Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya has disputed claims by some members of the public and the some opposition parties stating that government is only distributing relief foods to the ruling Patriotic Front – PF candidates and strong holds.
Siliya explained that it is not true that government is not distributing relief foods to places where the PF has no support as its concentration is centered to areas affected with hunger.
Addressing the media in Lusaka on July 4th, 2019 attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, the information Minister said the Disaster Management ad Mitigation Unity – DMMU is distributing foods to areas that were affected with hunger due to the dry spells and floods experienced in the 2018/2019 farming season.
She said Kazungula, which is an opposition strong hold, recently received relief foods hence statements arising from the public domain are misleading as government is committed to distributing foods to all needy Zambians after the DMMU makes assessments.
Siliya further said, the office of the Vice president is on the course of responding to disasters faced by Zambians national wide and has since called on the public to support government’s effort to better people’s livelihoods.
“It is unfortunate that members of the public especially the opposition want to politic and continue claiming that this relief is only going to areas where they are PF strong holds, this is not and I hope that we put this matter to bed” she said.
Responding to a question from a ZBT analyst on the government position on the proposal to conduct a lifestyle audit for senior government officials, Siliya said claims of conducting lifestyle audits by some sectors of society are not worth to go for as government directly conducts audits through the Zambia Revenue Authority- ZRA, Anti-Corruption Commission – ACC, Drug Enforcement Commission – DEC and other agencies hence clearly gives a review of people’s lifestyle.
She said government is aware that there are a few citizens abusing their privileges and involving themselves in corruption but that the majority of Zambians are fairly decent people, saying corruption is not only in government but in the private sectors too and that the country will remain committed to the fight against Corruption.
