Hichilema says his administration won’t condone ‘wasteful expenditure’
LUSAKA, Zambia
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Monday revealed that his predecessor Edgar Lungu purchased a luxury presidential jet for $190 million, an action he called wasteful expenditure.
A president needs to move around uninterrupted, but spending $190 million on a plane is not acceptable, remarked Hichilema when he met heads of state-run companies in the capital Lusaka.
Hichilema said there was no retribution against Lungu’s family and his administration had only waged a fight against the past, present and future corruption.
He warned that “wasteful expenditure” by public sector officers will not be condoned.
While in opposition, Hichilema vigorously campaigned against what he called rampant corruption by Lungu whom he beat by a landslide in last August’s general election.
Since he came into office, Lungu’s wife, son and daughter have all faced summons on corruption allegations.
“It is like you are peeling an onion systematically. It’s me they are after,” Lungu told lawmakers of his Patriotic Front (PF) party during his last public appearance a fortnight ago.
His wife Esther is due for questioning in Lusaka on Tuesday and members of PF have been calling on citizens to show solidarity with the former first couple.
In a statement on Monday, Zambian police chief Lemmy Kajoba, however, warned that the occasion would not be allowed to turn into an unmanageable affair.
