By JACKSON MAPAPAYI
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says oversight government institutions will continue pursuing all cases of corruption regardless of who was involved.
The President says this is to recover the public resources that were misappropriated in awarding of contracts and other procurement processes.
Speaking when he inspected stalled works on the construction site of a police station in Manyinga, President Hichilema said the case is a pure example of corruption which his administration has been talking about.
He said it is sad that public resources where released in full on a project that has not been completed.
He said he is aware that previously, contracts were being awarded on partisan lines which resulted into abandonment of projects.
“And when we say there was corruption, this is it, and that is why oversight institutions will be pursuing those who were given such contracts and paid in full without executing the works so that we recover the money and were possible prosecute whoever was involved,” President Hichilema said.
He revealed that previously, line government ministries used to collude with contractors which he said was a recipe for corruption.
“But not anymore. This time if you are found colluding, you are on your own,” Mr Hichilema said.
He urged the provincial administration to pursue the matter by looking for the previous contractor.
He however was happy that a new contractor has been identified and is on site with works progressing well.
President Hichilema said his administration has made it very clear that it will finish all the projects which were left by the previous regime without segregation.
And North-Western Province Minister Robert Lihefu appealed for intervention in ensuring that the new central business district is electrified to avoid vandalism.
“There’s a lot of bureaucracy, so I’m appealing to you sir to help us have this area electrified,” Mr Lihefu said.
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