CORRUPTION STINKS UP TO HH’S OFFICE…they are just giving contracts within themselves – Nawakwi
Kombe Chimpinde Mataka
FDD leader Edith Nawakwi says President Hakainde Hichilema’s soul has been overtaken by silver and gold.
Nawakwi, who served in various portfolios in the Frederick Chiluba’s government, accused President Hichilema of being behind Africa Life Financial Services that has been awarded a contract for Environmental Protection Fund Manager (consultancy) by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
According to an advertisement placed in the Zambia Daily Mail from February 3 to 5th February, 2023, “the evaluation process for tender to engage a consultancy for the position of Environmental Protection Fund Manager in which you participated has been concluded. The best evaluated bidder for this tender being African Life Financial Services.
“This notification is in accordance with the provisions of Section 71(1) of the Public Procurement Act No 8 of 2020 and Regulation 178(1) of the Public Procurement Regulations No. 30 of 2022,” reads the notice in part. “You may request a debriefing in relation to the results of the evaluation of your bid. If you decide to request a debriefing your written request must be made within five working days after which the debriefing will be provided. Debriefing maybe in writing, by phone, video conferencing call or in person. We shall promptly advise you in writing how the debriefing will be conducted and confirm the date, place and time. Complaints challenging the decision to award this contract shall the submitted within the standby period by providing the contract name, reference number, name of the firm.”
According to their website, AFLIFE Financial Services are “Zambia’s largest private investment managers and are pioneers of the Zambian investment management industry, having a track record that goes back over 29 years to the liberalisation of the Zambian financial sector. We have capabilities across all major asset classes that are managed either through segregated or pooled mandates depending on the investor’s preference. In addition to pension fund management we have proven capabilities in property development, corporate finance, and managing the life and non-life assets of insurance companies.”
Commenting on the matter, Nawakwi said whereas the Zambian people are suffering, President Hichilema “is busy amassing wealth using the office of the President”.
“I mean AFLIFE directors are Muna Hantuba, Hakainde Hichilema and Valentine Chitalu shrouded in a company called Minel Limited and the other shareholder is Anglo American. Basically, Hakainde Hichilema has gone to the Office of the President to make money for himself,” Nawakwi said. “He is busy using his muscle as a businessperson and as President to amass even more wealth on the back of extremely poor people. AFLIFE is a pension manager, how come they now want to manage environmental funds? Where have they gotten the skill to manage environmental funds? In fact these people in Washington [President] Joe Biden, they are busy running around and saying ‘no Hakainde Hichilema hates corruption’ . Corruption stinks up to the office where he sits. As I have said, by the time he will be done with his term, he will be listed as the most corrupt Zambian President that has ever held office.”
She observed that there was sharing of contracts.
“They even have the audacity to announce that AFLIFE has been awarded a contract as an environmental fund manager. And look who is giving him that contract? His friend from Ministry of Mines. They are just giving contracts within themselves. That is all they are in office for. That is why when you talk about mealie meal and fuel, you talk about the deteriorating kwacha position, they couldn’t be bothered. They are eating but I want to give them Zachariah 10:3,” she said. “He was at church this Saturday. What was the minister saying in the sermon there, the man of God? He wants these people to look after his flock not their pockets. Last time they got a contract for Zambia Army, they justified it. We were just talking about Grant Thornton. It is benefits, consulting. You know the pension funds for KCM ex-employees have not been paid. People are fighting in court.”
And Nawakwi challenged State House to state the role of Lusaka businessman Diego Casilli in its operations.
“Look at the so-called inner Cabinet of the President, he has nominated Diego Casilli as the ‘alternate cabinet secretary’. There is a letter in which State House writes to Diego Casilli and asks him to invite people to a meeting. Now is Diego Casilli the new secretary to cabinet? Who is Diego Casilli in this republic, that State House, that my own leader must author a letter asking him to invite people to go and meet him. What is the role of Secretary to the Cabinet [Patrick Kangwa]? What is the role of controller at State House? What are the roles of the private secretary? Diego Casilli is his financier and his bosom friend. That is the only qualification. That is inner Cabinet. But what do you take of the other guests? Eminent people like big farmers like ZRC who were invited by Diego Casilli to be told by Diego Casilli ‘come to State House the President wants to see you’. Is that normal? That is a state of confusion. That is Armageddon,” said Nawakwi. “God is a God of order. On this day, he made this. And the people who are in authority must adopt God’s order and that order is a very simple instruction – ‘look after my sheep’ and he also says in Zachariah that ‘if you don’t do that I will punish the leaders’. He has forgotten the instruction from God. He has become too greedy and too bright-eyed over money. Silver and gold has overtaken the soul of my brother. He should not dare take that contract.”