President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that Government is studying the Auditor General’s report on the reported gross misappropriation of public funds at the Road Development Agency (RDA).
President Banda also revealed that Government is discussing the report with cooperating partners and the Auditor General’s Office with the urgency it deserved so that it does not become prone to ridicule. Mr. Banda said the matter surrounding the RDA should not stop the country from developing its infrastructure.
President Banda was answering questions from Journalists shortly before he left for France where he is scheduled to attend the France- Africa summit. “Government is studying the AG RDA report and we are discussing the report before it becomes prone to ridicule,” the President said.
The Auditor General’s report has revealed huge misappropriation of public funds at the RDA. Meanwhile, President Banda has left for Nice , France where he is going to attend the 25th France -African two-day Summit . The presidential plane carrying Mr. Banda left at the Lusaka International Airport at exactly 07-25 hours local time.
Mr. Banda who will be among other African Heads of States disclosed that Zambia is likely to benefit from France by way of accessing credit for the construction of the country’s infrastructure. Mr. Banda observed that though Zambia was not colonised by the French government, he expressed happiness that there was room for Zambia to woo French investors to come and invest in the country.
He said Zambia and that country enjoys a warm and cordial relationship that has existed for many years ago. The Head of State paid gratitude to France for the services rendered during the hospitalization of the late president (Dr Mwanawasa) in that country and the transportation of his body to Zambia after his death.
“ As I go to France, I would like to thank the president of France for his efforts during the illness of our beloved president the late Dr. Mwanawasa and subsequent death and flowing Dr. Mwanawasa’s body home (to Zambia). Mr. Banda is accompanied toFrance by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chileshe Kapwepwe and Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe and other senior government officials.
President Banda was seen off at the airport by Vice President George Kunda, Defence Minster Kalombo Mwansa, Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja , Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha, Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu, Lands Minister Gladys Lundwe, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete and senior government officials.
The two-day summit which starts on Monday is a gathering aimed at strengthening ties between African countries and France .
The last summit was attended by Late republican President Dr Levy Mwanawasa in 2008. France which is expected to take over presidency of the G-12 is determined to understand the needs of African countries. France ’s policy is to open itself to all African countries whether or not they are its former colonies.
ZANIS
What is this obssesion about borrowing????? I thought we are just from HIPC???? Every where our beloved president goes, he has an agenda to try and kongola money why? Can someone enlighten me pliz!
I have never heard RB wooing local investors every time its foreign investors…..too much foreign dependency me thinks!
This tourism is at it again. Has surely spent more time in air than on the soil for this short period he has been head of state.
dang is there anywhere he has not been……mudala is flying out every week
In RB’s jargon, “studying the report” entails the report will die a natural death. Remember, he is still studying the “Siliya Tribunal Report” and we are still awaiting his reaction to it; aren’t we? Anything to do with corruption his answer has been “I will give the answer after studying the report.” How long does it take to read and understand a report?! In the meantime, corrupt practises at these Departments continues, while he takes his sweet time roaming!!!
Global trotter is at it again. Does he has mature and responsible advisors? Problems at home, teachers nurses, doctors and other civil servants have not been paid for two months. All he is doing is running from problems leaving a sick man incharge of running the country. William Banda a Malawian is torturing our own people and his fellow Zimbabwean Ruphia Banda is blessing his evil deeds. 2011 Ruphia and william Banda will face charges torture and brutality against Zambians. The Hague will be their place.
Imisakalala ba Kunda!
Government is studying the AG RDA report and we are discussing the report before it becomes prone to ridicule…What does this mean! efinshi ifi imwe bantu, what is this nonsense
Was the medical services rendered to the late free of charge,was he flown back home free,why should he thank them,didn we just read the AG’s report on how much was spent in france,uyu ena muwelewele mutuntulu
He must have terrorized his neighbours with begging upukupula,,,everyday kulomba, twaisa mukulombako sugar,na salt,no bunga, na saladi na 10pin ati bakabwesha pa 30:o
We dont woo investors,more like beg them to give us money. The country seems more focused on going to seek investment and credit than finding alternate ways of generating it locally. The more we borrow, the more reluctant we will be to learn to stand on our own feet,even the money we’ll generate from the loans will go back to where it came with huge sums as interest. Maybe donor funding really should be reduced like Dembisa Moyo said. Zambia…
# 7 …lol !…….funny but true.
It seems running the country is not much of a priority either if one looks at the list of ministers seeing off the president. This could explain the poor work ethic in the civil service
He is studying the report while flying the man can travel?
I agree with #1, why are our leaders obsessed with borowing money.Zambia does not have a good record of how it manages money.Surely there should be a clause in the constitution that prohibits leaders putting Zambians under a huge debt burden without our permission.
Govt is studying the AG’s Report! Govt is studying the letter from Rwandan President Kagame! Govt is studying the poor situation at UTH! Govt is studying the Expenditure reports from PF-run councils! Govt is studying the Gabon crash report! etc, etc, Govt is studying everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are tired of these studies!!
chachine. We are tired of hearing these studies which don’t result is action. the roads are so impassible because some fools have used the money for themselves.
#12. The recent classic one is the goverment is studying the situation about the floods in Kanyama ! No report. Watch when the rains come next year this RB chap will be inspecting the area again with his high proflie boot lickers in tow.!!
the RDA case requires the investigating wings to be involved.mulongoti has always be saying the do not get enough money ,so who is fooling who .the state of our roads is pathetic so doing business in zambia is very expensive because of poor roads.we need a very though investigation of what has really being happening .
focused and achievement oriented leaders give time lines to what they promise. some of these studies take long because there are no deadlines put to these important reports that need urgent actions…i personally dont these characters seriously. they are jokers [-(
The main culprit in the Road Construction Industry is SABLE transport,RDA Management has given this chap contracts worth half of the countries Annual work plan,he has compromised RDA Management to the extent that no Engineer can condemn his works because he is too powerful and boasts that he deals directly with RB.
Ok ladies and gentlemen, we all seem to agree that generally our govt is not serious….BUT who is to blame????? If you ask what should be done about this, many people will say ‘this govt should be replaced’ ok! and replaced by who? then you get the answer….’By a govt led by one Sata’ !!! If we think this govt is not serious, its just a reflection of the mentality of most of us…..Not serious!
‘In 90 days I will fix this and this’…then we clap our hands and shout our lungs out in praise and swear to vote for such….not serious! Untill we begin to act like grown ups and people who are serious, we will be ruled by people who reflect our mentality….not serious!
Its gabage in, cabage out. Tell me who you would vote for and I will tell you what type of a person you are! 😕
The investigating wings should find out why SABLE was given the Chipata to Mfuwe road (104km) at the total cost of K290bln when he was not the lowest bidder,during tenders the chap painted all his old equipment and fooled the government that he had bought new equipment.The chap is getting contracts even without finshing old contracts like kasama to Luwingu road,chipata township roads,kasama townshiproads and the priority river crossings in Luapula and Northern provinces.
#18. If your father or whoever sent you where ever you are is MMD, your days are numbered. We don’t care whether sata or HH or any Zambian becomes President as long as MMD is kicked out together with its tandem of thieves.
#19. Its not a matter of painting the equipment. Its a matter of how much cut you will recieve from sable. Who knows maybe its some people in tender committe who told sable to paint the equipment so that they can give him the contract and in return receive a cut.
# 20 Ubuntungwa Mu Zambia….I feel you and totally understand your frustrations which you may wish to know that I share. I gat no connection with MMD or any politician whats so ever.
My point is: When vying to replace the MMD, Zambians should for once avoid the 1991 excitment of replacing KK when even a stone would have beaten KK at the polls. What did the country get? FTJ and I need not go into the details of FTJ’s legacy. So replace MMD but not with the likes of Sata who are by and large MMD itself. Let the country get visionary leaders who can be held accountable with serious plans and not the 90 days chantigs.
Its at times like these that we should avoid acting out of frustration and getting whatever comes as long as it helps to get rid of MMD. Good luck Zambia…we will need…
France was a better coloniser than Britain:
1. There was extensive investment in the colonies. Today, Ivory Coast is among black Africa’s most developed country apart from South Africa.
2. The French assimilated Africans into French culture. Britain maintained Africans as second class citizens.
3. There were higher literacy rates in Francophone than Anglophone countries at independence.
4. Infrastructure is better developed in Francophone and Lusophone countries than Anglophone, inspite of civil wars and protracted liberation wars in some of them. Just look at Lake Mweru; big difference between the Zambian and Congolese sides!
#22 The legacy
So, whats your suggestion,who do you think is going to liberate us from these thieves.Have you got anyone in mind,at the moment its between mmd and the PACT,if these two decide to go it solo,then the mmd will win pants down.With the PACT,there will atleast be checks and balances,i dont think HH would be manipulated to go against his principles like ba tata ba Sata on Chiluba way back when he promised to drop the charges,the only option we have is hh with the help of sata,forget Milupi and that other chap chipimo,maybe next elections
#24 Muwelewele uwatikama pa menso….I understand the situation is tricky and I kind of agree with you. If wishes were horses, I would ride on one where PF is lead by some young visionary who can be trusted to keep his word and civility with the pact partners and who has no political scores to settle coz we have no time to waste on such. Lets wait and see who the pact will select even as we keep our fingers crossed that it does not crumble. Since its btn Sata and HH I think HH would be a better choice :-?:-?:-?
Cant the vice president go to some of these things? just a few days ago he was officiating at the opening of video conferencing facility, why cant he use that? you mean we havent thanked the french govt for what they did for LPM yet?
26
the vp is not well to take such long trips,let him rest seriously,if he had any wisdom,he could have just stepped down on medical grounds,the wife should actually advise him,very soon it will be serious campaigns,hope he will handle the heat,,,on another note,whats there to thank the french for,our govnt paid them for their services,its not like they were doing us a favour
President Banda was seen off at the airport by Vice President George Kunda, Defence Minster Kalombo Mwansa, Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja , Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha, Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu, Lands Minister Gladys Lundwe, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete and senior government officials.
Unbelieveable, all this that is a worst of GRZ resources………….who was in the offices working then?
RB cannot have enough time to study such cases, there are so many cases that are still hanging which he like saying “i will study” He has only enough time to fly around the globe than working on such important issues.
Also these countries should be honest, why Zed should be given bucks and yet we are one of the worst spenders.Unless he is borrowing for his next campaigns maybe
#22. The Legacy…90 Days says: I am so sorry my brother. I think limo kuti wafulwa when we see how our country is being run. Unjeleleko boyi.
Legacy…. 90 days, I share your sentiments. The conduct of our politicians reflect the poverty of thought of Zambians collectively. Our politicians don’t emerge from the bottom of Lake Mweru or Kariba but from our society. And so when we think of who to blame we should take a good look at the person in the mirror. Can we recognize him or her or them? Absolutely!
“Ladies and gentlemen we have just met our enemy: us!”
No. 23 8-}8-}8-} you can’t be serious. The mentally incapitated man (with reference to statement – that u have to have been a colonial master to want to invest in a country @-) has left the country to the physically incapacitated man (with refernce to the significant decrease in BMI b-( )
no. 18 tough question 😕 I find it easier to state why I would not vote for any of them. But if push can to shove I would go for HH with a parliamentary make up as follows PF 45% UPND 20% MMD 20% UNIP 4% NAREP 6% (not likely) Independents 5%
There are at least six officials including the useless Daniel Munkombwe on the president’s delegation to France and seriously is Munkombwe relevant on this trip or is he just being propped up so that he can viciously campaign for the boss in the southern province?
Well, enjoy your holiday in France and don’t forget to watch tennis, the French Open currently taking place in Paris. See you later!
When is this government going to sit for these exams ( Rwanda,Siliya tribunal,UTH report etc).
Dalo Dalo Dalo baka bwalala aba.
#35, this Govt will be examined at the end of the world, so until then they continue studying!!!!!!!!
We these reports meant for study ?
Studying to find out what?
No wonder the “rule of law” legacy left by the late President is gathering dust.
Shame!
I pray that the leaders of this Nation dicist from oppressing the poor through theft of public funds.
there is only one weapon to this> Suspend, prosecute and dismissthe erring culprits immediately. hit while the iron is still hot…..
the Zambian people are tired of such manuvres , studying the report, looking into it, investigations and what ever… please activate without delay….we have suffered enough!!!!!!!!!! and the time bomb is growing
Is he still studying the report on ZNBC
#34 I agree with you.Daniel Munkombwe is not relevant for that trip infact he must be retired on national interest because his a liability
All these ministers seeing off the president at the airport, and who was doing the work in their offices
what a waste!
Vice President George Kunda, Defence Minster Kalombo Mwansa, Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja , Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha, Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu, Lands Minister Gladys Lundwe, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete and senior government officials.
Even President Barak Obama does not get this entourage seeing him off, at the airport.
Zambia: Government studying Auditor General’s report on RDA
I was disappointed when I learnt that in Kitwe there are no tarred roads, and yet there is gross misappropriation of public funds at the Road Development Agency (RDA).
Can someone tell me do we have a ministry of Local Government or not?