MINISTER, PS SHOCK PAC

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 07:31:34 +0000

…for building luxury mansions for themselves

By Oscar Malipenga

LUXURIOUS mansions being constructed in Chinsali district of Muchinga for the provincial minister Maloza Sichone and permanent secretary Bright Nundwe at a total cost of K4,766,775.07 yesterday shocked members of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) who described it as a waste of Government resources.

Committee chairperson Howard Kunda and all the members were astonished to learn from the permanent secretary that two expensive Government houses were being constructed for the provincial minister and himself in his capacity as PS.

Appearing before the PAC for interrogation, the MPs refused to buy Mr Nundwe’s justification of building two houses at a cost K4,766,775.07 when the country was experiencing economic hardships.

Patriotic Front Nkana MP Alexander Chiteme said he could not agree with Mr Nundwe’s exaggerated costing of the two houses because constructing a large house in Lusaka costs K600,000.

“I find it very disturbing that in Chinsali you can construct two houses at this exorbitant cost in comparison to the 10 medium cost houses in Shiwang’andu district at a total contract price of K4,723, 979.

“Could you please give me guidance why this contractor can construct two houses at K4,766,775.07?” Mr Chiteme asked.

In his response, Mr Nundwe said the two houses were double storey with unique features, seating on a 1 hectare piece of land each with a gym and swimming pool.

He said when he arrived in Muchinga he found the project had already been awarded and that he could not start making modifications.

Mr Nundwe said he had no option but to simply continue with the project as at the time of his appointment the project was 75 percent complete.

“I reported in Muchinga Province last year in March. I am only one year eight months and my justification to this is that these are double storey houses with very  extraordinary features and siting on very huge pieces of land,” Mr Nundwe said.

And Choma Central UPND MP Cornelius Mweetwa said he was as disturbed as Mr Chiteme. He demanded that the engineers who accompanied Mr Nundwe explain the reasoning behind the construction of the houses at a time like this.

Mr Mweetwa wondered why the provincial administration could start buildng luxurious mansions in Chinsali

“What time of extravagance is this? What is it that you are trying to put up in Chinsali so that we can understand,” Mr Mweetwa asked.

And Mr Kunda wondered whether the PS had a standard house for the minister.

Mr Nundwe, after being roasted by the parliamentarians, regretted why his predecessor allowed the building of such huge mansions.

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