By Staff Reporter
NEW Labour Party president Fresher Siwale says lack of transparency is leading to corruption, theft and plunder of national resources.
He says President Hakainde Hichilema should begin nailing his own people charging that, “You were accusing PF of plunder but a good example of plunder is right in the middle of State House”.
But State House has described Siwale’s allegations as “a lot of nonsense”.
“This also explains why an aide at State House can buy a house in Avondale area for cash and knock it down, completely raze it to the ground. Five months into government! How much is Hakainde Hichilema paying his press aides for them to have that kind of money? And where is DEC, Anti-Corruption [Commission]?” Siwale asked.
He wondered how the UPND administration could fight corruption under such circumstances.
“You were accusing PF of plunder but a good example of plunder is right in the middle of State House,” he charged.
“I will not mention names as at now but I want DEC, ACC to deal with this matter. I want Hakainde Hichilema to deal with this matter. I am available to help them. What is not acceptable is to have this kind of plunder. Five months into government, we have seen UPND cadres driving brand new vehicles. Is State House buying those vehiclesWe are now seeing issues of a person buying a house for cash and razing it to the ground. People have worked their entire lives but have not bought houses and razed them to the ground.”
Siwale said President Hichilema should begin nailing his own people.
He said the UPND pot should wash itself before it can start calling the kettle black.
But President Hichilema’s spokesperson Anthony Bwalya rubbished Siwale’s allegations.
“In whose name is the property? How much was the property bought for? It is very simple man! Basic due diligence by a journalist, they can go and check the property listings, lands and everything…” said Bwalya.
“I don’t own anything man, hahaha. First of all the question doesn’t even arise because I don’t own anything. I don’t own a property hehehe. It doesn’t even arise. That question, does not even arise. Unfortunately, I can’t help them. If they want to publish something, I can’t help them but it’s a lot of nonsense man! It’s a lot of nonsense.”
And Siwale said the UPND government has failed to provide leadership on fuel pricing in the country.
The government through the Energy Regulation Board on Monday announced a reduction in the fuel pump price of up to K1.32 for petrol and K1.22 for diesel.
According to ERB, the decision to reduce the pump price was prompted by the decision to migrate to a monthly pricing cycle which now entails that the local price of fuel is more responsive to the market fundamentals namely; international oil prices and the kwacha-US dollar exchange rate prevailing in the month preceding the pricing decision.
“In this regard, the reference prices for the January 2022 price adjustments have been based on the international oil prices (plats reference) and exchange rate trend experienced in December 2021,” stated the ERB.
“According to the marketfundamentals namely; international oil prices and the kwacha-US dollar exchange rate prevailing in the month preceding the pricing decision.
“In this regard, the reference prices for the January 2022 price adjustments have been based on the international oil prices (plats reference) and exchange rate trend experienced in December 2021,” stated the ERB.
“According to the market fundamentals for the month of December 2021, international oil prices for petrol and diesel recorded a notable decline, with the kwacha also appreciating against the United States dollar. Petrol prices declined by 11.56 per cent from US $96.39 per barrel in October 2021 to US $85.25 per barrel in December 2021 while diesel prices also declined by 10.64 per cent from US $93.27 per barrel to US $83.35 per barrel.”
But Siwale, who earlier questioned the hiked fuel prices, said reducing the fuel pump price by K1 was not what he had requested the government to do.
He said the UPND administration needed to be transparent and give a breakdown of the landed cost of fuel in Zambia.
Siwale said the government should be transparent about other costs involved after the fuel had landed in the country for them to justify the K21.16 per litre of petrol.
“But unfortunately, they are silent, they are only reacting through ERB who are talking about the dollar-kwacha rate. If you look at the dollar, the kwacha has lost against the dollar. It’s not that the kwacha has gained against the dollar. The dollar is much stronger than the kwacha this month (January). So what is the basis of that adjustment of K1?” Siwale asked.
“You see they don’t even know how to lie. They don’t know how to run propaganda because it was only last week when they were saying the actual cost of fuel per litre is supposed to be K38. That was the minister saying that but we challenged them whether they had reintroduced the subsidies.”
Siwale said the government had failed to provide leadership on the fuel pricing.
He challenged chief government spokesperson Chushi Kasanda to address the nation because the energy and finance ministers, Peter Kapala and Situmbeko Musokotwane respectively, had failed to explain.
“So what is the government position and they must state clearly that the fuel is landing in this country at less than K6. They must also state that the last tender for the supply of finished petroleum products the highest bidder did not go beyond K8.
And I challenged the Minister of Finance and Minister of Energy, so now I am challenging the chief government spokesperson to clear the air and also show the nation the bids. Let us be transparent. It’s not just a question of waking up and saying we have reduced by K1,” Siwale said.
He said citizens were the government themselves hence the need for transparency.
“And since it is my government, I want my government to be transparent to me and tell me why I should pay an extra K14 on fuel. Can government do a breakdown of this K14.
What are the costs involved? Or is government now confirming that they have now removed one agent so there are 14 more agents remaining and it will take 14 months for the fuel pump price to become normalised?” asked Siwale.