North PS sorry over wastage of cement, timber

NORTHERN Province Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba yesterday apologised to the Public Accounts Committee for the wastage of 600 pockets of cement and timber materials for the construction of chiefs’ palaces.

According to the Auditor General report in October 2015, the provincial administration procured various building materials worth K671,865 for the construction of Chief Shimumbi’s palace and Chieftainess Chungu.

However, as of July 2017, 600 pockets of cement valued at K51, 000 had hardened due to poor storage rendering the expenditure wasteful as well as timber materials valued at K8, 130.

Mr Kalumba who was remorseful said he was sorry and regretted that 600 pockets of cement meant for the construction of chiefs’ palaces had gone to waste and pledged to put in place appropriate mechanisms to avoid such a reoccurrence.

He told the Committee that he had transferred some officers he described as bad eggs in the interest of serving the province better.

Mr Kalumba said he has been spending sleepless nights on the matter but that he was happy that a contractor was given a full contract to resume works on the two palaces.

“I am very sorry for the wasteful expenditure this is regrettable, it is very sad. I have taken appropriate measures to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.

Mr Kalumba said he had served for seven months in his position and that he was willing to learn and affirmed that he was capable.

UPND Kasempa MP Brenda Tambatamba said it was unfortunate that Mr Kalumba had come with a skeleton staff that was relatively new to help him exculpate himself.

Ms Tambatamba said it was important that such an institution had institutional memory to ensure smooth operations.

Committee chairperson, Howard Kunda advised the Permanent Secretary to ensure he worked on the concerns raised such as poor record keeping and to ensure he had few queries in the next Auditor General’s report or members of the committee would not be happy with him.

Mr Kunda urged controlling officers to familiarise themselves with the Public Finance Act and financial regulations.