Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
CSPR Information and Communication Officer Maxson Nkhoma
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has asked President Edgar Lungu to appoint a commission of inquiry to investigate how the Eurobond Funds were used especially that most of the infrastructure development Projects for which the funds were borrowed have either stalled or not implemented.
CSPR Advocacy and Communication Programme Coordinator Maxson Nkhoma tells QTV News via telephone that this is a clear sign that these some of the funds could have been diverted for personal gain.
Mr. Nkhoma says Projects which have stalled include rehabilitation of the railway lines, rehabilitation of the Solwezi- Chingola Road, Chipata-Chandiza-Vubwi Road, Lundazi Chama Road a lot to mention but just a few.
Mr. Nkhoma says in areas where the projects have been completed government has not yet paid the contractors their money for the work done.
He says it is therefore in interest of every Zambian that Government should investigate how the Eurobond funds were utilized by setting up a commission of enquiry.
Meanwhile, the CSPR Advocacy and Communication Programme Coordinator has implored government to avoid spending tax payers money on wishful and wasteful undertakings such as the appointing the commission inquiry into the political violence which took place during after the 2016 general elections.
He says with the current fiscal deficit the government is experiencing one would not imagine that government would prioritize the setting up of a commission of inquiry whose main aim is to foster political expedience at the expense of national development.
Mr. Nkhoma says his organization is disheartened and in deep shock to see that even in light of the growing budgetary deficit manifested by delays in paying salaries for public service workers, failure to complete infrastructure development projects, prolonged delays of funding to most government departments meant to finance development activities and programmes government can still find pleasure to engage in another wasteful undertaking.
Mr. Nkhoma says CSPR believes there is no sufficient justification to warrant the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the political violence which took place during and after the 2016 general elections because the country has the Zambia Police service whose job is to bring about law and order in the country and the 2016 general elections were not exceptional.