The Patriotic Front (PF) says it will next week release correct statistics of how its dominated councils have been spending resources allocated to them to prove wrong President Rupiah Banda’s revelations about PF run councils.
PF Secretary General Winter Kabimba said the recent revelation of misapplication of funds by PF dominated councils by President Rupiah Banda is a false representation of what is obtaining on the ground.
He said the PF will give the nation the correct statistics to prove that President Banda was merely politicking when he made wild revelations about PF run councils.
Mr Kabimba has described the move by Government to audit PF dominated councils as an attempt to reduce the amount of support that the PF enjoys on the Copperbelt.
He said Mr Banda and the MMD will be shocked and surprised because the Copperbelt remains a PF stronghold. He observes that the residents who are living in council houses on the copperbelt have not come out in the open to complain about high land rates,but that the MMD is paying its officials to complain about the councils.
Mr Kabimba has since advised President Banda to concentrate on the problems that are affecting the people of Zambia rather than politicking on false statistics allegedly fabricated by Government officials.
QFM
The publication of the PF-Controlled Councils’ financial reports are most welcome. Let me take this opportunity to implore the UPND-Controlled Councils to emulate their Pact counterparts in making public the financial reports. Please, avail the audited ones. But this should not only end at the 2 parties, let the MMD, FDD and UNIP (I don’t know if FDD and UNIP control any council) controlled councils also make public their audited accounts. Then the public can make their own judgment.
Good move PF….!!!! Show them how transparent you are, together with your Pact friend, UPND!!!
‘More money in PF councillors pockets’
PUTTING 90 percent of people’s money into Patriotic Front (PF) councillors’ pockets is a damning indictment on a political party that premises its election message on putting more money into people’s pockets.
This is a party whose leader, Michael Sata, has, since his first republican presidential election race in 2001, been promising that if elected into power, he will put more money into people’s pockets.
Today, Zambians know that the pockets Mr Sata has been harping about are PF councillors’ pockets. This is what Mr Sata probably meant when he declared after the 2006 presidential electoral defeat that his party would run the councils.
Following that year’s defeat, in which he was presumably headed for victory, Mr Sata sought to save face by declaring that despite losing the presidential race to incumbent Levy Mwanawasa, the PF’s victory was in getting the majority of local government seats.
The 2006 presidential battering was a rude awakening to the PF leader, who had campaigned against the MMD’s Mwanawasa on a populist platform of delivering in 90 days what Zambians had lacked for 42 years.
This was obviously a tall order.
In his characteristic bravado, Sata claimed that despite failing to wrestle the presidency from Dr Mwanawasa, he had gained control of the management of local governments and, with that, the PF would prove within 90 days at local level what it could demonstrate on the national front if handed the republican presidency.
It has been over 40 months since Sata made the declaration, and if the performance of PF-controlled councils is to be the basis of deciding who should be in State House in 2011, Zambians will have no difficulties making their choice.
Mr Sata’s 2006 declaration has since not been recanted, and what every Zambian still believes is that the PF is running most of the councils in the country.
Running councils is one thing, running them effectively is quite another, and running them scandalously is simply unforgivable and a self-inflicted electoral defeat.
So much has changed since 2006 – President Mwanawasa has since crossed over to the opposite side of life, Mr Rupiah Banda has been the Zambian president since November 2008, Mr Sata is yet again trying his luck at the slippery republican presidency and Hakainde Hichilema has changed from a gentleman to an insulting commentator.
While there has been so much change, certain things have remained constant, and these include the scandalous running of councils by the PF.
At his press briefing at the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) Guest House in Kitwe two days ago, President Banda made a startling revelation of how self interest has become the norm for PF-run local authorities.
The President singled out Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola, Luanshya and Chingola councils whose levels of expenditure on personal emoluments would scare any sane person and raise serious questions about the PF’s ability to run the country if, by large slices of luck, they were elected into government.
It is difficult to understand how, for instance, out of K124 billion, the Lusaka City Council could spend nearly half of the amount – K55 billion – on personal emoluments while service provision and infrastructure development receives only K27 billion or 22 percent of the total 2008-2009 budgetary allocation.
In the case of the Chingola council, only two percent (K202 million) of the K13.9 billion allocated in 2008 went towards service provision and infrastructure development while K3.2 billion went to personal emoluments.
The scenario is not different in Luanshya, Kitwe and Ndola where 47 percent, 50 percent and 70 percent, respectively, went towards personal emoluments in 2008-2009.
Ironically, these are the same councillors who have been in the forefront demonising President Banda’s administration.
The President was, therefore, in order when he briefed the nation that it was unacceptable, or indeed immoral, for the PF councillors in the said councils to put self interest before service provision.
This can only be interpreted as a deliberate ploy, as Mr Banda observed, to incite the residents to revolt against a government which is doing its very best to improve the lives of citizens.
It is now clear that instead of selling the party’s policies to the electorate, the PF has found it more convenient to reverse the MMD’s development initiatives by holding back money meant for development and spending it on themselves.
Many are times when residents have complained about poor service provision, and the PF and its United Party for National Development (UPND) partner have been the first to point an accusing finger at the MMD government.
With the President’s revelation, Zambians now know the truth, and when he calls for accountability, he should not be accused of politicking or victimising opposition parties.
Local authorities, regardless of their political affiliation, are supposed to partner with the central government in taking development to the people.
They should never be the ones to stifle development in the name of opposition politics.
If that were the way opposition parties conducted themselves in the United States of America, Europe and other advanced democracies, there would have been no development to write home about.
Mr Banda was, therefore, right when he said at the Kitwe press briefing that service provision was a shared responsibility between Central Government and local authorities, which are closer to the people.
It then goes without saying that the income collected from people in the form of taxes, rates and rents should go back to the same people through service provision and infrastructural development.
These monies should never be channelled to political activities as the case now appears to be with the PF, which is denying people development in their respective localities.
It is further appalling to learn that the PF-run councils have conspired to reverse the empowerment policy initiated by the Frederick Chiluba administration.
Astronomical taxation has become the in-thing in these councils which have devised methods aimed at frustrating home owners and people who bought houses under the empowerment policy.
Even if Mr Sata no longer likes Dr Chiluba, are there no better methods of fighting the man than letting innocent people suffer?
Unrealistic rates, rentals and other taxes can only worsen the plight of residents who are already struggling to survive.
The councils are further delaying the issuance of title deeds to people who benefited from the empowerment policy. President Banda’s anger is understandable.
“By delaying to issue title deeds, councils are frustrating Government efforts to empower our people. This is a direct fight with me and my Government and I will not allow councils to win,” President Banda said.
The PF-run councils collect a lot of money through various taxes, including property taxes, from mining companies and other entities, but this money does not go back to the people.
The councils cannot even work on township roads, claiming that that is the responsibility of Central Government through the Road Development Agency (RDA), and yet the RDA’s mandate is trunk roads.
Congratulations to the PF leadership for such quick response.
This is the accountability that the “People of Zambia” expects from both the central government and local authorities.
There should equally be a strong desire to act on the Auditor General’s reports the moment they are released instead the these documents pending and gathering dust at State House for lack of desire to take action and fight corruption.
The councils collect parking and market levies, but still fail to maintain markets and put up decent road markings.
The PF councillors’ sole interest is to scandalously put more money into their own bottomless pockets and blame President Banda’s administration for the councils’ failures.
This time they have been caught napping and they just have to explain how they intend to run the country if they can disastrously fail to run councils.
Iwe mwata #2- #17, stop being an I’D’I’O’T.
Mwata, do not be a danderhead. The Council needs to pay its employees which also includes paying to the Councillors. Now if our Small Brained Big Headed President can only afford to give the councils grants enough money to barely pay Salaries, I do not expect them not to use 90% (according to your figure), as personal emoluments. The Councils are not like you know entirely depends on a 20pin from George (Red Lips) Kunda. It employs highly educated men and women who needs to be paid at the end of the money. The question you should be asking yourself, is if the Money Humpty Dumpty purported gives as grants to the Councils is really enough to not only pay salaries but provide social services
The question Mwata and your Small Brained President should be asking is whether the grants given to the Councils is enough to not just pay personal emoluments but also for service provision. DO YOU HONESTLY EXPECT THE COUNCIL NOT TO PAY SALARIES. You need to start thinking right. Can you also give us the actually budgeted for emolument figures versus what was paid to the Councils as grants. The problem is in your Presidents small brain, he just can’t think that the Councils need much more moneys in support that there getting and that kind of money can only come from Windfall Tax. Introduce the windfall tax, together with other taxes related to the Mining Industry and generate enough money to pay the Councils enough grants. Its as simple as 1+1
Mwata mulwele. Get a job.
Ba Mwata take it easy
Mwata aka Veteran, relax. Bu shilu ubo nomba ka. We chipena.
We shall wait and see what happens but also i question who keeps records for PF or nay other party to come up with there own financial report… I certainly hope figures that RB came up with are either from Auditors office of our statistics agency or something coz this wont look good on him…
Ok i am not supporting anyone or taking sides but council are part of the government funds allocated and the way they are used should be in a government report… If we all did our own reports when handling huge sums of money there will never be any misappropriation of funds (according to the person who writes the report.) So PF… in my opinion should ask for Auditors reports and verify them not come up with there own expenditure report..
@ Mukabe
Mwintuka only asking The so called grants given to councils are they not meant for council projects??? Because the way i look at it is that the argument is that Most of the money meant for projects ends up as payments for the guys and girls going out there to do the Job…when it should be used on the projects ie inspecting roads twice a week you pay yourself allowance eg fuel, launch etch but the job on the roads is not being done… If the grants we get as a nation only 2% is being used say for health the rest we pay nurses and allowance then we have a big problem as a country… And i think grants are separate from peoples salaries… but can pay an allowance towards one carrying out duties on that project… and i think thats where the figures are coming from
Mwata and his wife Mary good are amusement non the less, spewing MMD propaganda retoric like the kafue at Batoka. Opposition means work gets done without Kaunda’s dictatorial ways. Difference being in a democracy you actually know your leaders are stealing 🙂
I, think mwata you are mmd sponsord *****.You talk rubish all the time.
I am looking forward to seeing the records. Let’s hope they are authentic.
Why cant Lusaka Times ban unconstructive and biased contribution by this fool mwata
Join the facebook group: pf/upnd pact 2011 make your comments and give support tonthe pact.
#31 Amayama. LT is MMD cadre-how do you expect them to ban another MMD cadre? You can see it by the editorials they feature. They are all pro-MMD. But, don’t worry. This is temporal. After 2011 some of these systems will die a natural death. Some people are wondering about the authenticity of PF council records. Sata and PF are ahead of things. They have a lot to lose and therefore, very cautious about the manner the allocated monies are used. So, its not surprising that they also might have been keeping financial records for their PF run councils in case of future allegations such as your small brained man.
BREAKING NEWS
BUS LADDEN WITH PACT THUGS INTERCEPTED IN SOLWEZI
A bus ladden with 76 UPND-PF thugs being imported into Mufumbwe from Copperbelt to fane violence IN THE BYE-ELECTION has been intercepted SOLWEZI. The thugs remain detained by paramilitary under full investigations.It is unlikely that these thugs will be released any sooner than friday before the ballot verdict. Paramilitary police will abandon them back on the copperbelt.
#2 Mwata- You will see when you get out of power. Do you know that all CDFunds are controlled by District Commisioners and it end up being used for MMD funtions? Every day of the week you see these unemployed MMD cadres hanging around the DCs offices for their share of the CDFund
#34 Mwata- MMD were the first to transport their thugs from Lusaka to Mufumbwe under the command of William Banda assisted by Kadobi and Bobo. Upnd cadres have just gone to protect their officials who are being hacked by the mentioned MMD savages
27 Uchipo- Roads are not part of Council responsibilities- MMD changed every thing and now want to use it as a weapon against PF run councils.
Please…so u are saying the Audit reports done by Auditor generals is wrong , so who is going to Audit ur reports KPMG or PWC? are you bringing raw data.
I am bored by the comments of this Mwata!! He is among the people who have managed to halt development in Zambia.
Its high time we grew up and make sensible comments.Lets be reasonable and comment on matters that can build and not destroy.Lets play a fair game here.Why can’t all parties be audited so that we see who gets the lions share.its of no use to only single out a particular party’s controlled councils so that you start fault finding.Charity begins at home.How about extending this exercise to all political parties.That can be a true sign of transparency and accountability.
Guyz save time and do something productive unlike spending time copying and pasting news from unrealiable sources which you are not even payed for.we are the only key to contribute towards making zambia a better country to live in or otherwise we will destroy it.Be reasonabel and behave like civilized citizens by making progressive comments.**==#:-s
It is a grave mistake to challenge RB when Sata has clearly admitted that these councils have failed. I figure that MMD will respond with greater detail as to who got what from the council and make the matter the subject of public dominion, which will not be good for PF’s reputation. If anything, it will bring up more dirt which will corrode the remaining faith people have in the party.
It would be best to work at correcting the ills of these poorly run councils showing that the PF can rectify their problems once identified. This action has a better chance of re-building the lost confidence the people once had.
Think again Mr. Kabimba.
the PF is making itself accountable .and that is good.we dont want the mmd govt that is only good at violence .that keeps doing nothing at ann chifungula s report .
Our Country is very poor because we have people who do not think.I was in Tanzania recently and I saw for myself how each and every small town is well looked after.As you travelling to the boarder between Tanzania and Malawi,you shall be amazed by the scenery,its as if you are in England.I have no hope in RB or MMD,these are just danderheads who can never deliever anything to Zambia.I also travelled to our Farm in Chipata along Chadiza road,and it took me 1hour 30min to travel a distance of 12km from Chipata Town.The road has gallies with running water along it,and it has been reduced to a track for bycycles only.Is that what we call Development?,Angela Cifire has never been there to visit the electorate,why should we waste our vote on fools who cant work?,Can someone tell me why,please!
#38 Ndife
The Auditor General Is the overseer of all audit works in the land – Zambia. Therefore, their reports are final and not subject to reaudits by KPMG or PWC etc. The recipients should own up and offer explanations to the querries put up by the AG.
Mwata
Pliz can some tell who is this son of MUFUMBWE. You irritates mwe
Mavimba…thats the point…so when Winter says his bringing the data to who and who will have audited his new statistics????an Audit has already been done so does it mean these councils gave AG the wrong information when auditing or what? I find PF and Winter petty ….the question should be has AG audited the rest of all the councils and what are their findings not saying will bring you new statistics it just shows what kind of leadership will have in case PF takes over .
Kabimba just stop that nonesense! The figures government released are audited figures & are you telling me that you are engaging other auditors to do the job?
Kusuminafye nga namulufyanya and then change. At least NOW you know that you cant achieve anything in 90 days (its just politics) HA ha ha ha ha!!!!
#45 Mavi and #47
Ndife – Are you sure there has been an audit since the so called president announced the threat to PF controlled councils. If listened to on minister’s statement (KAZONGA) you will see a departure from the so called presidents threats. Dr. Kazonga announce(Radio Phoenix) that all erring councils have been prosecuted, so if the PF run councils have erred why havent they been prosecuted. The figures RB was quoting were just a concotion by the propaganda team at state house. Open your eyes and yet you at home you cant see
Open your eyes and see.Everything is clear here
Open your eyes and see.Everything is clear here:-?
48
Real Issue Man – THERE WAS NO AUDIT
#48 Deja Vu
Are ou telling us that Hon Hachipuka was not telling the truth when he appeared on ZNBC re-affriming the AG’s reports before Parliament? Let us be objective and reason like professionals. We are talking about our money being wasted and it does not matter who is involved be it MMD or UPND-PF pact we are going to criticize them until we see accountability.
In #53 I meant #52
# 52 – Deja Vu!!!!!
Why do you bury your head in the sand? Be objective whether you like MMD or NOT. There was an audit and infact the auditor general’s office audit these councils every year.
Besides, read the paper today and you realise that Lusaka City council has even suspended its Finance Director as a result of these irregularities. Reasearch before you answer me as i have a lot of info. my brother.
#53 Mavimba- Simple question did the AG mention only PF controlled councils? Am not burying my head in the sand I am open minded so I will only condemn PF councillors when the presidents makes a praise confrence on all erring offices as high lighted by AG.Dr. Kazonga the LGH minister has said that all erring councils have been prosected, but I havent seen my town Kitwe among them.
# 55Real Issue Man- If the Director has been suspended by the councillors for misuse of the council finances, the your president has misfired in his allegations against PF. Its not a question of research it is a question of saying things without twisting the facts- Why didnt your president specify who were the culprits. Its good that you admit albeit without knowing that the PF are alert to the misconduct o
of MMD appointed Chief officers.
Deja Vu
So what basis were you using to say that there hasnt been an Audit? just because Kambimba has errored you also fall into the same trap. So you dont know that Livingstone District was also sighted , to cut the long story short just get an Audit report from AG office for 2008 and you will see. There is what is called material and non material items which when brought up by the Audit will need to be addressed. Whether its an MMD run council or opposition if they steal they have stolen lets get them locked up.
why next week ba kabimba. give uis the figures now not next week. liars who have been caught with their pants down