Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Chileshe Mulenga has revealed that there is a lot of abuse of public resources among civil servants in the province.
Dr. Mulenga has told Breeze News that from more than four cases that have been taken before court involving abuse of public money, none of the civil servants has been acquitted.
He was reacting to Grand Coalition Provincial Chairperson, Maxson Nkhoma who has alleged that civil servants in Eastern Province are now working in fear because of too many suspensions.
Mr. Nkhoma, who has petitioned the Secretary to the Cabinet through the Public Service Division Commission to intervene in the matter, charged that most of the suspensions are being made on flimsy grounds.
But Dr. Mulenga says that there is no joy or malice on the suspensions that are slapped on erring officers, stating that he has the responsibility to protect public funds from abuse.
He explained that as principal officer, he will need to account for the money when he appears before PAC, the Public Accounts Committee if he allows abuse of public resources.
The permanent secretary expressed disappointment that Mr. Nkhoma, who is also CSPR Provincial Coordinator would condemn measures that are aimed at protecting public money from abuse.