SECRET REPORT ANGERS PENSIONERS
DESTITUTE and angry pensioners have demanded to know why the Government has kept the Saturnia forensic audit report a secret when they were in courts of law demanding their benefits while many of their colleagues have died without being paid.
Pensioners angered by the mystry shrouding the Saturnia forensic report are now planning to march to State House to protest, if their demand for transparency is not met.
“Saturnia came from the privatisation of Anglo America and happened at the same time as CEC which the Government has now resolved because of serious irregularities, why have they not dealt with our matter?” Richard Banda representing BP pensioners has said.
“We want to know the content of the report to determine if Saturnia told the Government the truth. There is very serious conflict of interest which has led to suffering and destitution of pensioners,” he said. Last week Kabwe Central Member of Parliament Tutwa Ngulube said in an interview the privatisation of mines and the irregularities at Saturnia Regna Pension Fund which have rendered most retirees destitute were the skeletons in Hakainde Hichilema’s closet that would prevent him from leading the country.
Mr. Ngulube said the UPND was feeling his political venom and that was why the party was accusing him of frequenting Mr. Hichilema’s house at night so that President Edgar Lungu would be compelled to think that he was betraying the party. Mr. Ngulube said Mr. Hichilema’s silence to the injustices he had inflicted on the Zambians was too much to ignore but that this was the cancer chewing his every chance of leading this country.
He said people have been asking for an explanation over his source of wealth but that they had not been given any satisfactory answer and yet was in the forefront condemning Government for not paying retirees and had even failed to explain the mischief at Saturnia.
“There is a skeleton called privatisation in his closet. Retirees from BP Zambia and all those who were swindled by Saturnia Regna trace their predicament to HH. People have asked questions over the privatisation and the Saturnia issue but he is quiet.
“If he is innocent, why is he quiet? Where did he get his wealth from? Before privatisation, HH was a poor man but soon after the process, he has become a rich man. Where did he get his wealth from?” Mr. Ngulube asked.
And Mr. Ngulube has challenged the UPND to produce video footage if its allegations that he was frequenting Mr. Hichilema’s house.
“All those games they are trying to play are all about Bill 10. We can’t even entertain their propaganda. The truth of the matter is that they are aware that as a champion of Bill 10, before it goes on the floor, they can attack me as much as they can so that I am dispirited. They want the president to start doubting me but the President knows who I am.
“Even if I was to meet Mr Hichilema, what were we going to discuss? He is a perennial loser. You can only say that a political party is ready to form Government when you see people from the ruling party defecting to the opposition.
“I have challenged them to show us evidence since they are saying I have been frequenting his house. I am sure that he has CCTV cameras and guards at his house and if that is true, the evidence is there to prove.
“They are just feeling my punch. Remember HH had incited the youth to go and protest and when musicians backtracked, he was very disappointed. When I issued that statement that police must deal ruthlessly with anyone who would engage in an illegal protest, it pricked his heart and this is why they are after me. They are out to embarrass me,” Mr Ngulube said.