29 June 2009
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has said the Government will decisively deal will all forms of financial crimes in the public sector.
Mr Kunda said in Mansa yesterday that the Government was determined to improve the management and utilisation of pubic funds.
He said this at the start of the MMMD Luapula Province card renewal exercise at Mansa College of Education.
Mr Kunda said the Government would intensify the fight against corruption, money laundering and financial crimes through the establishment of new investigative and prosecuting institutions to ensure culprits are punished.
He said the establishment of the Public Financial Unit, as announced by President Rupiah Banda recently, would be enforced soon to address all financial concerns in the public sector.
Mr Kunda, who is an MMD national trustee, warned public service workers of stern action if they involved themselves in corrupt practices.
He said the Government had strengthened the investigative wings to deal with public service workers involved in corruption.
He said the Government was committed to ensuring that the living standards of people improved by facilitating developmental projects such as construction of schools, providing better health services and a good road network.
He said for all the programmes to be successful, public service workers needed to support the Government.
Mr Kunda further said the Government has set aside about K600 million in this year's Budget to conduct surveys at the closed Mansa Batteries workers' houses.
He explained that the survey would allow the Government to sell the houses to sitting tenants, who are former Mansa Batteries workers.
On agriculture, Mr Kunda said all the provinces in the country had started receiving fertiliser under the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).
He said the Government was encouraging farmers to cultivate cassava, millet, sorghum and rice, drought resistant crops which do not need fertiliser.
He added that the Government would restock fish in Lakes Bangweulu and Mweru in Luapula Province.
He also said the MMD would not be deterred by insults from some opposition political leaders and would instead concentrate on national development.
And speaking when he kick-started the MMD card renewal exercise in Mansa, Mr Kunda urged members to focus on party unity, tolerance and to be development oriented.
He said the Government was determined to improve the road network and social infrastructure in Luapula and other regions in its continued efforts to reduce poverty and improve the economic status of the people.
Mr Kunda said the Government had secured a loan facility under a consortium of Arab banks for improvement of water and sanitation in the province.
He disclosed that the top leadership of the MMD had embarked on a nationwide tour to assess party structures as a re-organisation measure ahead of the 2011 general elections.
The vice-president also said the Patriotic Front-United Party for National Development pact posed no threat to the ruling party.-ZANIS
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