By Nation Reporter
THE Zambia National Service (ZNS) has now ventured into mining, Vice-President Mutale Nalumango has announced.
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Ms Nalumango has however said Cabinet is yet to approve the proposal and that the ZNS Commandant Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi prematurely announced the US$15 billion loan to construct a smelter in North-Western Province.
Ms Nalumango says the US$15 billion was in fact not Government money but a loan the ZNS was about to acquire.
“It is just a proposal. The announcement may be premature but it is something they are looking at to help the country realise value from copper…I cannot give you a concrete answer…. It is part of their planning,” Vice-President Nalumango said.
The Vice President was responding to a question from PF Lunte MP Mutotwe Kafwaya who wanted to know if it has now become norm for the ZNS Commandant to make pronouncements which are not supported by policy.
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And Mrs Nalumango has said the story carried by the Daily Nation yesterday that democracy under the UPND has shrunk was a mere perception.
She said this in response to PF Mambilima MP Jean Chisenga who said ever since UPND came into power, Zambia has suffered a shrinking democracy.
“That is why we have been awoken to the headline in the Daily Nation that democracy has shrunk. What is government doing to ensure that democracy does not shrink further?” Ms Chisenga asked.
The Vice President said observation was not an easy thing and stating that democracy has shrunk under UPND was her (Ms Chisenga) observation.
“But when you ask me, I don’t see a shrinking space. She is in opposition, so she sees wrong. Whatever she sees has opposition lenses. We all see from different angles…we continue to search ourselves. You also search yourself,” Mrs Nalumango said.
Meanwhile, the Vice President has asked Patriotic Front (PF) members to remember former President Michael Sata in a respectable manner.
“Show respect by not creating something else. Let there be honor. It is things people utter…Someone said they will be using funerals to do politics,” she said.
Mrs Nalumango was responding to a question from PF Shiwang’andu MP Stephen Kampyongo who wanted to know what guarantee there was that the Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba will offer security to PF members as they commemorate Mr Sata who died on October 28, 2014.
She described Mr Sata as a hard worker who was able to reach people’s heart and was full of humor.
“He was my uncle. I remember him as a practical person who would make everyone laugh. He worked hard in the PF which some people are destroying,” Mrs Nalumango said.
She said there was nothing to worry about security unless Mr Kampyongo who is PF Chief Whip was planning something strange because there were never rallies at the graveyard.
Meanwhile, the Vice President Nalumango yesterday refused to respond to PF Chama North MP Yotam Mtayachalo’s question on the high cost of mealie-meal in his constituency after he said he had visited his area.
“Unless he tells me what mode of transport he used to get to Chama because he was in the House. We saw him here (in Parliament). Don’t ask doctored questions. I will not answer that question,” she quipped.
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