THE Lusaka City Council has slapped a six-month suspension on PF Silwiza ward councillor Chikutano Nkhoma and ordered him to pay the U$2,000 beer debt he incurred while in Addis Ababa on an exchange programme.
The resolution, which is in accordance with the provisions of section 84 (5) of the local government Act cap 281, was made at a special ad hoc meeting held in the LCC chamber on Friday.
Ethiopian authorities recently detained the Lusaka PF councillor after he failed to settle a US$2,000 (K10 million) alcohol bill he accumulated within four days at Addis Ababa’s Sheraton Hotel.
BUSTED: PF councillor Nkhoma follows proceedings during the full Lusaka City Council meeting at the Civic Centre on Friday – Picture by Salim Dawood
And the Zambian travelling party lodged at Sheraton Hotel.
But when the team was scheduled to check out four days later, Nkhoma was discovered to have accumulated a US$2,000 bill on a cocktail of drinks from the bar and room service fridge.
And fearing to miss the flight back home, his colleagues left him in the hands of hotel security and headed for the Bole International Airport.
Yesterday’s closed-door meeting was held to deliberate and approve of the findings of an ad hoc committee, led by councillor Humphrey Kapapula, tasked to recommend the penalties to be handed down to Nkhoma after he was given a chance to explain his side of the story.
In the report, the committee chairperson reported that Nkhoma, while in Addis Ababa failed to settle a bill of US$2000 for refreshments from the bar and room service fridge he incurred while at Sheraton Hotel and that bill was eventually settled by Addis Ababa City Council.
“He (Nkhoma) actually did confirm that he was accommodated at the Sheraton Hotel in Room 379 by the host city and thanked them for having accorded Lusaka City Council delegation with preferential (VIP) treatment throughout their stay in Addis Ababa,” the report stated.
“He further acknowledged having accrued a bill of US$2,000 but said he did not know the bill for refreshments from the room service fridge and cocktail bar had to be settled by him as they had been drinking throughout their stay on account of the host and wherever they went, the host had been paying for drinks and thought that even the bill would be settled by the host” the report further stated.
“Members were also informed that the mayor of the city of Addis Ababa had also written a letter to Lusaka City Council expressing their displeasure on his conduct.”
The councillors that were split on the penalties recommended by the ad hoc committee finally decided to approve the committee’s findings after over three hours of debate.
And deputy mayor of Lusaka, Theresa Funga, said in an interview shortly after the sitting that the behaviour exhibited by Nkhoma was embarrassing.
Funga advised councillors to ensure they exhibit exemplary behaviour whenever abroad as they represented the country and their families.
“It is really embarrassing and I am disappointed, to say the least. I think councillors must realise that when they are out there, they are on official or private duties. They are not just representing themselves, but the country where they come from and their families,” she said.
Funga also disclosed that the government would soon pay off the US$2000 to their sister council.
“That is taxpayers money, so it must be paid back. I also think this will serve as a lesson to all councillors that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in future,” said Funga.