambo Haimbe said the government officials have taken heed of the stern guidance given to them, saying procurement was a key component which can make or break governments.
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