CHIEF Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has dismissed opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema's accusations that Government has illegally paid First Lady Christine Kaseba KR1.5 million.

Mr Sakeni, who is Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said the accusation was cheap and baseless as no such money had been illegally given to the First Lady by the Government.

He called on Zambians to ignore the unsubstantiated statement from the opposition particularly Mr Hichilema.

"This is a responsible and transparent Government whose expenditure is there for all to see as provided for in the National Budget approved by Parliament.

"As for the allegation that University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is in a crisis due to Government's failure to repair the oxygen machine, this is another of Mr Hichilema's futile attempts to hoodwink the general public," Mr Sakeni said.

Mr Hichilema during his rally at Kabwata Basic School on Sunday alleged that the Government had illegally allocated KR1.5 million to the First Lady and that the Government had failed to address the low supply of oxygen at UTH.

But Mr Sakeni said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that there was no oxygen shortage at the UTH and that no deaths had been attributed to the lack of oxygen at the hospital.

"The oxygen plant at the adult wing of the hospital is old and is being overhauled after it broke down. While this is going on, the hospital has continued to administer oxygen to patients normally from oxygen cylinders available in the hospital," he explained.

The minister said the Government was on a serious mission to improve people's living standards.