Emmanuel Mwamba Calls on Government to Settle Outstanding Payments to Contractors and Suppliers”
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- 18 Jan 2023
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Patriotic Front Presidential Candidate, Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba, called on the government to settle outstanding payments to contractors and suppliers. Amb Mwamba’s comments come in response to the announcement that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) President, Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, will be visiting Zambia.
“The government’s focus and efforts have been spent on resolving international and foreign debt, leaving domestic debt neglected,” said Amb Mwamba. He highlighted the local debt of K76.8 billion as being too large to withhold from the local economy and causing destruction to companies, small, and medium enterprises. “It is clear that the government is determined to impoverish its own citizens by withholding payments for public works done by the private sector and supplies of goods submitted to government ministries and agencies,” he added.
In July 2022, the Ministry of Finance appointed EY Advisory Services, PwC, Client Focus Solutions Chartered Accountants, CYMA Chartered Public Accountants, and Management Consultants, and Mark Daniels Chartered Accountants to audit the local debt accrued by the government. The areas of focus included value-added tax refunds, fuel arrears, farmer input-support program arrears, salaries, road contract arrears, and General Goods and Services arrears. The exercise was expected to take two months to complete and the consultants were expected to submit their final reports at the end of that period. Read More…
