Maravi

Muntanga accuses PF ministers of 'fighting' over contracts

Muntanga accuses PF ministers of 'fighting' over contracts
By Kabanda Chulu
Fri 05 Oct. 2012, 15:00 CAT

KALOMO UPND member of parliament Request Muntanga has accused some PF ministers of 'fighting' to acquire contracts to enrich themselves contrary to President Michael Sata's guidance that service delivery should be a priority.

And Kasenengwa MMD member of parliament Victoria Kalima said the government had failed to fight corruption due to increase in abuses of office such as having ministers being driven in security convoys.

Making contributions to the Presidential address to Parliament on Wednesday, Muntanga compared some government ministers to a person who had been asked to feed a child with porridge but decided to eat it.

"We know you are fighting over contracts to enrich yourselves, the President said deliver first and this is why he has taken over RDA because he fears wrongdoing amongst you, who are failing to carry out zero-tolerance on corruption," Muntanga said.

Then Shiwang'andu PF member of parliament Stephen Kampyongo, who is also home affairs deputy minister, rose on a point of order, asking whether Muntanga was right to suggest that ministers were stealing.

But Speaker Matibini ruled that Muntanga was giving general advice against wrongdoing.

And Muntanga continued, saying there was need to see tangible results through implementation of action-oriented programmes that would enhance livelihoods.

"For example, under MMD we saw agriculture recording some growth to result in maize bumper harvest and we look forward to see President Sata fulfilling his promises of improving mining in Kalomo and building a university in Gwembe," said Muntanga.

Kalima claimed Zambia under the PF government was a patient in intensive care unit.

"People want to see implementation and not rhetoric on establishing 650 health posts and industrial clusters and there is no need to borrow US$ 750 million Eurobond because these funds could have been raised locally through mining windfall tax but advocates of this idea are called lunatics.

But I challenge government to do a study and determine which is beneficial to Zambia between windfall tax and mineral royalties then we shall know who is a lunatic between them and I."

At this point, Speaker Patrick Matibini advised against using words such as 'lunatic' because a member of parliament was honourable and could not be a 'lunatic.'

Kalima continued and further accused the PF government of having failed to 'fit' in the shoes of MMD in fighting corruption and cited various abuses ranging from tenders to procure crude oil, military recruitment, fertiliser support programme tenders and procurement of Zesco transmission poles.

"We didn't hear comments from government, not even from President Sata and yet top government officials are involved," she said.

Then Bahati PF member of parliament Harry Kalaba, who is also minister in the Vice-President's Office, rose on a point of order, whether Kalima was in order to debate without facts.

Speaker Matibini ruled that members of parliament should avoid personalising issues.

"We know you are all in political competition but let us be factual in debates to avoid blanket statements and negative generalisation which is not fair," he said.
Nevertheless, Kalima continued debating and said several abuses of office were happening under PF government.

"We supported re-introduction of the abuse of office clause but it should not be meant for the opposition since the PF will be on this side (opposition) again," said Kalima.

Labels: CORRUPTION, PF, REQUEST MUNTANGA

posted by MrK @ 3:12 PM