By NATION REPORTER
THE Patriotic Front (PF) has written to complain to the acting secretary to cabinet Dr Patrick Kangwa over instructions for government to foot bills for the commemoration of the United Party for National Development (UPND) alliance government anniversary.
PF President Given Lubinda warned that his party would take legal action if Dr Kangwa did not withdraw the directive because it was a waste of public resources.
“I advise that should you not withdraw the Circular herein we shall be left with no option but to seek redress in the Courts of law, and for an order to reimburse to the Treasury, by every public officer including yourself, funds that will have been applied to the celebrations,” Mr Lubinda said.
He said he was not oblivious of the self-praise and self aggrandizement syndrome inherent in the UPND and therefore sympathised with him for his action to please them by providing them a platform to feather their nest and to apple-smooth their egos.
He however said Dr Kangwa needed to take serious note that Zambia had been governed by three political parties before the UPND.
Mr Lubinda said on the basis of the foregoing, Circular number oplppa/53/9/3 headed: “commemoration of the United Party for National Development (UPND) alliance government anniversary” amounted to abuse of authority of office, and thus is contrary to Section 21 of the Anti- Corruption Act of 2012.
He said Dr Kangwa needed to further note that the Circular was prejudicial to the rights or interest of the Government for the following reasons:
Communication of the Circular has already occasioned loss to the Government in terms of stationery, data bundles, man hours and other Government resources.If acted upon, which was already in the process, Government resources and facilities would be unlawfully applied to activities of a political party, and you had used your High Office to champion the activities of a political party, when your Office ought to serve the interests of the Government and not that of a political party.”
