By Isaac Zulu
Vice President Mutale Nalumango has said that God will judge the Patriot Front for borrowing recklessly on behalf of the Zambian people.
Speaking in Parliament during the Vice President’s question time in Parliament, Nalumango said that Zambia found itself in a debt trap because of reckless borrowing by the PF government, saying the UPND administration is now correcting the wrongs that the previous government did.
“All of us should do an introspection. We were in a debt trap. We were in debt trap because of reckless borrowing by those that were in government before us. We are just correcting the wrongs that you did. And God will judge you,” Nalumango said, while pointing at Patriot Front members of parliament.
And Nalumango said that the benefits of the debt restructuring agreement will not be seen immediately, adding that poverty cannot be fought politically.
“The benefits of the debt restructuring agreement will not be seen immediately, but with this government there is light at the end of the tunnel. With this development the economy will now start growing and poverty levels among citizens will be reduced. We have the social cash transfer in place but it is not enough. And we should fight poverty together. You cannot fight poverty politically,” Nalumango said.
The Vice President said that with the debt restructuring agreement that Zambia has reached with creditors, the UPND administration will start mobilising financial resources for the construction of feeder roads across the country.
And Nalumango said that she does not know when the luxurious VX vehicles will be sold as per Presidential directive, but stressed that the Presidential directive will be actualised, saying the UPND government is committed to prudent management of public resources.
This was after Bwacha member of parliament Sydney Mushanga asked the Vice President when the luxurious VX vehicles that the UPND procured for Cabinet Ministers after forming government would be sold, considering that President Hakainde Hichilema has issued a directive to that effect.
“Yes, the President gave a directive to dispose off the VXs. I cannot tell the date when they will be sold. As you are aware there are systems in government. But I can tell you that modalities are being worked on to have those expensive vehicles sold,” Nalumango explained. “We are committed to prudent management and utilisation of public resources. We want to channel those financial resources to the education and health sectors.”
And Nalumango expressed disappointment with revelations that some have failed to absorb the Constituency Development Fund for the 2022 allocation.
She said that there should be no rigidity in the procurement process under Constituency Development Funds.
“We have addressed the challenges that were being faced in the disbursement of CDF. And we don’t want to be hearing about rigidity in the administration of Constituency Development Fund, especially that members of parliament are also part and parcel of the Constituency Development Fund committees,” she said.
And Pambashe member of parliament Ronald Chitotela expressed concern at the issue surrounding the sugilite in which some police officers and district commissioners from Luapula Province were arrested.
Chitotela wondered if “people will be allowed to be looting natural resources just because sugilite is not classified in the Mines and Minerals Development Act,” saying “the issue is slowly dying.”
But in response, Nalumango assured members of the the public that the due process of the law will take its course.
“We are all aware that the people who were involved were arrested. Let the due process of the law take its course. Every person is innocent until proven guilty,” said Nalumango.
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