By CHILA NAMAIKO –
PARLIAMENT yesterday unanimously approved a K70.5 million State House budget for 2018 with Vice-President Inonge Wina warning ‘presidential aspirants’ in the House to stop muddying President Edgar
Lungu’s name with false corruption allegations to gain political mileage.
Winding up debates on the estimates of revenue and expenditure of State House, Ms Wina informed the House that it was unfair for critics to accuse President Lungu of awarding contracts of infrastructure projects in the country.
Ms Wina said she was disappointed that some members were bent on attacking President Lungu and denting his name and that of State House with corruption accusations instead of reporting to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) if they had evidence to support their claims.
“I am very disappointed with a number of members in the manner of their debates, making innuendoes and accusations on President Lungu,” Ms Wina said.
“The President doesn’t even award contracts and he is not involved.
Therefore, accusing him of that is unreasonable.”
She said as Head of State, Mr Lungu deserved respect and advised Zambians, regardless of political affiliation, to support his agenda of ensuring all corners of the country were developed.
Kanchibiya Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Martin Malama hailed President Lungu for working 24 hours and urged critics to realise that Zambia was undergoing economic transformation as a result of Mr Lungu’s hard work.
MMD Serenje MP Maxwell Kabanda said State House, the seat of the Presidency, should be refurbished and allocated more resources to smoothen its operations.
Senga Hill PF MP Kapembwa Simbao said people should allow President Lungu to operate freely at State House to deliver his mandate of uplifting the welfare of every citizen.
Meanwhile, delivering a policy statement for State House’s Budget estimates on Friday, the Vice-President said the institution faced operational challenges during the course of this year.
She said inadequate funding was a major challenge that negatively affected operations of key sections, citing transportation, catering and housekeeping.
However, to support the 7th National Development Plan agenda, Ms Wina said State House sought to continue on the path of fostering synergies to support treasury in freeing up capital for other pressing development needs in the country such as health, agriculture and education.
She said the Budget estimates for State House of K70, 508,750, would enable it to upgrade and facilitate efficient operations of its departments, attend to personnel emoluments, provide maintenance of its grounds and infrastructure as well as servicing of its transportation.
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Unit was also currently operating as a department under State House in the interim, while the establishment of the PPP Unit semi-autonomous statutory body had already been approved in principle by Cabinet and the amendment Bill was at an advance stage at the ministry of Justice to be presented to the House.