Govt pays back £2.7 million to UK

Government has paid back the 2.7 million pounds meant for the Social Cash Transfer to the UK government through the Department for International Development (DFID).

Special Assistant to the President for press and Public Relations Amos Chanda has disclosed during a media briefing.

Mr. Chanda says this follows a request made by (DFID) for the money to be paid back.

He says the money which was paid back on Monday has not been gotten from government coffers, but from where it was being kept in a government account.

the UK government recent led three other donor countries in suspending aid to the government over the alleged misuse of funds meant for the Social Cash Transfer at the Ministry of Community Development.

Meanwhile President Edgar Lungu has with immediate effect appointed Southern Province Police Commissioner Bonny Kapeso as Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of Operations.

Mr. Chanda says Mr. Kapeso takes over from Malcom Mulenga whose contract has not been renewed.

He says Diamond Likashi has since taken over as Southern Province Police Commissioner.