By Staff Reporter
Colonel Panji Kaunda says proper safeguards must be put in place to strictly scrutnise companies that will be vying for projects in constituencies, as politicians and other powerful people may attempt to register companies under different names to corruptly win the projects.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Col Panji warned that K25.7 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) per constituency, is a good idea which would be open to abuse if stringent measures are not put in place over its execution.
President Hichilema has directed that no outsider will be given contracts to do works at constituency level, as the companies based in the constituencies will handle the projects.
But Col Panji warned that a repeat of what used to happen in the PF, where ministers, members of parliament, other leaders and cadres became tenderpreneurs, seeking and easily winning contracts and sometimes registering companies through different names to win projects, must not be allowed to happen again, especially with the hive of activity that will be happening at constituency level.
“Otherwise you might get a good idea turned into a monster. I am hoping the people being pursued for corruption, if found guilty the punishment should be so high so that those with similar ideas can learn a lesson,” Col Panji said, insisting that companies that will be vying for contracts must be verified and cleared.
He said people were very complicated, as the government could genuinely be committed towards doing good, meanwhile others were seeking ways to counter that drive, saying even during his late father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda time, people still found ways to engage in corruption despite very stringent measures at the time.
“It’s important to put in place structures that will monitor activities of that fund,” said Col Panji.
