By Mubanga Mubanga
UPND Media director Mark Simuuwe says allegations of corruption on the medicines donated by the American government are just a “smoke screen” to stop giving the country aid.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Simuuwe said America had already decided to stop giving aid, and now, they wanted to use allegations of corruption to stop giving aid to Zambia.
“I should end by leaving that matter by indicating that the same speaker also told us a few weeks ago, that they spent that money for a decade. l am saying it is a smoke screen, because it borders on international relations,” Simuuwe said. “Particularly, the very fact that, there is already a position of cancellation of aid, so you can see that you need to understand and open your eyes. Is there a relationship between this withdrawal and corruption? Or, it is a policy that has been undertaken by the west? You have the answers yourselves.”
Simuuwe also said the fight against corruption had improved under the UPND government.
He cited the recovery of over K23 billion money which were proceeds of corruption.
“Start talking about something else. So what did the UPND do different, which makes us believe this fight against corruption has improved? We had to include, or establish through a statutory institution the fast track court, the Economic and Financial Crimes Courts and that is expeditiously handling all the economic and financial related cases,” Simuuwe said. “Meaning, corruption is a financial crime. So, that is how we have scored. Those are the millions you have been seeing.”
Meanwhile, Simuuwe said the recently commissioned Kafulafuta Dam by President Hakainde Hichilema was going to enable about 17,000 new households to have clean water on the Copperbelt.
He stressed that the UPND government was going to continue to commission projects that were started by the PF.
“For example, the 8th National Development Plan. So what did we do? Just what the PF did. When they found the Sixth Development Plan, they had to align it to suit the promises they made to people. That is the long-term framework for economic development and economic growth,” said Simuuwe.
