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Zambia: By-Elections Budget Runs Out, Says Lawmaker

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Zambia: By-Elections Budget Runs Out, Says Lawmaker All Africa

By NSE Udoh

Chipangali Movement for Multi-party Democracy Member of Parliament Vincent Mwale says the allocation for by-elections has already been exhausted as the ruling Patriotic Front government dips into the country's reserves to fund wasteful elections.

Mwale said there were still more by-elections coming wondering where the money would come from.

"It is sad to learn that Lukulu and Kapiri by-elections cost us Kr11m and that Feira will cost us an additional Kr7.7m. These 3 by-elections will in total cost our treasury Kr18.7m yet only Kr 4m was the total budget for by-election in the 2013 budget," he said.

"Remember we already had several others and we have Solwezi, Kafulafuta, Mkushi and Chipata in the pipeline, there are hundreds of ward by-elections going on too."

Mwale, who is Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee chairperson said the cost for the travel of the President and his other campaign members made the figure prohibitive.

"Let us not forget other costs associated with the President, his Vice and Ministers logistics as they travel around for campaigns. At this rate we can't tell how much more the treasury will be drained to meet this expenditure by the end of the year."

Mwale said, "Today we have the highest number of ministers in the history of this country which is at a great cost, how do Zambians buy the idea of living within our means when the government does not know how to do so?"

The incessant by-election have been a sticky point for the majority of Zambians but the Patriotic Front government is not slowing down as they hope to reach their 106 target of MPs in parliament to wipe out any possible opposition for decisions in the house.

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