FIRE TRUCKS SCANDAL:

By Fulman Mukobeko

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says it has concluded its investigations into the infamous Fire Truck scandal and has found that there is no case to prosecute as the procurement process was followed.

Southern Africa Network against Corruption (SANAC) Executive Director Gregory Chifire said all the corruption cases that took place in the previous government and those occurring now must be investigated thoroughly, and culprits brought to book.

Mr. Chifire’s statement was supported by Governance Expert Reuben Lifuka, who said that there should be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.

Then opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President and now Republican Vice President Mutale Nalumango charged that the fraudulent procurement of 42 fire trucks at USD 42 million was just the tip of the iceberg regarding how corrupt the PF Government under Edgar Lungu was.

She said the exaggerated, overpriced, and expensive project reeked of serious corruption and showed how the PF-led Government was hell-bent on lining their own pockets at the expense of the Zambian people. Ms. Nalumango mentioned that Grandview International, which supplied the 42 fire fighting engines, was owned by Bokani Soko, a very close friend of Mr. Lungu.

But speaking in an interview with The Scoop, ACC Spokesperson Timothy Moono said investigations into the fire trucks scandal were completed and the commission found nothing fishy in the procurement process.

“Investigations had been conducted on that issue. We were looking at the procurement and whether there was corruption in the manner the tender was awarded. The tender process had no problems,” he said.

Mr. Moono added, “The delivery of the fire trucks was the issue. There are two aspects here. The process to get a contract to supply had no corruption. The disappointment of the members of the public was about what was delivered. They questioned whether those trucks that were delivered were worth the amount of money indicated that they cost.”