No313 K10 www.diggers.news ursday November 22, 2018 PETAUKE LOSS Cops nab Chadiza school teacher for de ling G7 pupil HURTS PF Story page 7 ...as Mwila toasts Mangango victoryStory page 10 I’m bound to meet Lungu for talks a er UPND, says Nevers By Abraham Kalito adds that the meeting is bound to happen Movement for Multi-Party Democracy btween the two of them soon. (MMD) president Nevers Mumba says And Mumba says everyone is to blame since disengaging from the UPND, he has for the in ux of the Chinese people in the not yet met President Edgar Lungu, but county. To page 11 Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa, Religious A airs Minister Godfridah Sumaili and Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya launch the National Alcohol Policy - Picture by Tenson Mkhala Reserves Lungu MISA drop to launches questions $1.6bn on $300m police increased action on Chinese Prime TV debt By Mirriam Chabala NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili, PAC president Andyfold Banda, UPND’s Hakainde By Stuart Lisulo MFEZ e Media Institute of Hichilema, Geo rey Mwamba and Obvious Mwaliteta addess supporters in Ndola Debt servicing has continued Southern Africa (MISA) in to pose challenges to Zambia’s Zambia says the issuance of international reserves, which project in a search warrant on Prime have dipped to less than US Television by Police in Lusaka PAC grills PS Sipanje as he $1.7 billion, says Bank of is unnecessary and aimed at Zambia (BoZ) Governor Dr Chibombo intimidating the broadcasting Denny Kalyalya. To page 11 Story page 10 house. To page 5 apologises for theft in LusakaStory page 2 2. Local News www.diggers.news Thursday November 22, 2018 By Sipilisiwe Ncube Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje yesterday, through the PAC grills Sipanje, as he apologises parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), record-keeping and you have apologised to tax payers conceded here that poor for the theft and wastage record-keeping is the reason of public funds under his for theft in Lusaka Province why some of the queries have administration. Sipanje in his response deputy Permanent Secretary worst reports, I can confirm. because sometimes also come about because some Sipanje, who appeared conceded the irregularities and the principal accountant. Through you, chair, we, as they relax a lot. Issues of people have opted not to give before the Committee to re- under his administration and Because these are two officers provincial administration, this nature must be taken the auditors the information submit his responses to the detailed them. who had done wrong things, would also like to say: ‘sorry’ seriously and at a faster rate, that they require when they audit queries cited in the “Obviously, I do have they had to conceal a lot of to the tax payers,” Sipanje [but] of course, without a are there. Of course, you have Auditor General’s Report the capacity, but as I had things. But, yes, I agree [that] submitted. miscarriage of justice and that referred that there were some for the financial year ended indicated earlier on, chair, wrong things were done and But Mbulakulima told the way we are going to restore officers, who were just doing December 31, 2017, also things at Lusaka Provincial that is why four accounting sorrowful PS to stop handing confidence on the Zambian theft, just stealing government angered the Committee Administration went terribly officers have already been public funds as if it were “his people,” Mbulakulima said. resources and, therefore, they members after it waswrong, why? This is an dismissed and one senior DPS father’s petty cash.” In sending off the controlling were hiding the information discovered that his deputy institution, which if you (deputy Permanent Secretary “We are not going to gloss officer, Committeebecause they didn’t want and four other accounting know the structure of the is under suspension pending over this matter, it is one of chairperson Howard Kunda to be caught at that time. officers had made several province, the Permanency his further determination of those issues that we should asked Sipanje to put in better So, it is very important that irregular withdrawals in his Secretary is assisted by senior his case,” Sipanje explained stand firm on and ensure control measures to avoid systems are put in place to absence and concealed the officers and very key, the as he displayed a schedule of that justice prevails. Public facing the same problem. ensure that these records are information. deputy Permanent Secretary, withdrawals amounting to funds must be recovered. “And you have conceded kept properly. We don’t want Solwezi West UPND who also chairs the finance over K2.2 million. You cannot be playing with here that this has been your in fact to see you here, PS, to member of parliament Teddy committee, and also the “Having been Permanent money like it’s your father’s worst report on the matters come and appear before this Kasonso was the first one principal accountant. Now, if Secretary for seven years, petty cash! So, we call upon that I have referred to, and Committee to be asked about to express disappointment, you have the same people who this has also been one of my the law enforcement agencies that is to talk about poor these issues,” said Kunda. saying Lusaka Province are supposed to be assisting was the worst provincial the CEO of the institution; administration in terms of officers who are also signatory public finance management. to all the accounts and they “Before I even go to specifics, are the ones in the forefront I want to say that this sitting to do wrong things, a lot of for Lusaka Province, for me, is information was concealed,” the worst so far. My question narrated. is, is there capacity at Lusaka He said having served as PS Province in terms of financial for seven years, this provincial management? Everything report was the worst ever here is as if there is no PS, among all his reports. there are no accountants! PS, “When these anomalies have you got the capacity? were discovered, I was also I am being very specific? shocked and if I show you Things have broken down! the schedule, with your This is the worst ever since permission, the way monies we started sitting,” Kasonso had been withdrawn during observed. the period I had taken leave; Milenge constituency PF as you might be aware I am member of parliament entitled to 42 working days Mwansa Mbulakulima and there is a requirement echoed Kasonso’s query that we all take leave. There and equally added his is no commutation of days disappointment. because of austerity measures. “I want to follow what With your permission, I will honourable Kasonso has show you the schedule on Zambia Police choir sings at the first religious leaders indaba hosted by the Ministry of Health under the said, [and] even the people how money was withdrawn who have accompanied you, when I was on leave and how theme ‘ Health evangelism towards universal coverage, leaving no one behind’ held at Pamodzi Hotel in controlling officer, who are money was signed for by the Lusaka yesterday – Picture by Tenson Mkhala very highly educated and you don’t have to wait for the public accounts to remind you of this or public accounts Marrying off children won’t bring you riches, to get annoyed! In your earlier submission, you had given us that the releases by Ministry of Finance; this is only problems, Sinda DC warns parents the column and on your own, By Zindikilani Banda beauty is not for money but bright dances ati two by two catappilar! fruits will finish how are we going to you have submitted that this Sinda district commissioner future, Sakala said. That way you are fueling HIV/AIDS survive? So we appeal to government is what you had released to Paradious Sakala says marrying off “Look some of you are not educated, in some way but teach them things to help us with relief maize and we various departments giving children brings more problems than you can’t read, you can’t write and that will inculcate good discipline in believe you the commissioner will us the variances. And that is good and parents must instead focus you still want to go somewhere for them,” said Sakala speak for us to the rightful offices,” the reason why you are saying on educating their offspring. someone to read a letter for you? And PTA chairperson Innocent said Phiri. this under-funding must be Speaking when he handed over a Educate your own child so that he or Ngoma thanked government for the He also lamented that evoucher explained,” Mbulakulima renovated classroom block worth she can write and read for you. We block saying the school had a lot of had brought so much confusion said. K70,000 to the community in Sinda are living in a computer generation pupils but lacked classroom space. and asked government to quickly “Now, on your own, you have constituency, Tuesday, Sakala said such that without education you “We would like to thank government intervene because a lot of names brought another schedule, education was the only weapon won’t enjoy anything, the messages for the block. Truly we have a lot had been removed from the system which changes everything. which could be used to eradicate even in our phones it’s mostly in of pupils here and the challenge is without any reason, a situation Acting financial director, poverty. English and you want children to classes and I am pretty sure this one which worried a lot of farmers.