By SIMON MUNTEMBA
IT is high time President Hakainde Hichilema stopped lamenting everyday that former senior Government officials in the PF administration stole without naming and having them probed by relevant investigative wings, NDC faction Secretary General, Charles Kabwita has charged.
In an interview, Mr Kabwita has challenged President Hichilema to within 24 hours name and have those he accused of having involved themselves in corrupt activities or stolen to face the law than making blanket statements because he was now the Head of State.
His comment follows President Hichilema’s revelation that former ministers who were now making noise in Parliament had allegedly colluded with permanent secretaries as well as other offices to corruptly give each other government contracts.
Speaking on Monday when he opened a workshop for ministers and permanent secretaries to discuss issues of procurement, the Head of State said that some former ministers had colluded with other high offices, to give each other contracts some of which were not delivered after being paid 20 percent in advance.
But Mr Kabwita said that after 100 days in office, Zambians expected President Hichilema to act and not continue with lamentations against those alleged to have stolen public resources in the previous regime.
“We are all aware that when in opposition, President Hichilema indicated that once elected, he will ensure that all corrupt individuals in the PF government will be taken to ACC and other investigative wings. But to my shock and surprise, nothing has happened, he just keeps on lamenting. Now I am starting to think that it was just a campaign gimmick to hoodwink Zambians so that they can vote for him.
“We are getting worried that everyday President Hichilema is lamenting about the PF having stolen money. He should stop lamenting because he is now the Head of State.
“Lamentations are for us in the opposition. He needs to start working. If there are people who have stolen, I don’t think ACC is in India, it is in Zambia.
“Zambians are tired of his lamentations because they are not rendering them any development. We want him to act, because if surely there are people who have stolen, he should take them to task,” Mr Kabwita said.
