Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:25:40 +0000
Former minister of Agriculture Dr. Eustacio Kazonga has parried allegations that top officials in the MMD government shared US$ 20 million from fertiliser contracts awarded to Nyiombo and Omnia.
Dr. Kazonga said it did not make any sense for the PF government to lie against the former ruling party when in fact the successes they were riding on was initiated by the MMD government and its committed leadership.
These two companies are the same companies the Patriotic Front (PF) government has recently awarded contracts to supply and deliver fertiliser under the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP) for the 2012-2013 farming season.
Dr Kazonga has since challenged the PF government to seriously engage in politics of unity which would benefit the country rather than politics of mudslinging.
“The MMD government did not share any money of that nature…which money is that, I don’t know anything about that money because the ministry in my time did not receive or release such huge amounts of money to be shared by top officials as alleged by Mr. (Wynter) Kabimba,” said Dr. Kazonga.
He said it was unfortunate that the PF government had resorted to character assassination of the opposition at the expense of national development which was paramount to national unity and poverty reduction.
Dr. Kazonga said that the country and especially people in rural areas were in dire need of infrastructure development such as roads and bridges for the improved transportation of farm produce to the market, hence political rhetoric irrelevant.
And MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu has urged the PF government to stop witch hunting because it was quickly dividing the nation.
Mr. Nyangu said that the PF were in government now and if they have evidence to the fact that the MMD cabinet ministers had shared US$ 20 million they report the matter to police rather continue to accuse the opposition of corruption and abuse of office.
“It is not fair for the PF and in particular Wynter Kabimba who is now Justice Minister to sit on such information. He knows what he is supposed to do with such allegations. Let him report the matter to police in order for the law to take its course instead of just politicking because it won’t help him to solve the alleged corruption,” he said.
Mr. Nyangu said that the PF leadership was constipated with power hence forgetting all the promise they made to the people of Zambia to improve the agriculture sector.
“It’s now the end of September and this government has not yet started the distribution of farming inputs and I hope that this is not another way of (Donchi Kubeba) diverting the attention of the people by accusing the MMD of having stolen funds meant for farming inputs.
Let them deliver on the promises because the people of Zambia will no longer hold the MMD accountable but the PF. And for Mr. Kabimba let him put on the table the evidence citing the MMD ministers who shared in that money than making those dark allegations against innocent people,” he said.
He warned that the continued victimisation and telling lies against the MMD would cost the PF government heavily and they would regret when people start acting against them.
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