Mon, 02 Oct 2017 10:47:10 +0000
BY CHITE MTONGA
Late president Michael Sata presided over the purchase of the 42 fire engines. It is therefore disingenuous for Kambwii, Kabimba and others to blame President Edgar Lungu. It is thereofre shocking that people who were part of then president Sata’s team that approved the procurement of the now infamous 42 fire engines, should turn and accuse others of corruption, former United Party for National Development presidential assistant, Edward Mumbi has charged.
The 42 Fire engines causing a storm in the nation, were initially authorized for procurement by late President Michael Sata’s regime and some of the outspoken critics, including Chishimba Kambwili, Wynter Kabimba and Mwenya Musenge were part of the team, claims Mr Mumbi.
It is unacceptable for people who advised and were very close to late president Michael Sata in 2012 when authorizing the procurement of the 42 firefighting trucks to now accuse President Lungu and the current Regime of being corrupt, Mr Mumbi said.
He said it was unimaginable for people like Wynter Kabimba, Chishimba Kambwili and Mwenya Musenge to accuse the current regime of corruption when they were in very senior positions in government when the procurement proposal and process of the 42 fire fighting trucks started in 2012.
“To me this looks like people are now just practicing populist politics, because these gentlemen who are now commenting negatively, are the ones who advised president Sata,” he said. “I mean they should be intelligent enough to tell the nation the truth. We all know that Mr Kabimba was very senior and even acted as president from time to time. Did they not know about the tender? Mr Mumbi explained that the fire trucks were made with particular modifications necessitated by the Zambian Government and this was indicated in the contract.
He said that if President Lungu had decided to cancel the contract when he came into office government would have paid a fine which was an unnecessary cost. “Mr Kambwili and the group are aware of these facts, they know what was in the contract. I mean they were in cabinet at the time, but they are being very unfair to Zambians and the President, because we expect them to be explaining these things to ordinary Zambians and not pointing fingers.
“If they were part of the problem let them please just come out and say we were part of the problem, let these people be honest with themselves and the people of this country.” Mr. Mumbi said.
He said that President Lungu should be commended for sticking to his campaign promise of continuing to pursue president Michael Sata’s dream of a prosperous Zambia.
“President Lungu should be praised for being honest, he promised the people of Zambia not to sway away from late president Sata’s vision and he has kept his promises. He has continued to work on president Sata’s projects and of course has come up with his own projects.
