UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) presidential campaign team member Beene Hachoombwe has appealed to the Government to investigate the procurement of 1000 bicycles that were purchased by the Zambia Police at a cost of USD 700,000 in 2019.
Mr. Hachoombwe said he will petition the office of the Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu and the Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba to investigate who awarded a contract to a named bidder to supply bicycles to the Zambia Police at a cost of USD 700 each.
He wondered how a mere bicycle which does not consume fuel could cost USD 700 stating that illegal activities that occurred in the previous administration should not be allowed to die a natural death.
Mr. Hachoombwe alleged in an interview yesterday the procurement of bicycles at a huge cost was clear exposure of corruption in the procurement system in the previous administration.
“How can a mere bicycle that does not even consume fuel cost USD 700 each, which were erroneously reported to have been donated by Japan, before the Japanese government denied making such a donation, you may have forgotten but our memories are still fresh,” Mr. Hachoombwe said.
He said the mismatch in information between the Zambia police and the ministry of home affairs last year over the sourcing of the bicycles for easy movement of police officers in their line of duty was a sign of using underhand methods in procuring public property.
Mr. Hachoombwe said President Hakainde Hichilema had repeatedly mentioned that his administration would not allow procurement of Government property at exaggerated amounts at the expense of improving the livelihood of Zambians.
He said he would ensure to pursue all illegal activities that transpired in the previous Government in order to recover the money for the benefit of the Zambian people.
Mr. Hachoombwe further commended President Hichilema for dissolving the ZESCO board few days after he made his appeal.
He said he was confident that doing so would restore sanity and result in improved service delivery at the power utility company through the employment of well qualified citizens.
