Luapula vows to follow the fuel money, wherever it may have gone

Luapula vows to follow the fuel money, wherever it may have gone

The Luapula Provincial Administration has announced it will soon begin auditing councils on how they have been using their K3.2 million annual Constituency Development Fund fuel allocation, a move widely interpreted as government finally asking the uncomfortable question: where exactly did all that fuel go?

Provincial Permanent Secretary Prudence Kangwa made the announcement during a courtesy call on Chief Mabumba of Mansa District, according to a statement issued on Sunday, adding a ceremonial backdrop to what sounded very much like an impending inspection tour.

Kangwa said councils across the province had been instructed to submit reports detailing how the fuel meant for feeder and community road works was used, and that these reports would not simply be admired from a distance.

“We asked all councils to submit what they have done with the fuel component, and we will be auditing them very soon to ensure the people are benefiting as intended,” she said, carefully avoiding mention of phrases like “empty fuel tanks” or “unexpected mileage.”

In the same briefing, Kangwa assured traditional leaders that government had tightened regulatory structures in the mining sector to curb illegal mining, suggesting that officials were now paying closer attention to holes in the ground as well as gaps in paperwork.

She also revealed that several stalled chiefs’ palace construction projects had been cancelled and re-procured after President Hakainde Hichilema expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of progress, which had apparently failed to match the urgency of royal housing needs.

“The procurement process is very advanced now so that these palaces can be completed in record time,” Kangwa said, implying that record time was anything faster than “eventually.”

On governance and security, Kangwa addressed reports that Chief Mabumba had allegedly received threats after expressing views during last year’s constitutional amendment consultations that differed from the Luapula Chiefs Council’s position. She assured traditional leaders that protection would be enhanced, while gently noting that official complaints tend to work better when they are officially reported.

“We encouraged everyone to freely submit even negative views during the consultations because that is democracy, but we would have preferred to receive an official report regarding the threats so that action can be taken,” she said.

Chief Mabumba welcomed the assurance, stressing that leadership required room for disagreement without fear.

“I expect criticism and I welcome it, as long as it is constructive and rooted in good faith. Diverse opinions should be respected without hostility,” he said, sounding like a man who had read both the Constitution and the comments section.

He added that some of the alleged threats were coming from former political cadres who had migrated from the previous ruling party and brought their habits with them, warning that such behaviour risked undermining the image of the current administration.

Chief Mabumba concluded by commending the Provincial Administration for maintaining steady communication and leadership on development programmes, while the province prepared for audits that may finally determine whether the fuel was used on roads, or simply enjoyed a very long and mysterious journey.

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