Rupiah pushes NAPSA into a $98m deal

COMMENT - Isn't there anything more disgraceful than raiding the national pension fund? This by the way is why there has to be a constitutional separation between the government (the cabinet and president) and the state (civil service and parastatals).

Rupiah pushes NAPSA into a $98m deal
By George Chellah
Tue 10 May 2011, 04:02 CAT

NATIONAL Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) is to finance the refurbishment of Society House on Lusaka’s Cairo Road, which was gutted by fire in 1997 to the tune of US$ 98 million.

Well-placed government sources yesterday disclosed that the deal to renovate the Zambia National Building Society’s Society House is being pushed by President Rupiah Banda.

“NAPSA will finance the renovation of Society House to a tune of US$ 98 million. As usual, even on this transaction, the tender procedures have not been followed or adhered to,” the source revealed. “A Kenyan contractor has already been single-sourced to carry out the refurbishment of the structure at such a colossal sum of money.”

The source said the Kenyan contractor, who has been pushing for contracts directly from President Banda, has been singled-sourced following finance and national planning minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane’s approval of the project.

“The Zambia National Building Society wrote to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and Dr Musokotwane has agreed or authorised the project to refurbish Society House,” the source said.

“What is interesting is that despite the amount quoted for the refurbishment being excessive, Dr Musokotwane is not objecting. He is simply saying it’s a viable project.”

The source disclosed that State House is exerting pressure on NAPSA to finance the project.

“In fact, in one of the meetings, NAPSA board chairman Mr Dominic Mbangu raised the issue and informed the meeting that he was receiving phone calls from the President,” the source said.

“He Mr. Mbangu actually asked if there was anyone from the meeting who was willing to be taking those calls from the President.”

And when contacted yesterday, NAPSA director general Stanley Phiri asked for a press query.

“…Okay, I think what you can do, you can put that in writing. I don’t take such queries over the phone because ...sometimes we speak, sometimes I mean…you know what I am talking about, you have been in this longer than myself. So I would rather maybe get a written query then I would probably reflect on it,” Phiri said.

Asked where the press query should be directed, Phiri responded: “I have got a public relations wing.”

And Zambia National Building Society managing director Noriana Muneku was not reachable.