“HH has nothing to do with BP pension fund”

13268259_10202034068969428_5725912226886591818_o13254667_10202034069649445_8208639482123374279_oThe UPND has rubbished claims that it’s leader Hakainde Hichiliema owns Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund which is at the center of a row with former British Petroleum workers over K457 million owed to them.

Yesterday, several former BP workers stormed the opposition leader’s residence in Lusaka, demanding to be paid K457 million in pension benefits.

The 92 workers issued a seven-day ultimatum to Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund, allegedly owned by Hichilema, to pay them the outstanding K457 million or they and their families will camp at his home until he meets their demands.

According to the group’s representative, Expendito Chipalo, who delivered the petition at the gate of Hichilema’s Kabulonga residence, the former BP worhers recently won the case in the Supreme Court which ordered Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund to settle their pension benefits but the company has not done so.

But UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka has defended Hichilema, saying the opposition leader has nothing to do with the issue as he neither owns nor is he a trustee of Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund.

“We can categorically state that Mr. Hakainde Hichiliema does not own, nor is he a trustee of, Saturnia Regna Pension Fund, as has been reported by various media outlets including ZNBC, the Daily Mail and the Daily Nation,” Katuka said in a statement made available to Zambian Eye.

“He has nothing to do with the fund and we find it offensive that individuals appear to be exploiting this case for political advantage in a desperate attempt to divert attention away from the PF’s poor track record in office.

“Furthermore, we understand that the trustees of the fund itself will be issuing a statement in due course to clarify their own position.

“The public media that reported this story without checking their facts must remember it is their duty to be non-partisan in their reporting.

“We are saddened that our opponents would rather talk rumour and gossip than policies and plans and suggest that the PF returns its focus to the billions of kwacha government currently owes unpaid Zambian pensioners as a matter of urgency.”

 

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