We did not give Lungu any land – Inyatsi Roads

INYATSI Roads Zambia Limited has refuted reports that it gave President Edgar Lungu a piece of land in Swaziland as the company says that all its contracts in Zambia were awarded on merit.

Company head of business, Jeff Chama said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the only land he knew President Lungu owned in Swaziland was a gift from King Mswati III and the matter was a private one between the two leaders.

Mr Chama said it was only coincidental that the firm had operations in Zambia and Swaziland, as it also had

presence in other Southern African countries namely; Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique.

He said Inyatsi executive chairperson Michelo Shakantu was a Zambian business executive based in Swaziland and that he did not accompany President Lungu on his State visit to that country last year.

Mr Chama said President Lungu found Mr Shakantu in that country and the two only met when Mr Shakantu paid a courtesy call on the Head of State during his visit.

“It was only appropriate that he called on President Lungu when he was in that country on a State visit because he is a Zambian and he had to exhibit respect before the President,” he said.

He said the company was awarded all its Zambian contracts on merit due to its track record on the continent.

Mr Chama revealed that the contract to upgrade the 79.80 kilometres Ndola-Mufulira-Mukambo Roads was awarded to the firm by the Road Development Agency (RDA) in September 2014 before President Lungu took office.

He said President Lungu commissioned the project, which is expected to cost K701, 794,400.59, in July last year.

“Inyatsi is building roads everywhere and all the contracts that we have in Zambia were achieved on merit, after the due tendering processes,” he said.

Mr Chama said Inyatsi was not treated any different by Government from any another contractor in Zambia.