WE’RE NOT HERE TO STEAL
…our job is to serve, not swim in luxury – Bwalya
By Oliver Chisenga
PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Anthony Bwalya has challenged New Labour Party leader Fresher Siwale to provide evidence on any property that he has bought and demolished.
On Friday, The Mast published a story where Siwale was cautioning President Hakainde Hichilema about the corruption being practiced by some of his aides at State House.
“This also explains why and 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?” asked Siwale.
“You (UPND) were accusing PF of plunder but a good example of plunder is right in the middle of State House. 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 vehicles? We 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.”
But Bwalya said he and other aides had a responsibility to serve and not to steal.
“If they have any evidence of any money trail proceedings from myself or any other indicating on my behalf, in cash or otherwise in respect of any property, come forward and report to the police,” Bwalya told The Mast in an interview. “Mwalishiba akatina kaba mu State House (You know the consternation that is at State House). We have a responsibility to serve and not to steal. Our job is to serve and not to swim in luxury. mutupusanye naba (differentiate us from) PF. We are not here to steal, awe, twaisa mukubomba (no, we’ve come to work).”
Earlier, Bwalya issued a statement to counter The Mast story in which he said the trend of relentless falsehoods against individuals within State House was not only counterproductive but also aimed at denting the image of the President.
Bwalya said he was aware of people behind such propaganda.
“We are aware of the identities of all those fully intent on disparaging and discrediting the leadership of the President by constantly drawing the names of his aides into falsehoods, however, we wish to encourage all the critics of State House to take their purported evidence of impropriety before our independent law enforcement agencies for action,” said Bwalya.
“State House wishes to unequivocally deny and dispel as both false and malicious, allegations of improper conduct among State House aides. The President has always made it very clear, that corruption and all manner of improper conduct, have no place in the new administration, let alone State House. The President has always demanded, and will continue to demand the very highest levels of integrity among all members of his administration, and that our collective focus is on serving the country and the people of Zambia.”-The Mast