Today's letters

Thu, 25 May 2017 12:00:23 +0000

Mutati should investigate the PIA

Dear Editor,

I have been following your newspaper’s explicit revelations on the happenings at the Pensions and Insurance Authority (PIA).

It is surprising that after all the breaches of the Pensions and Insurance Act by Saturnia Regna no action has been taken by PIA.

I feel the reason is plain simple. As a person working inside the Authority I call upon the PIA Registry to come out clean on his perceived relationship with Mr Muna Hantuba one of the individuals linked to Saturnia.

There could be a possibility of him having financial linkages with Hantuba, hence the disregard of procedures regarding the offshore accounts.

And also the Registrar was appointed by Situmbeko Musokotwane when he served as Finance Minister and I don’t need state where the Registrar’s loyalty lies.

I would like to appeal to the Government, especially the President and the Minister of Finance to take keen interest in the Pensions and Insurance industry as this is a billion dollar business.

The K399, 472, 260 is just a tip of the ice burg. I foresee a situation where most of our pensioners who are voters being robbed of their hard earned money.

DEC and ACC should quickly move in to investigate Saturnia and PIA and I can assure them that they will find a lot of mismanagement, corruption and fraud not only in the Saturnia issue but in a lot of other transactions like certification, audits and licensing.

I wonder why the PIA has been left unchecked to do things as they wish. That is why the named opposition leader’s wealth and expensive campaigns have been growing. Do you know were his money comes from? Take a guess.

Concerned Citizen, Lusaka

The opposition stance on national days

Dear Editor,

Just before the August 11 general elections, HH, the sole proprietor of the biggest opposition party in Zambia, the UPND, vowed not to accept the presidential results if he lost.

But surprisingly, he went ahead to participate even when he knew he was destined to lose!

To that effect he has forced his supporters not to attend any national or international events such as the Youth and Women, Independence, Labour Days and now the Africa Freedom Day.

However, the absence of the UPND has not been felt as it is said that the hole is always bigger than any of its parts.

No single political party is bigger than Zambia, even Mr Sata (MHSRIP) did the same but celebrations and commemorations went ahead as planned.

The UPND is just wasting their time by shunning these events which they still watch from their TVs at home and read about them in the newspapers.

So, what is the point of shunning? The UPND will next tell its supporters to STOP going to Church maybe because President Edgar Lungu spends most of his time in church than HH, their leader.

Chakwiya Bornface,

Chongwe

KCM US$ 1 billion investment good

Dear Editor,

When Vedanta Resources chairman Anil Agarwal met President Lungu in Lusaka on March, 24, 2017, he told Zambians through our Head of State that an additional US$ 1 billion investment in KCM will be pumped in.

When Vedanta resources took over KCM in 2004 US$ 4 billion was injected in. Yes, according to the KCM owner, 7,000 new jobs will be created in the next five years for our people.

It is also gratifying to learn that KCM will have its own power plant with 300 megawatts generation capacity to enable the  firm operate at full capacity.

It is also anticipated that the annual production for copper will go up from 191, 000 to 400,000 tones.

It is my prayer that KCM will also look into 100 percent quality sponsorship of Konkola Blades football in the immediate plans.

I still feel that the team requires a luxury big bus and timely release of monthly grants.

Football is not an easy undertaking, hence KCM should do the needful.

Citizen

ZESCO disappoints Makeni customer

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my disappointment over the recent electricity tariff hike by ZESCO. I am a Makeni resident.

I was made to believe that ZESCO had adjusted electricity tariffs by 50 percent effective May 15 and it would go up to 75 percent effective September 1, but to my dismay electricity has been increased by 100 percent according to my observation.

This is because two weeks before electricity tariffs were adjusted I bought units  for K100 and had  256 units, a day after new electricity tariffs were effected I bought power for K100 and had 108 units, and yesterday I bought K60 I had 65 units.

Could ZESCO kindly explain their actual electricity tariffs instead of misleading the public?

After all, its them who generate even if they hiked by 300 percent, we would not stop them but may simply turn to other affordable sources of energy such as charcoal for cooking and lamps for lighting.

Devastated citizen,

Makeni, Lusaka.

Zambian clubs should emulate Chelsea FC

Dear Editor,

As a follower of both Konkola Blades FC of Chililabombwe and Chelsea F.C of London, I took time off my busy schedule to watch the last Barclays PLS game between Chelsea and Sunderland F.C.

The champions of England as the whole world is aware clobbered Sunderland 5-1.

What lessons can we draw from Chelsea FC? Firstly, we need to take each game seriously even if you have already won the league.

Secondly, Chelsea FC and organizers allowed players and family members to take photos right on the pitch to add to the celebrations.

Surely, why can’t we allow this to happen in Zambia during the Barclay’s Cup final or FAZ/MTN PSL final game?

The families play an integral part in the careers of footballers in most cases.

I can’t wait to see, for arguments sake, ZESCO United or Zanaco FC players with either their wives or children together holding a trophy at Levy Mwanawasa or National Heroes stadium.

Lastly, allow me to appeal to KCM to add to the motivation of Konkola Blades players by paying them winning bonuses on time.

Timothy Kambilima,

Luanshya.

Approved ZESCO tariffs too high

Dear Editor,

The approved 75% electricity tariff by ERB is beyond the reach of the common Zambians.

The majority of Zambians are living below the poverty datum line in both urban and rural areas.

Though, ZESCO have their own reasons for increasing the tariffs. ERB should have passionately looked at the pocket of a Zambian out there.

Since we cannot continue crying over spilled milk, I am optimistic that the money that ZESCO will raise, will be re-invested in power generating and not buying posh cars for directors.

TK