PROVE FIRE ENGINES CORRUPTION-GOVT

Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:06:42 +0000

By Martin Akende

GOVERNMENT has challenged those alleging that there was corruption in the procurement of the 42 fire engines to sue the government if they have tangible evidence.

Chief Government spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga said  it was irresponsible for anyone to alarm the nation with corruption allegations on the 42 fire engines and the cost of the 321 kilometres Ndola-Lusaka dual carriageway without verifying details.

She says people should avoid raising corruption allegations just because one fire engine was procured at $1 million or the $1.2 Billion Ndola-Lusaka dual carriageway.

Ms. Mulenga who is Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said government had remained constant on its roadmap to fighting corruption.

On Monday expelled Patriotic Front (PF) member of the Central Committee Mwenya Musenge said a tribunal must be set up to establish how the Ministry of Local Government bought 42 fire tenders at US$42 million.

Mr Musenge said if a tribunal was not immediately set up, he would find ways of petitioning Chief Justice Irene Mambilima to do so. He said the 42 fire trucks procured at US$42 million meant that each tender cost US$1million.

Mr Musenge said he expected members of Parliament during the session to ask the Vice President Inonge Wina and seek clarification over the transaction.

In a statement issued to Daily Nation, Mr Musenge said he anticipated the minister of local government to shed some light on the procurement process on the floor of the House.

“I expect probably as the House opens these are some of the issues that will be discussed because they are quiet damaging to our country so we expect that they will be questions of clarifications on these issues.”

“We want that matter to be put to rest as the amount of money that has been mentioned is just too much,” said Mr Musenge.

He said if the Parliament did not really move quickly to get clarification over the deal, a tribunal should be set up.