President Trashes U.S.$98 Million NAPSA Scheme Insinuations

13 May 2011

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said allegations that he influenced National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to engage in a US$98 million project to re-develop and develop the gutted Society House and Central Arcades in Lusaka are misplaced.

Speaking at Lusaka International Airport yesterday on arrival from Istanbul, Turkey where he had gone to attend a summit on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), President Banda said he had nothing to do with the business transaction.

“No I don’t do it that way. You know in this country we have got procedures of how you order things.

“Of course as president they come to tell you that we are planning to do this and that and then when I say it is okay with me, the rest of the procedures are theirs,” he said.He said NAPSA’s statement that the tender process started some years ago and that all the tender procedures were satisfied was the correct position.

The president said he was aware that it was illegal to interfere with the tender processes and operations of parastatal institutions.

“It is illegal for anyone to interfere with the tender procedures just like it is illegal to interfere with the judiciary and just like it is illegal to interfere with Parliament.

“So it is not correct, you know they have to accuse somebody and usually it is me,” Mr Banda said.

Zambia National Building Society through a financing scheme by NAPSA has embarked on the re-development and development of the gutted Society House and Central Arcades to upgrade it into a modern building offering flexible and efficient working spaces to tenants.

And the president said the DOHA agreement talks went on well and that many countries were represented, with 16 Heads of State and government participating in the proceedings.

He arrived at the airport at 18:50 hours and was welcomed by First Lady Thandiwe, Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa and several Government officials.

Earlier before he left Istanbul, President Banda expressed satisfaction at what he described as fruitful discussions with the Turkish government in various sectors that include health, tourism and education, reports Grevazio Zulu.

He was hopeful that Turkish Airlines would begin direct flights into Zambia by October this year.Presıdent Banda saıd members of his delegation from various sectors of the economy held bilateral talks with their Turkish counterparts and that he was hopeful something significant would come out of the meetings.

He also said a Turkish delegation would soon be visiting Zambia for further discussions.

The president described the UN conference on LDCs as a success.He said the delegates had reached consensus and would sign the agreement that would be dubbed the Istanbul Declaration.

He was seen off at Ataturk International Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala and Zambian Ambassador to Germany, Jonstone Chizinga.

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