Zambia: Fire engine scandal brings heat to ministers

By O’Brian Mwiinga

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Five main opposition party leaders in Zambia on Monday pressed President Edgar Lungu to suspend the home affairs minister and other Cabinet ministers implicated in a $42 million fire engine procurement scandal.

Speaking on behalf of other party leaders, Charles Milupi, head of the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), told journalists that Lungu’s demands for further evidence before suspending the ministers is meant to shield them.

He cited former Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili claiming that the company which supplied the 42 fire engines at a price of $1 million apiece had paid kickback bribes as ample evidence of corruption.

He added that, as former chief government spokesman, Chishimba has evidence to prove his corruption claims against serving ministers.

According to the opposition leaders -- including United Party for National Democracy (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema, Movement for Multiparty for Democracy (MMD) leader Nevers Mumba, and People’s Party (PP) leader Mike Mulogoti -- the sophisticated fire engines are unneeded in less-developed parts of Zambia.

“Buying the fire engines at the cost of $1 million per truck is just too much. There are affordable fire engines in the range of $150,000 to $350,000 which the Zambian government could consider purchasing,” said Milupi.

Last week Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo denied he was involved in the procurement of the fire engines.