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President Hakainde Hichilema has directed that all VX luxurious vehicles that were recently procured by government officials must be sold and that the money realised should be applied to other and more important ventures.
The Head of State objected to lavish lifestyles for high-ranking government officials and ordered the sale of all luxurious VX motor vehicles that have been procured for his ministries, parastatals and quasi-government heads.
Hichilema said the United Party for National Development (UPND) government was clear when it assumed the governance of the country, promising that it would ensure the prudent and thrift utilisation of public resources.
This directive was made on Thursday at the Presidential Delivery Unit workshop for government officials in Lusaka.
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“Extravagance is not part of us. We should change the culture. What I am seeing is that you are still applying to buy new VXs. What is wrong with the GX?
“Secretary to Cabinet, anyone who has bought VXs after we formed government…in Ministries, parastatals and quasi-government, local government, bring out those VX and put them out on the market for sale. Why do you need a 4 X 4? Let us save the money for more important ventures,” Hichilema said.
The Head of State said it was regrettable that some government officials were deviating from his vision and direction and were requesting for extravagant life styles by demanding that they be bought VX luxurious vehicles.
The Head of State stated that it was time for the new dawn government to go back to the drawing board and ensure that there was prudent utilization of public resources.
President Hichilema emphasised that priority for those serving in the UPND government should be about serving the people and not enriching themselves.
Reacting to the directive, former UPND Mbabala Member of Parliament, Ephraim Belemu said the head of State was fulfilling his commitment he made to Zambians.
“President Hichilema had made commitments to Zambians that he was going to be a thrift head of State who was not going to allow extravagance of his government at the expense of the people being governed.
“Having been together with President Hichilema for a long time in opposition, he understood that the head of State did not want extravagance in his government and was aptly implementing his vision of what Zambia should be,” he said in an interview.
Belemu said Cabinet Ministers, senior government officials and those that are surrounding President Hichilema should know that the head of State had a direction, vision and a way of ensuring that there was no extravagance in his administration.
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