THE National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) has refuted media reports that President Banda influenced the sale of 1,500 acres of land at an exorbitant price of US$15 million to Meanwood Property Development Limited without following tender procedure.

NAPSA director general Stanley Phiri said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the President had nothing to do with the transaction because the authority operates within the confines of corporate governance structures.

“We wish to categorically state that the issue of any external influences from anywhere including the Republican President does not arise at all. Further, the board of management of NAPSA operates within the confines of corporate governance structures with no influence from the President or indeed any other external bodies,” Mr Phiri said.

He said NAPSA operates in line with the Public Procurement Act number 12 of 2008.

Mr Phiri said in the case of Meanwood Property Development Limited, the final approval was given at a Management Procurement Committee (MPC) meeting held on December 30 last year after exhausting all the necessary processes.

He said during the period between December 7 last year and January 24 this year, the MPC was mandated to preside over such matters until the release of a circular on January 24 which introduced a committee to take over the functions of the central tender committee.

Mr Phiri said through laid down procedures and investment guidelines which govern all investments of the authority including the Levy Business Park, Nyumbayanga housing project, Kalulushi Housing project and others, President Banda has not in any way influenced the decisions of NAPSA investment plans.

He said in the case of Meanwood, an independent valuer was engaged through a selective tender to value the land and give an indicative selling price.

“On this basis, the authority proceeded to negotiate the price and purchased 1,500 acres in a prime area near the new American Embassy, after the due process was exhausted,” he said.

Mr Phiri said it is unfortunate that the Post newspaper did not even attempt to approach NAPSA for clarification on the matter and the authority had difficulties appreciating the basis of the allegations.

He said NAPSA management would have gladly explained the issue to the Post about the futile efforts it has made and continues to make in trying to acquire land from the Ministry of Lands and the Lusaka City Council.

Mr Phiri said the NAPSA management committee presides over all matters, which are discussed at length before decisions are made.

He said the issues need further input and are taken to the next level as per NAPSA regulations, which later refer them to relevant committees of the board.

“Above all, NAPSA recognises and abides by its mission and vision statements which call on it to prudently administer the members’ funds and add the highest value for the benefit of contributors and pensioners,” he said.

On Tuesday, The Post newspaper published a story suggesting that President Banda influenced the sale of 1,500 acres of prime land to Meanwood Property Development Limited in a bid to raise funds for campaigns.

Meanwhile, MMD National chairman Michael Mabenga says the MMD has never received money from any parastatal for party activities or campaigns.

He said in an interview yesterday that there was no truth in the statement alleging that MMD intends to obtain money from NAPSA for campaigns.

“Getting money from private institutions is not one of the ways the party raises its money,” he said.

He said NAPSA is a parastatal and government does not interfere in its operations. Mr Mabenga said the MMD treasurer Suresh Desai has been tasked to raise funds for the convention.

He said the party has not even drawn the budget for the convention as it is still looking for money.

“If MMD had money to hold the convention, it would not be bothered to hold fundraising events,” he said.

He challenged those who are making the allegations that the party is making money from NAPSA to produce evidence so that they can be proven wrong.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda yesterday told Parliament that the disbanded Taskforce on Corruption raised K92.4 billion from the sale of assets seized during its investigations while it spent K23.3 billion provided by the Government on operations and US$11.8 million (about K57 billion) from the United States of America (US) as donor support.

Responding to Lukulu East Member of Parliament (MP) Batuke Imenda who wanted to know how much was realised by the Taskforce on Corruption and how much was spent on operations between 2002 and 2009, Mr Kunda said K92.4 billion was raised while the Government spent K23.3 billion on operations, with $11.8 million coming from the US as donor support.

The vice-president said of the K92.4 billion raised, K72.7 billion was realised from the sale of real estate and K5.8 billion was from movable assets while cash at the Bank of Zambia amounted to K1.6 billion.

He said the Government remitted about K12.3 billion to the Ministry of Health for the construction and rehabilitation of labour wards country-wide.

And Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Allan Mbewe told Parliament that more than K75 billion had been spent on construction and rehabilitation of grain storage facilities in various parts of the country from 2006 to date.

Mr Mbewe said the Government was not happy with the current storage arrangements, as it was inadequate.

He said the country had about two million tonne grain storage capacity but only 1.3 million was being utilised while the other was not in good condition.

Mr Mbewe was answering a question from Kanchibiya MP Davies Mwango who wanted to know how much the Government had spent on repairing grain storages country-wide from 2006 and whether the Government was satisfied with the current storage facilities.

And Agriculture Minister Eustarckio Kazonga has urged the business community to assist the Government in leasing out and building new grain storage to secure the grain that the country had yielded and is expected to harvest in the next farming season.

He said the Government was in the process of constructing and rehabilitating more storage facilities in the phase two project this year.

Mr Kazonga said the Government would construct six extra silos and rehabilitate the existing ones, and that would construct 98 extra sheds country-wide.

And responding to Itezhi-Tezhi MP Godfrey Beene, who wanted to know why the Government was concentrating on maize storage facilities and not for other crops, the minister said storage for all other crops was being considered and the emphasis on maize was because it was the staple food.

And the Water Resources Management Bill number 50 of 2010 yesterday passed through the second reading after the MPs unanimously voted for it.

The Government approved the revised national water policy in February 2010, which would provide for streamlined and focused guidance to the water sector in the country.

Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga said the Bill sought to repeal and replace the Water Act of 1949 through a comprehensive review due to the nature and scope of issues that had developed over time.

Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Moses Muteteka said the ministry had entered into public-private partnership to develop parking spaces in Lusaka central business centre to ease parking problems that the city had been experiencing.

Mr Muteteka said the business community had expressed interest to embark on the exercise and land had been identified within the central business district for the exercise.

He was responding to a question from Pambashe MP Benard Chisha who wanted to know if the ministry had any plans of creating more parking areas in Lusaka city centre.

[Times of Zambia]

The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says it is inappropriate for the government to condemn Netherlands ambassador to Zambia Harry Molennar over his advise on the need for the government to consider resolving the impasse on the Barostseland agreement using the decentralization policy.
SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda says what the Dutch envoy said is not different from what the people of Zambia want.

Mr. Habasonda has told QFM news that the decentralization policy is key because it will accord the people of Zambia an opportunity to participate in national development.

He adds that the people of western province have clearly indicated through the report submitted to government that they do not have any intentions of seceding from the rest of the country but that all they want is to see meaningful development in western province.

Mr. Habasonda notes that government also needs to reconsider its decision on the Barotseland issue and deal with the matter effectively to avoid instability in the country.

On Monday Netherlands ambassador to Zambia Harry Molennar said that the Barotseland impasse which recently led to a fracas in Mongu district could be resolved through implementation of the government decentralization policy.

But Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande warned diplomats against commenting on internal matters of the country saying the people of Zambia are well- placed to handle such matters.

QFM