Maravi

MMD printed fake money - Sichinga

MMD printed fake money - Sichinga
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi in Kitwe
Fri 03 Feb. 2012, 14:00 CAT

COMMERCE minister Bob Sichinga has disclosed that the MMD government printed K3 trillion ‘fake' money in China. And Sichinga has observed that Zambia had a poor image abroad because of corruption.

During a meeting with the business community at the Kitwe and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kitwe yesterday, Sichinga disclosed that the fake money was printed prior to last year's tripartite elections.

"We discovered there's fake money. Now some of you will remember the vehicle that was stopped at Nakonde and opened. That vehicle was carrying fake compartments," he said.

Sichinga said the alleged fake money was taken to rural areas where it was dished out to different people and that some individuals were being offered monies to defect from their parties.

Sichinga said the PF government looked through records and found a whole lot of things that were totally out of control.

"Then you say what happened, then you find money in the ground, then you find the banks are coming they say we've got three trillion, fake money which was printed in China during the elections, what do you do?" he wondered.

He said last year's election was won by the people because it was clear that the opposition then had no resources.

He said the victory recorded was a product of people's own labour.

And Sichinga said most people abroad think that Zambians always want to be bribed before they could avail investment opportunities to foreigners.

He said this perception needed to change because it was bad for the country.

Sichinga added that it was for this reason that his ministry had asked the Zambia Institute of Marketing to help them market and re-brand Zambia.

He cautioned business houses and persons against going to his office with gifts or presents adding that he did not want them to tempt him.

He said if they had ideas, they were free to go to his office and discuss those ideas but that at no time should they think of bribing him.

Sichinga said it was extremely easy for people in senior positions of leadership to fall prey to bribes and that it was important to avoid this because the country had already paid a ‘high enough price'.

Meanwhile, Sichinga disclosed that he would take a new bill aimed at distinguishing companies owned by Zambians from those owned by foreigners to the next session of parliament.

He added that there was need to restrict certain aspects of business to Zambians only.

Labels: CORRUPTION, MMD, ROBERT SICHINGA

posted by MrK @ 3:14 PM