Maravi

Sata seeks review of road contracts

Sata seeks review of road contracts
By George Chellah
Sat 23 July 2011, 14:00 CAT

MICHAEL Sata has demanded an urgent review of road contracts and warned that President Rupiah Banda and Ben Mwila will account for the failed Mumbwa-Landless corner road project.

And Sata has written to President Banda stating that the deliberate failure to dissolve Parliament has led to illegal or unconstitutional expenditures by the Vice-President, ministers and deputy ministers. In an interview yesterday, Sata said PF would not tolerate the flouting of regulations and obvious corruption that was currently obtaining in road developments.

“For instance, the Mumbwa-Landless corner road project which was awarded to Wade Adams, a laboratory testing company belonging to BY Mwila who seems to have failed to perform,” Sata said.

“BY has failed whilst Chico, a company which was given the adjacent project has made significant progress on their section and are likely to finish the project ahead of schedule, that is if they haven’t even finished already. This is why PF is demanding that the Auditor General moves in at the Road Development Agency (RDA) and urgently reviews the award of these road contracts in order to save the Zambian taxpayer billions of Kwacha, which are being misapplied in the road sector.”

Sata said President Banda and "his friends" would have to account for the money they were wasting to give each other political favours.

“We know what Rupiah is doing with B.Y on the Mumbwa-Landless corner road. Yes, the people in that area need a road, but should you give it to a political friend who is not able to do the job?” Sata asked.

“This project is worth several billions of Kwacha which cannot be thrown just like that. I know that even people like Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha will have a problem in his constituency because of that road and the way BY is handling it.”

Sata urged President Banda against cheating people over the so-called road development projects.

“This development, they are trying to cheat people with nothing but outright abuse of public resources for which Rupiah Banda will be held accountable,” Sata said.

“Even BY Mwila must keep his books very carefully because they will be checked. Any corruption will be met by the law. We know the connections in all these contracts and people will have to give an account. Zambian money is for Zambians and it should not be wasted on Rupiah’s political gymnastics.”

Sata said a similar situation had happened on the upgrading of the Pedicle Road.

“They are also cheating the people of Luapula on the Pedicle Road. They have brought their friends from Italy to build that road at K60 billion more than other bids,” Sata said.

“The K300 billion which their Italian friends want for that road is way too much. This government has decided to award this contract despite recommendations from senior RDA officials who advised that the contract should not be awarded for fear of non-performance by this same Italian company.”

And Sata has written to President Banda over the dissolution of Parliament.

“Article 88(6) of the Constitution of Zambia states: ‘The National Assembly may be dissolved by the President at any time.’ Article 88(7) of the same Constitution states: ‘Whenever the National Assembly is dissolved under this Article, there shall be Presidential elections and elections to the National Assembly and the first session of the new Parliament shall commence within three months from the date of the dissolution,’” read the except from Sata’s letter to President Banda dated July 20, 2011.

He stated that the two sections of Article 88 were completely separate and there was no provision anywhere in the constitution, which stated that the dissolution of Parliament and the fixing of the dates for elections must be done on the same day.

Sata stated that the usual logical and economical practice in most democratic countries was to announce the dissolution of Parliament shortly after the House adjourns sine die.

“When this action has been taken, the Vice-President, ministers, deputy ministers and ordinary members of parliament stop carrying out their duties. In this way, the country saves millions of Kwacha from expenses on salaries, allowances, travel expenses from all the persons referred to herein,” Sata stated.

“The deliberate failure to dissolve Parliament has led to illegal or unconstitutional expenditures by the Vice-President, ministers and deputy ministers on travels to all parts of the country under the cover of ‘official duties’ when everybody has seen and read about them on political campaigns.”

Sata stated that some ordinary members of parliament had been summoned to conduct work connected to parliamentary duties.

“Some MPs have been heard taking part in workshops/seminars outside Zambia. All these are unconstitutional and undemocratic. Unfortunately, these are some of the actions which forment troubles for the country,” Sata stated.

“In the event of a change in government, those responsible for these actions must be ready for actions against them for these unconstitutional actions. The travels to parts of the country by the Vice-President, ministers and deputy ministers for purely party campaigns are clear cases of plunder of public funds which are punishable under Zambian laws.”

Sata stated that the term of office for the current government would expire on October 2, 2011 as per provision of article 88(2).

“Since Parliament was not dissolved by 1st July, 2011, whatever date on which the current Parliament will now be dissolved, the three months will not apply as per the same article 88(7). This, therefore, means that the period of campaigns will be shortened to comply with the three months. This is another case of acting undemocratic,” Sata stated.

“Article 88(6)(b) states ‘the National Assembly may, by a two-third majority of the numbers thereof, dissolve itself’ Under the current membership of the National Assembly, the entire opposition cannot successfully pass a motion to dissolve the National Assembly because they will not get the two-thirds majority. If by any chance they managed to get the two thirds, this move can only be embarked upon during the life of the current parliament. After 2nd October, 2011 there will be no legitimate parliament if elections are not held by that date.”

He warned that all those involved in plundering state funds under the cover of inspecting government work would have to refund the public resources that have been expended.

Labels: ANNA CHIFUNGULA, ATTORNEY GENERAL, INFRASTRUCTURE, MICHAEL SATA, RDA, ROADS

posted by MrK @ 10:58 PM