TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 1:40 pm
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema addresses journalists after attending the meeting
United Party for National Development (UPND) Leader Hikainde Hichilema has accused President Michael Sata of beginning the construction of his retirement home at a cost of K1.4 billion while he is a sitting president. According to the statement, this action is a violation of the republic constitution which only provides such privilege to a former head of state.
Below is the full statement
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Press Statement
31st October, 2012
Early this year, we alerted the nation that Mr. Sata had begun constructing his retirement home near state lodge illegally using government resources.
Government spokesperson Hon Kennedy Sakeni refuted our assertion and alleged that we were bitter and chocking with envy after the 2011 electoral defeat.
Lies have a very short life span and we have been vindicated.
Mr. Sata sent his uncle Hon Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda as a bearer of a message to Parliament to solicit for K1.4 billion for the construction of his house. Page 911 of the yellow book attest to this.
Our contention is that our laws do not provide for such type of expenditure. This is a clear violation of our statutes. Act number 21 of 1998, chapter 15 section 4a states as follows:
?assigned to a former President within a period of not more than two years from the date of ceasing to hold office, a furnished executive house built or bought in Zambia by the State at a place of the former President?s choice?.
Clearly, this is a benefit given to a former President not a sitting one. Is Mr. Sata a retired, sitting President? We are concerned that Mr. Sata has continued raping our constitution with impunity. If Mr. Sata had any sense of morality, he would have concentrated on paying retirees who have already worked for their money than paying himself a retirement prematurely.
We call on all Honourable Members of Parliament across political divide to do the honourable thing by stopping this reckless, proposed spending.
This level of self aggrandizement is unacceptable especially that houses for the second, third and fourth former Republican Presidents are not completed. If this reckless expenditure is not stopped in Parliament, UPND shall explore other democratic options available.
Hakainde Hichilema
PRESIDENT
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Source: http://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/10/31/president-sata-began-contruction-retirement-homehh/
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