Maravi

Watch Rupiah’s projects - Mike

Watch Rupiah’s projects - Mike
By Patson Chilemba
Wed 01 June 2011, 07:40 CAT

There’ll be massive scandals from Banda’s projects, warns Mulongoti
Mike Mulongoti has urged the Zambian people to watch President Rupiah Banda's projects because they are likely to be accompanied by massive scandals. And Mulongoti said the MMD government is scared over Michael Sata’s warm reception in Western Province.

Commenting on the K300 billion Lusaka urban road rehabilitation works President Banda launched in Mandevu compound last Saturday, Mulongoti said President Banda should disclose the source of the funds on the projects he was announcing. He said whoever comes into office after the elections should probe the source of the funds.

“Secondly, the tendering process, the question of the money is not, maybe, so much of a problem, but the question is the tendering process because there are so many projects that it is difficult to understand how all of a sudden efficiencies have been found to do procurement of so many at one time, because it is a process,” Mulongoti said.

“But I am sure that if this is not handled carefully it is going to produce massive scandal, I can tell you because money cannot be handled in such a way. There is so much money going all over everywhere. It needs to be supervised, and it needs to be followed.”

Mulongoti said one only needed to look in the Yellow Book to find out if the projects President Banda was announcing were catered for in the 2010 to 2011 national budget.

“There is the K300 billion? What is the total budget for the country? I think that is what is important. So if you are going to spend K300 billion on roads in Lusaka alone, what happens to the others, Mongu, Kalabo?” he asked.

Mulongoti said President Banda was making the announcements in order to improve his election chances.

And commenting on the MMD’s harsh reaction to PF leader Sata’s recent visit to Western Province, Mulongoti said President Banda’s government should state their plans on the Barotseland Agreement rather than criticising Sata’s position on the issue.

“It can only be done by people who are scared that when they go there they will not be received in the same manner. This is why I respect what Heritage Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda said that Sata had sold himself well. What General Miyanda said is that he acknowledges that he Sata is popular,” Mulongoti said. “That is the way we expect decent human beings to react.”

Mulongoti said political leaders like Sata were free to go wherever they wished and the way they were received was determined by the people who saw them.

“I do not think it’s up to the people who are interested in the competition to tell you that ‘the way you were received was a lie’,” he said.

Mulongoti said the reaction from the MMD showed that they did not have a position on the issues affecting Western Province, including the Barotseland Agreement and were feeling uncomfortable that someone had promised to restore it.

He said the commitment Sata had shown towards the issue was what people expected to hear from the MMD.

Mulongoti said this was an issue that had been outstanding for a long time and could not be wished away.

“Not to do something about it is also another decision. So it would appear that the people who have not made a decision in the past must make a decision to do something about it,” Mulongoti said. “And those who promise to do something about it in the future must be commended because they are being brave enough.

For me, over this issue, I will respect people who have made a commitment that they will attend to it. He is not saying he will resolve it immediately, but they are making effort at it.”

Mulongoti said the Barotseland Agreement had to do with decentralisation of power, where people would have the power to chart their development agenda.
He said the principle itself was not wrong because ultimately the only way the nation could develop was through devolution.

Mulongoti said the current system gave people at the centre too much power.
“In essence, at what point does a person from Shang’ombo determine that their money which has been allocated in the budget is available to them?” asked Mulongoti. “For instance, if a controlling officer in Lusaka decides to move money meant for clinics from one area to another, he is not under obligation to consult people.”

Sata’s recent warm reception in Western Province, where he addressed mammoth rallies in Mongu and Senanga, has received harsh criticism from those in government; with finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane saying Sata was lying for saying he would restore the Barotseland Agreement.

Sikota Wina said the people of Western Province could laugh with Sata but that did not mean that they liked him.

Labels: CORRUPTION, INFRASTRUCTURE, MIKE MULONGOTI, ROADS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:13 PM