THE Copperbelt Province is earmarked for a US$450 million investment in solar energy generation. And provincial permanent secretary Bright Nundwe has urged public officers in the province to reduce audit queries as those found wanting will be prosecuted. Meanwhile, Mr Nundwe has disclosed that the National Housing Authority (NHA) is expected to build 200 houses in each council in the province. He announced the development yesterday at the provincial development coordinating committee meeting.

Mr Nundwe said a Zambian-owned company which has partnered with international organisations from Germany, Israel, Colombia and Canada is expected to invest in the energy sector. He said another Chinese firm has written to his office intending to invest about US$3.8 billion in the mining sector. Mr Nundwe said the province has also received an investor from Dubai with prospects to invest in the information and communication technology sector. “We also have a company coming from Mozambique that wants to invest in transport and logistics,” he said. He commended NHA for its plans to build 200 houses in each council, describing the move as a great achievement.

Mr Nundwe urged civil servants to account for resources prudently. “I don’t want to see civil servants who want to pinch public funds, and for your own information, according to the Financial Management Act, any erring public officer will be arrested, it is not just the permanent secretaries who are accountable for public funds, any civil servant can be prosecuted,” Mr Nundwe said. Mr Nundwe also cautioned civil servants to reduce audit queries. “Every year we appear before the Public Accounts Committee to answer to what you have done wrongly as heads of department. “I have always told you how we sweat at PAC, we sweat from everywhere from the hair to the toes, this may sound comical, but it’s serious,” he said.