Africa-Press – Zambia. President Hakainde Hichilema has adopted a modest and economic way of traveling long distances. He travels with a commercial airliner and with a small entourage of less than 10 people, just himself, 2 ministers and a few other aides.
The President and two ministers fly first class, and the rest of the entourage in economy. The budget for return air tickets for all under $50,000. No imprest was used on his trip to New York, no parties, no shopping and only basic accommodation, food and transport.
The total cost of President Hichilema’s trip to New York can be approximately $80,000 or K1.3 Million. Now compare that to Edgar Lungus’s trip to New York in 2017, we know the figures because the cabinet office bank statement was leaked.
He chartered a private jet for $300,000, carried an entourage of over 100 people including relatives and friends, they spent K17 Million in just 3 days on luxury shopping in Manhattan , ship cruises, dinner dances and the most expensive accommodation in New York.
Remember when former former first Lady Esther Lungu went to get the expired fire trucks? She traveled with 28 people including maids and bedroom attendants, it cost the treasury almost K5 Million.
The difference between the way HH and Lungu spend money is stunning, it can’t be more clearer than this. It demonstrates how irresponsible and reckless ECL was with public funds.
And with President HH, we are actually able to see what he’s doing there, who he’s meeting with and the results of those meetings. Under Lungu there was an information blackout on what activities they were undertaking abroad because they knew Zambians would not approve of such activities.
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