UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Vice president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba says the Zambia Intelligence State Security Services(ZSISS) tries to furnish the Presidency with credible information but that its data on many issues is overlooked by the Presidency.
In an interview, Dr. Mwamba who is popularly known as GBM said he has confidence in the country’s intelligence system as it always gives accurate information to the President but that typical of politicians, he overlooks their daily reports.
Reacting to United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) president Charles Chanda that there is no intelligence system in the country as things stand now, Dr Mwamba who resigned from the PF following a bitter quarrel with late Micheal Sata in 2013 over his (GBM’s) loyalty to Chief Chitimukulu said the intelligence department usually gives the correct information to the Presidency which is in most cases ignored or brushed aside.
He added that he had worked in Government before and that he had seen for himself how the intelligence system works.
“The intelligence system will always tell the sitting President the truth. But the Presidency itself is usually quiet and adamant and don’t follow the advise they are given from the intelligence. So, for me, my view is different. I have been Minister before and I have seen reports where they will advise you correctly, but we as politicians tend to ignore that or brush it aside. So, it is not the intelligence to be blamed but the Presidency. The intelligence gives the Presidency correct information and what is pertaining on the ground. I have a lot of confidence in the intelligence and they are very accurate in their reporting, except that politicians in most cases always want to ignore the advise from them. And that is how come most Presidents find themselves in situation they find themselves in, like being removed from power, you understand, ” Dr. Mwamba stated.

But Mr Chanda has a different opinion on the Zambian Intelligence system.

” Zambia’s intelligence is one of the waste in the world because our intelligence is used for political gains. President Kaunda managed to plant the intelligence everywhere, in markets, taverns and among prostitutes there were OPs. They managed to get the information and ensured that certain things were intercepted. Where has our intelligence gone today that they don’t even know who has done what? Then we must close the Red Brick and put up a school there if people cannot give us the information. The President is supposed to know about these things before they go out there, so we cannot just be finger pointing and anticipating that it is going to be miracle money every day and it will be found in Zanaco since there is no one to tell us,” Mr. Chanda stated in reference to the Social Cash Transfer that was reported missing but miraculously found in a Zanaco bank in an known account.
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