By CHARITY MOONGA? –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has bemoaned the continued ‘reckless’ expenditure in Zambia’s Foreign Missions and called for an immediate end to the vice.
Mr Lungu said he had been studying the latest Auditor General’s report which had highlighted the ‘reckless’ expenditure in foreign missions.
“I have seen from the recent Auditor General’s report the reckless spending in Foreign Missions and this needs to be stopped,’’ Mr Lungu said.

• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu receives an affidavit of oath from newly-appointed Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba during the swearing-in ceremony at State House in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by CLEVER ZULU.

The President was speaking when he swore in Humphrey Chibanda and Emmanuel Mwamba as Ambassador and High Commissioner to France and South Africa respectively.
“It is up to you as representatives in our foreign missions to bring to an end this reported reckless expenditure,’’ Mr Lungu said.
Eleven foreign missions have been cited for various financial irregularities in the latest Auditor General’s report.
Among the Missions abroad cited in the report are London, Lilongwe, Lubumbashi, Geneva, Dar es Salaam, Gaborone, Maputo, Windhoek, Brussels, Harare, Pretoria and Rome.
The Missions were cited for irregular payments, unsupported payments, failure to insure property, inadequately supported payments, unauthorised use of revenue and failure to follow procurement?procedure.
President Lungu urged Mr Chibanda and Mr Mwamba to represent Zambia well.?He was hopeful that the ministry of Foreign Affairs would get support from the two officials.
‘‘You are the window through which the world sees Zambia. Look out for the trends out there, what is good, let us know and what is bad for us again, tell us.
“You are carrying the name of Zambia and the world sees Zambia through you,’’ he said.
In separate interviews later after the swearing-in ceremony at State House, Mr Chibanda thanked President Lungu for appointing him and that his main focus would be to increase French investments in Zambia.
He would also prioritise curbing reckless expenditure by guarding resources allocated to the mission jealously.??Mr Chibanda was hoping to hold meetings with the Auditor General’s office to discuss how best to manage the country’s resources at his new base.
Mr Mwamba pledged to continue to enhance relations between Zambia and South Africa and promote investments.??The relationship between the two countries should continue to grow to enhance development.
He said the reckless expenditure in Foreign Missions was unacceptable and pledged to spend according to the requirements of the Mission.