“Payback CEEC loans before I spill the beans” Tayali warns ministers

Out spoken Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali has threatened to spill the beans if some prominent figures drag their feet in paying back the loans obtained from the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).

Mr. Tayali says those who benefited from the CEEC loans including some cabinet ministers have allegedly yet settled their loans to the Commission.

Mr. Tayali, who named some ‘defaulting beneficiaries’ says they have got capacity to pay back the loans they got but allegedly have not done so.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Tayali was speaking at a press briefing held at Lusaka hotel, today.

He regretted that the unpaid loans were putting the Commission in an awkward situation to disburse more loans to new applicants.

He said every Zambia should benefit from government’s policy of empowering people hence the need for the ‘viable defaulters’ to pay back the loans to the Commission so that others too could benefit.

The Citizens Economic Act No. 9 of 2006 is principally aimed at uplifting the targeted citizens who have suffered marginalization by levelling the playing field and raise the citizens to a position where they can effectively participate in the national economy.

Recently, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe disclosed that her ministry which administers CEEC disbursed over K49. 3 million in form of loans in 2013 and 2014.
Ms. Mwanakatwe told parliament that the recovery rate of the loans has improved from 40 percent in 2013 to 80 percent today.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tayali has commended the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, Emerine Kabanshi for successfully administering the Social cash transfers which he said is a useful instrument tool in development.
The Zambian Voice Chief said so many people have benefited from the Cash especially in rural areas and that the fund is being utilized for the intended purposes.

Currently, there are 69 districts in Zambia that where being scaled up for the SCT programme whose principal goal is to reduce extreme poverty in the country.

Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Josephine Limaata disclosed recently that Government increased funding from K17.5 million in 2013 to K150 million last year.
ZANIS