Lusaka – 19th May 2020.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Lusaka province deputy chairperson, Grace Chivube has called for a forensic audit of the donations that have been made towards the COVID-19 fight so far.
In an exclusive interview this morning, Ms Chivube wondered why the Government had not owned up on its promise to publish the donations that had been made towards the novel coronavirus as per the Vice President Inonge Wina’s directive, on Monday.
Ms Chivube says she was privy to the cries of the people from the grassroots whom she said were wondering how the donations that were being received from well-wishers and cooperating partners on a daily basis were being used.
“People have been seeing a lot of donations on both TV and Facebook but they have been wondering where the donations are being taken. Most people, most of whom cannot afford to buy face masks and other essentials needed for the fight against coronavirus have been wondering what criteria the Government has been using in distributing the donated items,” she said.
She wondered how the Government hoped to combat the COVID-19, late alone actualize the thorough hand washing requirement when there was intermittent load-shedding and erratic water supply for most rural communities and shanty towns.
“How can the fight against COVID-19 be won when we have prolonged hours of load shedding and erratic water supply? The Government has been telling us to wash our hands regularly but there is no water. The sad thing is that we have been told that most of the donations are being distributed to PF sympathizers,” she said.
Ms Chivube said that it was imperative that Government furnished the general citizenry with information on how the donations that numbers in billions of kwacha were being used to avoid public discontent.
“Now, because those of us who are on the ground with the people do not know how the COVID donations are being distributed , we need to know who the beneficiaries of the donations are to avoid public discontent,” observed Chivube.
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