Maravi

Taxpayers’ money is under threat – ZCTU

Taxpayers’ money is under threat – ZCTU
Written by Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:46:56 AM

TAXPAYERS' money is under threat, the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions [ZCTU] has warned. Commenting on the US$2 million contract awarded to RP Capital Partners of Cayman Islands by communication and transport minister Dora Siliya to value ZAMTEL's assets without following procedure, ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba told a press briefing in Kitwe that taxpayers' money was under threat and it was sad that a Cabinet minister could involve herself in such a transaction without following tender procedure.

"ZCTU is concerned with media reports linking the Minister of Transport and Communications Dora Siliya to an alleged act of misconduct involving the award of US$2 million contract to a foreign company to value ZAMTEL's assets," Hikaumba said. "The minister's alleged conduct is a serious case of acting above the law especially that she decided to ignore advice from the Attorney General's chambers and is sending wrong signals about the way the MMD government is handling economic issues."

He urged those in the government to learn from various former government officials that were either appearing before the courts of law or serving jail sentences as a result of having acted in a similar way when they were in power.

Hikaumba said US$2 million [K10.3 billion] was a colossal amount of taxpayers' money to be approved by a minister without following procedure.

He said the entire world was going through a recession and that it was dangerous for Zambia not to exercise restraint in the use of public funds.

"While we agree that ZAMTEL is going through turbulent times, people should not take advantage of the situation and begin to cut deals that will only benefit a few individuals. This is disheartening and should not be allowed in a government that claims to follow laws," Hikaumba said.

However, President Banda on Monday described as nonsense the argument that Siliya was handling the privatisation of ZAMTEL illegally.

President Banda said Siliya was smarter than some of the people criticising her.

But Hikaumba urged the government to be cautious in the way it was handling the privatisation of ZAMTEL given the strategic nature of the company.

He further urged the government to learn from the conduct of some mining investors that simply acquired mines to reap profits and later fled the country.

And Hikaumba opposed the liberalisation of the international gateway because of its strategic nature to the telecommunications industry.

He observed that liberalising the international gateway would expose the country to security risks, stressing the need for ZAMTEL to continue holding the monopoly of the gateway.

And commenting on the revelation by the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) that the country had about 90,000 metric tonnes of non-GMO maize and yet the commodity was being sourced from abroad, Hikaumba said ZCTU was disappointed with the manner the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) was handling the marketing of maize.

"We would like to see efficiency in the manner FRA handles the purchase of maize from farmers. They should pay the farmers on time. There is no need to import maize at a higher price from outside when there is locally produced maize at a cheaper price," said Hikaumba.

He also called on the government to address the mealie-meal shortages being experienced in some parts of the country adding that the shortages were a threat to productivity and political stability.

Labels: DORA SILIYA, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, RP CAPITAL PARTNERS, ZCTU

posted by MrK @ 9:46 AM