QUESTIONABLE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL SALE WILL HAUNT ZAMBIANS’

THE questionable sale of Intercontinental Hotel in Livingstone at US$5.6 million when the property was worth over US$26 million must be given special attention during the privatisation inquiry, a PF official Lemmy Bwalya has said.

Mr Bwalya said the spirits of hundreds of pensioners who died a bitter death as a result of poverty would never rest until individuals who were responsible for their suffering were brought to book.

He said a commission of inquiry into privatisation should be expedited because it would bring several accusations against some leaders to rest.

Mr Bwalya said answers must be provided why a hotel worth $26 million was sold for $5.6 million.

He said the issue of privatisation would continue to haunt Zambians until answers were provided.

“The answers on privatisation just have to be provided otherwise the issue will never die. Zambians will never let go of this issue without understanding why property that belongs to them was sold cheaply,” said Mr Bwalya.

Earlier, a consortium of political parties said desperate attempts by UPND to shift attention from the privatisation scandal and plans to institute a commission of inquiry by raising non-issues against President Edgar Lungu will not work. Consortium spokesperson, Spuki Mulemwa said nothing would stop Zambians from seeking answers as to why a hotel worth US$26 million was sold for US$6 million.

Mr Mulemwa said the cries of suffering pensioners would not shift attention from the need to institute a commission of inquiry into privatisation of state-owned companies.