WE WILL GROW THIS ECONOMY
…I have never been this
confident, vows Hichilema
By Walusungu Lundu
AMID numerous challenges the country is currently grappling with emanating from a crippled economy the UPND inherited from the PF, President Hakainde Hichilema has assured Zambians that he will grow the economy.
After swearing in Zambia Correctional Service Commission chairperson Evaristo Kalonga and six permanent secretaries at State House yesterday, President Hichilema said he had never been so confident about resuscitating the country’s economy regardless of how bad things are.
Apart from Kalonga, President Hichilema swore in six permanent secretaries namely Dr Mutinta Musonda for administration at Cabinet Office, Mervis Nkomeshya (special duties at cabinet), Angela Kawandami (special duties at Cabinet Office), Lillian Kapusana (administration in the Office of the vice president), Robert Kamalata, (Lusaka Province) and Simomo Akapelwa for Western Province.
“We understand why this economy collapsed. Believe me, we fully understand how it collapsed. How institutions began to collude with suppliers. Government officials colluding with suppliers. How will citizens be protected?” he said.
“Then you are surprised why the economy went down from seven per cent to zero! Why are you surprised? It is these issues such as building a house, a contract at K850,000 instead of K200,000. Please be the eyes of the 18 million Zambians. Provide effective leadership.”
He reaffirmed his determination to grow the economy.
“Resources are always scarce, how you use them is what matters. We will grow this economy. I have never been this confident, even when things are bad,” President
Hichilema said. “The work I have done, travelling to New York, Washington, travelling to UAE (United Arab Emirates). Travelling to Addis Ababa [Ethiopia for the AU assembly] just last week, I sat on the plane and I said, ‘we’re going to change this country’.”
And President Hichilema refuted claims that he is not fighting the corruption happening in his administration.
“If you carry on with the old habits of dividing people, segregating people, then you are not playing your part…Tender committees under these PSs (permanent secretaries) have continued to give contracts at a high price against the three rules: correct price, quality and timely delivery,” he noted.
“It means permanent secretaries are not supervising the tender committees. Yet you are the controlling officers. You want the President to walk from State House to your ministry to seat in tender committees? No. Aikona man.”
President Hichilema cited a situation where a contractor wanted to defraud the government through overpricing.
“We have had an incident where new sitting permanent secretaries are sitting and ignoring what is going on. A small two-bedroomed house which should cost K200,000, they attempted to issue a contract of K850,000 for one small two-bedroomed house. Luckily that permanent.