Mulusa is lying over vehicles – General Education

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 13:13:05 +0000

WE are not aware of any procurement of 80 vehicles that former Minister of National Development and Planning Lucky Mulusa is talking about, Ministry of General Education spokesperson Nondo Chilonga has said. 

After being fired, Mr. Mulusa said he was not sacked because of incompetence but because he refused to sign the imminent procurement of 80 vehicles for the Ministry of General Education at an inflated price which was five times higher than normal.

But speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, Ms.  Chilonga said her ministry was not aware of any such transaction and wondered when such a transaction was to be effected and asked if the ZPPA was aware of the 80 vehicles which were to be purchased.

“I am not around right now. I am in Kasama but I just wanted to confirm that there hasn’t been such a process. I don’t even know the time-frame when those vehicles are supposed to be purchased but I can confirm that it is not true,” Ms. Chilonga said.

Earlier, when contacted for a comment on whether the Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA) was aware of the purchase of 80 vehicles to the ministry, public relations officer John Chipandwe could neither confirm nor deny the development but referred all queries to the ministry saying the agency was no longer involved in procurement for Government agencies but only responsible for regulating. 

Mr. Mulusa however, said he accepted to be fired rather than taking part in an alleged corrupt tender simply to make money and get rich before 2021.

“I thank President Lungu for giving me the opportunity to serve in his Government. Truly it has been a rare privilege. But Zambians must know that I have been relieved of my duties not because of being incompetence but because I refused to sign another massive corrupt tender involving the imminent purchasing of 80 vehicles for the Ministry of General Education (M.O.G.E).

“Brothers and sisters, how would you have expected me to be part of this wicked process of robbing poor Zambians? I mean, purchasing vehicles at five times higher than the normal price all in the name of getting rich before 2021? I would rather be fired and remain poor than involving myself in this daylight robbery. I thank the Head of State for relieving me,” Mr. Mulusa said.