Bivan Saluseki in Kalabo
20 May 2003
Lusaka — WE must ensure that all people that stole are in prison, works and supply minister Ludwig Sondashi has said.
Addressing heads of department in Kalabo yesterday, Sondashi said there was too much theft in Chiluba's regime. "Politicians were stealing in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening," Sondashi said. "From top to bottom, people were stealing."
Sondashi said the current suffering and lack of equipment for government employees was caused by lack of money. "The sufferings which are happening now, lack of transport, lack of funds and delayed payments is because government does not have the money.
The money which government had was being misused," Sondashi said. "The past 10 years people did not respect government property and government money."
Sondashi said when a government is run in such a way, there would be no money to pay civil servants. He said corruption levels were too high such that even civil servants could not even return imprest when they came back from trips. Sondashi said office orderlies also used to steal sugar. "Everybody was stealing," Sondashi said.
"Things have not been managed properly." Sondashi said both workers and politicians had run down the country. He said Zambia would not be developed by outsiders but by Zambians themselves. "If there is no money, foreign accounts are being opened in Switzerland, can we do the roads? Zambia will remain like this if we do not become pioneers," Sondashi said.
"There must be hard work, commitment and sacrifice to develop a country. It should also apply to politicians." Sondashi said he himself was a committed politician who had even resigned twice from government because of certain wrongs he saw. He said that under President Mwanawasa's government things were being done in the right way.
"President Mwanawasa is running this country properly. That's why I am with him. I am happy because things are running well," he said. Sondashi cautioned government officers against involving themselves in active politics.
He said civil servants were supposed to carryout government programmes. Sondashi said certain opposition politicians wanted to derail President Mwanawasa because of the good job he was doing for the country.
He said currently, there was so much ill-gotten wealth. Sondashi said the new deal government was different from Chiluba's. "This government should not be compared to Chiluba's time because during Chiluba there was no government. We cannot be compared to crooks.
This government has no thieves," he said. Sondashi urged MMD members to explain government programmes such as the Mongu-Kalabo road being constructed and the prompt delivery of fertiliser.
He said government was anxious to try and get infrastructure to Kalabo. Kalabo district administrator Nabiwa Imikendu said the sale of government pool houses had affected several people in the area. He said the police station building was dilapidated and needed urgent repair. Imikendu said even the police houses left much to be desired.
Sondashi later toured the Mongu-Kalabo road being constructed by Consolidated Construction Company (CCC) of Kuwait. He said government wanted to make sure that the road was completed on time.
Meanwhile, the CCC has asked the Barotse Royal Establishment to consider reducing the size of the elephant on top of the Litunga's Royal badge. CCC consultant Peter Strydon said the elephant on top of the badge had to be reduced in order to allow the badge pass through one of the bridges on the road.
Strydon said that alternatively, the elephant could be removed when it approaches the bridge and then be fixed after it passes. Strydon said the bird on Notila (the badge for the queen) would not be affected.
But Ngambela of Western Province Mukela Manyando said the Kuta will have to discuss the issue raised by CCC.
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