By TROY MUKUPA
IT IS shocking that the new dawn administration is quick to spend K4.6 million (US$275, 000 ) to hire a plane to take 120 soccer fans for a football match in Ivory Coast when they have failed to sponsor other sporting disciplines which need as little as K1 million.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Patriotic Front Media Director Antonio Mwanza said the colossal amount didn’t even include other expenses such as lodging or food.
He said Government has been saying there is no money, when it had over K5 million to splash on 120 soccer fans.
“It is very shocking that this so-called new dawn administration which has been preaching day in and day out that its efforts are to reduce on huge costs is today able to spend K4.6 million ($275, 000) to hire a plane to take about 120 soccer fans, the Minister of Sports and his Permanent Secretary and some officials to go and watch the Ivory Coast versus Zambia match that was played on Friday which Zambia lost.”
“While this government has failed to sponsor other sporting disciplines such as swimming, golf etc which need as less as K1 million, saying there is no money, the same government has nearly K5 million to splash on 100 soccer fans,” he said.
Mr. Mwanza said it was important for the Minister of Sports and Government to re-look at their priorities as the K4.6 million trip showed that their priorities were upside-down.
“For those who don’t know, this colossal amount doesn’t include other expenses such as lodging, food, allowances and incidentals. “I think the Minister and Government must re-look at their priorities, surely their priorities are upside-down. Can you imagine, the plane they paid for never even showed up.
“They again booked another plane which also never came. They waited and waited, only for them to watch the game on television at the airport,” Mr. Mwanza said.
