The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has challenged Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Miles Sampa to tell the nation the real cost of the by-elections that have been held this year.
FODEP Executive Director, MacDonald Chipenzi says the figures Mr. Sampa gave are unacceptable.
Mr Sampa has disclosed that government has so far spent K17 billion on by-elections after the K5 billion allocated was exhausted.
Mr. Chipenzi says government should revisit their calculations and give the nation the exact figures instead of giving wrong figures.
He says the Zambian people are tired of government officials battering them with lies.
He says people want to hear the truth and not lies.
Mr. Chipenzi says K7 billion has so far been spent on Feira by-election alone therefore it is not justifiable for the former Finance Deputy Minister to say K17 billion has been spent on all the four by-elections held so far this year.
He says the cost is expected to be above K20 billion.