.LUNGU

By ANDREW PHIRI –

THE Government will investigate reports that an investor who bought off Zambezi Sawmills during the privatisation process has also acquired public assets such as the Mulobezi Railway Line, institutional houses and schools.
President Edgar Lungu said he would not delay to repossess public property which had been acquired dubiously by the investor.
The President said there was no way an investor could take over vital assets meant for public good.
“If reports are proved to be true, I will have no option but to invoke powers vested in me as Republican President to effect compulsory acquisition of the assets and give them back to the people so that they can continue enjoying the facilities,” Mr Lungu said.
“Be assured that you have a caring Government that is not scared to reverse decisions of past governments that were made in error”.
President Lungu said this yesterday during a rally to drum up support for Patriotic Front (PF) candidate in tomorrow’s Mulobezi Parliamentary bye-election, Patricia Mulasikwanda.
The rally was held at Mulobezi School grounds.
Mr Lungu also cautioned railway vandals that their actions on the Mulobezi railway line would not be tolerated and that the law would catch up with them.
“I want to caution all the people that are involved in railway line vandalism to stop because this railway line belongs to the people of Mulobezi and its presence should translate into economic development,” the Head of State said.
He said the Government was determined to take development to all parts of Zambia so that people could have an improved livelihood.
Mr Lungu met with Indunas of chiefs in the area at Sichili Secondary School where a number of issues affecting traditional leaders were discussed.
The President returned to Lusaka yesterday after the Mulobezi rally.