PS threatens to sue PF East provincial official

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 09:02:29 +0000

By SIMON MUNTEMBA

 THE PF provincial secretary Joseph Kolosa should apologise for alleging that I am awarding Government contracts to the people that are not in good standing with the party and enriching myself dubiously failure to which I will sue him, Chanda Kasolo has threatened.

Mr Kasolo, who is Eastern Province permanent secretary (PS), said that the allegations levelled against him were erroneous, outlandish and unsubstantiated, intended to tarnish his image.

On Monday, the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in Eastern Province called for the immediate removal of Mr Kasolo, his deputy Patrick Mwanawasa and Chipata district commissioner Kalunga Zulu from the province for allegedly working against the ruling party.

Speaking at a press briefing held at Eastern Comfort Lodge in Chipata on Monday, party provincial secretary Kolosa said the trio should be removed from their offices for frustrating the party by allegedly supporting known contractors who were not in good standing with the party.

Mr Kolosa charged that the three officers were also allegedly frustrating the efforts of the Provincial Minister, Makebi Zulu, to grow the party in the region.

He accused the trio of ‘‘developing unstoppable appetite for personal wealth’’ by giving contracts to people who were allegedly busy fighting the party.

‘’ As party leadership in the Eastern Province, we have no option but to strongly demand that these unsupportive officers immediately be removed from their respective offices and be replaced with officers who understand the importance of good working relationship with the provincial minister and the provincial party leadership,’’ Mr Kolosa said.

But when contacted for a comment, Mr Kasolo demanded for an apology from Mr Kolosa, failure to which he would sue him for alleging that he was enriching himself dubiously.

The Eastern Province PS  said allegations leveled against him were erroneous, outlandish and unsubstantiated, targeting to tarnish his image because he had no mandate of single-handedly awarding contracts to people as his role was to ensure that all developmental projects in the province were completed on time.

“I am considering taking legal action against Joseph Kolosa for alleging that I am awarding Government contracts to people that are not in good standing with the party and enriching myself dubiously,’’ M Kasolo said.

“Such allegations are unsubstantiated meant to tarnish my image. He should apologise or else I will seek legal action against him,” Mr Kasolo said.

He said as far as he was concerned, he enjoyed a sound working relationship with the party district executive and did not understand the allegations leveled at him by the provincial executive committee.

Mr Kasolo explained that as the most senior civil servant in the province, he chaired departmental management board meetings of executive members and non-executive directors and that it was not possible to single-handedly award Government contracts to individuals.

Mr Kasolo, however, said he was happy to be part and parcel of the progress going on in the province and hoped that his little contribution in the region would be sustained.

He called for continued professionalism, collaboration and hard work among civil servants in order to enhance service delivery.

He reiterated that he was a flexible person who did not need appointments to perform Government duties but warned his subordinates against late-coming and laissez-faire attitude towards work.