Heed Zambia’s Attorney General’s Chambers legal opinion Rueben Lupupa Lifuka prods Government
By Rainbow 🌈 Newspaper News
Thursday, 1st December, 2022
GOVERNMENT has been advised to be wary and take seriously the legal opinion that comes from the Zambia’s Attorney General’s Chambers.
Governance activist Rueben Lupupa Lifuka believes that the situation where, a Chinese company, ZAMWORTH, is now demanding US$25 million, in unpaid compounded interest for the construction of a hospital and support structures in Chinsali, Muchinga Province can never occur, if Government listened to the advice from the Attorney General’s chambers.
Mr. Lifuka is of the view that the law is very clear that when it comes to accumulation of interest, on government contracts, that has to be terminated by government itself.
Lifuka has argued that the law stipulates that government CANNOT enter in to construction contracts where the government evaluation department DOES NOT get involved in the evaluation of the construction works of State infrastructure.
Lifuka agrees with government that compound interest cannot be added to a contract government itself gives to a private firm.
Lifuka says this notwithstanding the delays in paying the interest provided for in a contract.
The governance activist has however cautioned government from entering into such contracts as it did with ZAMWORTH that has now resorted to sueing the State.
Lifuka is encouraging the State to always follow the legal advice coming from the Attorney General’s chambers.
Lifuka is of the view that this is why technocrats exist in the said government institutions.
Lifuka says technocrats in government institutions must thus be respected when they give advice.
