GOVERNMENT has said the insinuation that money amounting to K1 trillion was stolen from the Road Development Agency (RDA) was a mere malicious campaign because no such money was misappropriated and that this had been borne by the transformation of the road net work in Zambia under the RDA.
Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti said in Lusaka yesterday that RDA was among the Government institutions that were accountable but faced challenges reminiscent to broad institutional difficulties experienced everywhere.
Speaking during a live programme aired on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC)’s radio two, Mr Mulongoti said the K1 trillion over commitment had resulted from the three-year long-term programme that RDA had formulated.
“So there is no over commitment where that amount of money is being planned over a period of three years. You cannot fault people for planning in advance,” Mr Mulongoti explained.
He said RDA was very accountable and gave the example of the 72 km Zimba-Livingstone Road whose tender process for the first 30 km was done by the Government at a cost of K105 billion.
He said for the same road, same contractor and same period, the European Union awarded a tender of 210 billion (Euros 35 million).
The minister said reasons for the huge difference between the GRZ managed project and the one that was processed by the EU were unknown.
Mr Mulongoti said this showed how accountable RDA had been and explained, however, that should there be misappropriation of funds, all those involved would be prosecuted because the Government was of laws.
The January 2006 to September 2009 report by the Auditor General on RDA has revealed, among other things, alleged misuse of funds and over-commitment up to K1 trillion.
Mr Mulongoti said RDA needed the support of all stakeholders and not closure.
He said the terms used by some sections of society in reference to the RDA were very crude, such as misappropriation of funds, which was a criminal offence.
The minister said political opponents had taken advantage of the situation to attack the Government while some were driven by ignorance about the operations of RDA.
Mr Mulongoti said he was in the process of appointing the new board chairperson and members but that some people have turned down the offers because of the growing levels of malice against RDA.
The programme also featured out-going RDA chairman Walusiku Lisulo and director Erasmus Chilundika who reiterated that the K1 trillion which had been referred to as over-commitment was for three years.
He said the budgeting was in line with the medium term expenditure framework prepared by the Ministry of Finance and national planning, which encouraged institutions to budget for three years.
Mr Chilundika said management responses to the audit reports where all the misused terms and perceptions had been clarified had been ignored.
And Mr Walusiku said RDA officials had not misappropriated any money but had used it for the projects as approved by the government through an eight-man committee of ministers.
He said RDA was in the process of rolling out the second phase of the road sub-sector investment programme (ROADSIP-II) at a cost of about US$1.6 billion by 2013.
Mr Walusiku said RDA was facing numerous challenges as a result of limited funding .
[ Times of Zambia ]
So is Mulongoti telling the people of Zambia that the Auditor General’s report is wrong?
We need a clarification from the Auditor General’s Office as they are the ones who reported of the misapplication of funds at the RDA.
Mulongoti, u don’t have blame the the opposition or the civil society. Blame it on the Auditor general’s report coz people were reacting as per report from the Auditor general which is a government Institution. Don’t think that people are that dull such that u mulongoti, minister without a constituency can fool around. Audit is taken following the required financial reporting standards so there is nothing like budgeting in advance that is theft. No wonder people are driving HAMMER’S coz of such kangaroo kind of arrangements where money for development is keep in ur own pockets and realise the money wen confranted by an AUDIT…..kupusa!!
Iwe Mulongoti, the Auditor General’s reports states that there was non-retirement of imprest totalling K19.1 billion since 2004 to 2008 and is this also a malicious campaign?
Mr President, you need to fire this chap, the so-called Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti as he will bring about your downfall.
Mulongoti is just trying to defend RDA coz they fall under his Ministry. The Auditor General did her work thoroughly so provide answers to her findings.
Dont even try to insult the Donors coz you rely very heavily on their money.And they have every right to question how we put THEIR money to use. How about the unretired imprest? and the shoddy works? you have not made mention of those.
Viva Auditor General!
No wonder Hon. Mpombo, calls this chap all sorts of names coz he’s so empty to be minister!!
Mr Mike Mulongoti, at times its wise to be silent. How do you defend unretired imprest of K19.1 billion? Would you tolerate such at your guest house or any of your personal businesses. Zambians are upset because they have a vasted interest [the tax the pay] in the monies u guys are forever misusing.
MIKE MULONGOTI, MP with no constituency and minister of works and supply is the only minister, I have ever known who can openly defend unretired imprest thieved by fellows under his ministry SHAME! For ur own information Mr. Mike, ur ministry is a very sensitive one coz it involves alot of purchases and supplies, so if u (Mike) being a minister expresses arrogance of ingorance then we are driving this country into RIDICULE!!!
Shame on you Ka Mulongoti,why was sable given the Chipata to Mfuwe road when he has numerous projects which are far from completion like,kasama to Luwingu road,Chipata township roads,kasama township roads,priority river crossings in Northern and Luapula when this guy has no capacity,ACC please investigate the dealings of SABLE and RDA management.
SABLE was not the lowest Bidder on Chipata to Mfuwe Road but was given the project so that the MMD party can siphon Money for their Convention,same old tactics,remember the late Remmy Mushota who went to cash K200m at the counter,that was money meant for Kasama to Luwingu road.
Sable has since employed two Corrupt Engineers who are facing the Courts of Law in Chipata for paying a contractor for not doing works,the MMD Cadres with the influence of SABLE chased the magistrate from Chipata so that they can influence the court proceedings,
The report is malicous because the auditor general disregarded many documents during the audit. The audit was conducted in a hurry to satisfy donors and thus was not comprehensive nor was it objective… There was documentation to prove that K9 billion of the K19bn had been retired whilst the balance of K10bn should have been retired by the road fund agency… The question is: why is the road fund being protected and by who?
#11- WHO WANTS TO PLEASE THE DONORS?
LOL LOL. aughable.
@ Deja Vu,
Just for your information, even the OAG receives support from donors. The problem is that the donors have not approved of the MMD govt from day 1. They have failed to force GRZ to bend to their will on various issues of interest to them such as the ESA EPAs or the close relationship with China. So! How do they induce a change in the political environment? By building a case against GRZ… Plain and simple. You will continue to hear them calling for an audit of this or that… The truth of the matter is that they have always been aware about problems in all sectors but why the sudden change in attitude…