The Committee of Citizens (CC) has condemned the Road Development Agency (RDA) for allegedly misapplying over K1 trillion.
The recent Auditor Generals audit report on RDA has revealed that the agency misappropriated about US$250 million (K1.4 trillion) which was released for various road works in the country.
Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire says the development will have a negative impact on the country’s attainment of most development targets.
Mr. Chifire told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that this is because a good road network acts as an engine in fostering national development.
He said this is why there is need for people charged with the responsibility of administering public funds meant for national development to always strive at being transparent and accountable in their duties.
He noted that by so doing all developmental plans embarked upon by government will be achieved and consequently better the lives of the citizens in the country.
Mr. Chifire charged that if properly utilized K1 trillion is a lot of money that can go a long way in enhancing the country’s development agenda.
He has since urged government to strengthen the investigations concerning the matter and ensure that the people involved are brought to book.
Mr. Chifire said government should ensure that it comes up with strict measures that will also work as deterrents to would be offenders.
He expressed happiness that government has dissolved the RDA and the National Road Fund Agency boards.
He explained that the decision taken confirms government’s strong stance on corruption and that this will also help in instilling donor confidence in the road sector.
Mr. Chifire has since appealed to people in the public service to be honest and transparent in the manner they utilize public resources if the country is to meet the 2015 targeted Millennium Development Goals especially on poverty reduction and economic growth.
The 2009 Auditor General’s report has queried RDA for delaying the commencement of the road works when government had released money for such projects and also the awarding of a contract to a firm that was allegedly suspended from participating in government contracts.
ZANIS
RB is responsible for this. The man makes many pronouncements during campaigns, forgeting the monetary implications. There are so many roads he has directed to be built, and then he asks MoFNP to find the funds for them. This is highly irresponsible
Well, I dont know whether RDA & NRFA have been dissolved. If thats the case, it’s a good thing & only if we focus on decentralising all activities to do with roads. This would be an opportunity to streamline institutions like local authorities as well as tender procedures. Local authorities would now be responsible for all roads under their jurisdiction so that it shouldn’t take the RDA to dream of which road is priority for people in Mongu or Luwingu but it would be entirely up to the respective councils. However, that’d bring in its own challenges regarding the level of competences among council workers & to a larger extent the level of grasping what council duties are, other than receiving sitting allowances, by Councilors.
#2 Correction
How did I ever think the institutions were no more. Oh. So it is the boards that have been dissolved. Then what? Laissez fare!!!!
The major culprit in Road Construction is SABLE,he has corrupted Management at RDA thereby being given Major Contracts like Mfuwe to Chipata road and the Kasama to Luwingu Road without even performing,MMD uses SABLE to siphon Money out of the Road Construction sector for its campaigns and hosting the conventions.please remove the entire RDA Management if road construction is to move in this country
What is so sad is that our institutions are the ones that are in the fore front of misusing funds. Its not enough to fire peole who have stolen 1 trillion its tantamount to serious crimal offences. I would urge the anti -corruption and the Police to arrest all those involced have their assets ceased and ensure that proper internal controls are in place.
As much as you can release the Board , what does it do so much and not just providing strategic focus and i think our boards do not have the right peole to run them. The main cultrips here is the managenent , procurement office, Accounting and the Ministry of works and supply. I can also include the blame game the ministry of Finance. This country is a sa story funds from tax payers being misused….very very sad indeed.
Apart from Gregory Chifire, who else is in this Committee of Citizens?