THE Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has attributed the delay in the construction of chiefs’ palaces across the country to design issues, determination of sites and logistical challenges. Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS), the contractor engaged to construct 80 palaces, to appear before the committee in order to explain the delayed construction. The latest Auditor General’s report revealed that the ministry commenced the construction of 109 chiefs’ palaces in 88 districts, to be financed through the Constituency Development Funds (CDF), and a provision of K446,666,772 was made. In November 2023, the ministry engaged ZCS for the construction of 80 chiefs’ palaces in seven provinces at a total cost of K311,001,359,...
