President Edgar Lungu says he has no apologies to anyone for appointing young people to serve in his administration.
President Lungu also said that he will not restrict himself to appointing people only from the civil service and those inclined to the ruling PF.
He has since pledged to appoint more women and more young people in his administration.
President Lungu was speaking this morning at State House when he swore in Mr. Likando Kalaluka as Attorney General and Mr Chalwe Lombe as Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Head of State has also conferred the status of state counsel on Attorney General Mr. Kalaluka.
President Edgar Lungu has since advised Mr Kalaluka no to be partisan in his duties.
He said he is confident that Mr. Kalaluka will diligently execute his duties despite the Law Association of Zambia raising doubts over his appointment.
‘You are all aware that these two are young men going by the commentaries made in respect of the new State Counsel Mr Kalaluka applies to the new Permanent Secretary, I must say that I have no apologies to make to anyone for appointing these two young men to these high offices of our country,’ President Lungu said.
‘I have the privilege of dong head hunting where the law challenges me or burden me with the task of appointing people to these high offices. Am a member of the legal fraternity and I know this gentleman as a professional colleague. Beyond that, nothing, not even once has he represented me, not even at the height of the squabbles in PF contrary to what people thought,’ he said.
President Lungu added, ‘There is nothing wrong in being young and a Zambian. What we need to do for those that think are older and wiser is to assist the young Zambians settle down in their appointments and do their best, let’s not pit spanners in their works.’
‘So the challenge am putting to you colleagues in the legal fraternity is that when this gentleman was your Secretary in the Council of the Law Association of Zambia, you didn’t doubt him, when I was looked around, I noised around all over and I thought he was the best person and that is my judgment and am sure he will be equal to the task.’
He continued, ‘But if the colleagues will stand in your way, that would be unfortunate but I would like to believe that whatever criticism was in good faith. As you get to the top, you will find that the top is very rosy, am there myself. Some will come and give you advice, they are older, they have been there, they are wiser, take it. They didn’t have the fortune of having been appointed to this high office during their days so take it with a pinch of salt, analyze it.’
President Lungu said the Attorney General should not be partisan.
‘Your job is to advice cabinet, Government, you are our lawyer. So don’t take partisan interests. If you go through the history of this country, you are not the only young lawyer, your predecessor was equal in age more or less at the time he was appointed. I remember George Chilupe was young when he was appointed. I will appoint people from outside or inside the civil service but I believe all of them have been equal to the task,’ he said.
President Lungu said he will not be restricted in his appointments to political party considerations and civil service saying he is yet to appoint a few more young people.
On the new Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Mr Lungu said he is confident Mr Chalwe will excel.
‘He was Director Political at the Ministry and he is career civil servant and I believe he is equal to the task. He is a career civil service.’
He urged the new Permanent Secretary to focus on the finalization of the Diaspora policy.
‘Zambians living in the Diaspora want to participate in governance, elections, investments and it is important we help them through his policy.’
He revealed that he is being helped by a lot of old politicians to run government.
He said all Zambians should work together as a team.
‘Let’s not underrate the young stars including the women, bwana Vice President, help me identify more women to appoint.
This nigga is still making appointments?damn!
ECL should have waited for the outcome of Nchito’s tribunal before making further appointments to that position.
Awesome Mr. President! You are painstakingly executing your job in best national interest. You are indisputably on course. Aberrationists want y9ur attention in a spitit of diverting you. Leave those bitter sole losers wiggle with their myopia and tunnel vision crusades anchored on incorrigible hatred, jealous, sectarian causes and sabotage against a progressive national state. They are pockets of inconsequential entertainers free to pander in our thriving democracy.
Is it imperative to lecture to onlookers when one is employing own assistants?
President Lungu comes out as someone with low self esteem. He is not confident. His language is un-presidential. He does not need to justify any of his appointment. The other day he was claiming civil servants are out there to set him up for failure. Just do the job Mr.President. We know you have no vision, but hey, just try.
Young people?? I don’t see any young one there.
KK was just 40 yrs old when he became president.
Kebby Musokotwane was 38 as prime minister
Jesus 33 yrs old when was crucified, today he the greatest leader that ever walked the earth.
@1.1 Ichalo Lifupa…. – Which position? As I see it, the subject position of the tribunal is nowhere here.
This is definitely following Sata’s vision- for every other tribe given an appointment, a position should be found to be given to a northerner. Have you ever seen appointments being made without a northerner? That was Sata’s real vision for Zambia.
There is no departure from the former standard 2(Sata).Every day is just sworing friends and relatives. I have not seen him (LUNGU)address the Nation on the state of affairs and explain his vision how he intends to tuckle all the Economic problem including climate change. Maybe there is someone who can tell me which policy and philosophical direction is lungu taking our country.
Zambians learn to see goodness and positiveness. If all you see in negativeness, that’s what you will get!
Well done Chalwe. A well deserved appointment of a career and hardworking civil servant.
Congratulations Chalwe. A well deserved appointment from within the Civil Service.
Iwe Bonzo is the nation or world. He appointed an attorney General not DPP. From today onwards we shall ignore you and Wanzelu, you post without even reading the article. Reason why Zambia lags behind. People with myopic reading skills like yourself.
Viva Edith Nawakwi.
There is a lot of nonsense on on this fora. Why mention Jesus here? Let EL do his job.
Way to go Mr President!
Abena Sido Mark, you really take too long to cool off! You are such a moron! All you see in the President is negativity eish, please get a life!!
congrates brother Lombo, my family and I are very happy to see how far the Lord is lefting you. Berlin people are happy too.
Great for Likando Kalaluka and all young Zambians who are itching for a new era for the youth to take over the mantle of pushing Zambia forward..
It looks like his understanding of the duties of the president is about firing and appointing new people. Why cant he do some real work?
@James,
Yes, you are right, it’s more than 3 months since he became president and all he is doing is ‘Depart and Arrive’ at the airport followed by swearing-in.
This is really good and an inspiration to the youth! Those who are not happy can get the rope and go to the tree and hang. To you young fellows, please don’t disappoint the President!
Viva ECL
Unfortunately other young stars are busy hurling insults and hurting at the expense of developing the country. Shame indeed.
Now its true imiti ikula a mpanga, Go mr. president , continue appointing young, consider Namwala District also for positions of DAO and DC respectively.
Ohh, big mistake, Likando Kalaluka is Nchito’s nephew. Actually Likando was brought up by Nchito, educated by Nchito. Mmembe is aware of this.
@7 Tutu – Nchito is 45 years old. Likando Kalaluka graduated in 2001 making him to be around but not younger than 36. How could Nchito bring up someone who’s almost his own age? Or are you one of those rumour-mongers.
Really? I didnt know that Nchito is my uncle. FYI, Likando is my brother! Shame of you hater. You think you will stop God’s will by your cheat talk. Watch as see the wonders of the Lord at work. You will grime with envy until you choke.
Foolish you. Google the name and the details of his father will also come up. The father was also likando kalaluka and a distinguished lawyer. I wonder how Nchito Comes in the equation.
Don’t you think they are background checks before any appointment?
You can’t do without the old timers.
and DONT apologize to anybody sir!!!! let them continue talking as they dream of being in your position! TULEYA!
@PWI, commenting like a fu.
@The London Eye, shut up , depart and arrive is in the job description. Please disappear for good.
@Victor,
Keep on waffling, you forgot one more in his job description, the swearing-in ritual. Please don’t disappear, stick around and have a good day.
Congrats Chalwe you are a hard working person even during your days at Zambian Embassy in Sweden
In my opinion though, such top seats require thorough vetting age notwitstanding. Such presidential directives are considered dictatorial in the 21st century. However, if he is working within the constitution, then there is nobody to blame except the constitution itself. If the men are academically qualified with no past distorted records, let them go on. But Zambia is one of the few remaining countries in africa with such one-man-show powers. Agitate for a new constitution, unprovocatively speaking.
Yes,we young ones need jobs and thank God for nat appointing some ancient remains
Whether or not Likando is related to Nchito one thing we are sure of is that he is related to Inonge the V/President all from Barotseland by decent. So ECL is busy working out around the restoration of the defunct BA’64 a formula that will not work! The message between lines is very loud and clear Mr President.IT IS TOO LATE TO MEND SICHABA.
What a rubbish post seemingly from a deranged person!
EL my president ……New faces indeed ,,Great Moves.Some clans think they own Zambia. Tired of fake old forks who got involved in destroying my Country Zambia.
EL my president ……New faces indeed ,,Great Moves. Some clans think they own Zambia. Tired of fake old forks who got involved in destroying my Country Zambia.
Appoint a bemba ati from one region, appoint a Ngoni ati wako ni wako, appoint a Lozi ati ni bululu waba Inonge – better to ignore these empty tins.
My interest in the Attorney General is that he and his legal team should handle the Mutembo tribunal professionally and intelligently on our behalf so that he is not given unnecessary loop holes, these guys survive by technicalities as you saw when he took over Mmembe’s contempt case ati the law gives me powers atase. But of course if he is innocent the law will clear him, and so be it we will accept the verdict.
your excellency continue appointing the one ones to these position in the civil service,please also look at the provincial administration copperbelt province there are a number of qualified chartered accountants who are royal to the party.please consider them as well as a PF party IN THE COPPERBELT we will happy if our people as considered as well.
i conqur with the previous copperbelt PF Member kaputula,please your excellency consider copperbelt as well we have many young and dinamic chartered accountants serving at Provincial administration and loyal to the party.
“….the top is very rosy, am there myself.” Lungu.
It is interesting to note that you are having it rosy, when the poor are getting poorer. That is the way to go in leadership these days.
Ba Chalwe Congratulations that is how it should be. Aim higher as you mature. We are proud of you. One of us finally taking office of such high level. Once more all the best
Quite alright there are some youthful appointments, but this does not go far enough. There are several inept ministers in government such as Chikwanda and Shamenda to mention but a few.
Chikwanda has been the most useless minister this country has ever seen
These gutys look like they bought their suits and ties from the same shop. Kikikiki!
What about your Veep? appoint a younger person Mr.President.We are tired of recycling.Thanks for leaving Daniel Munkombwe alone.Apa pena mwalilasa.
Congratulations to Chalwe Lombe….a position well-deserved…experienced civil servant and diplomat….this is your season and may God grant you wisdom to execute this assignment with excellence. Good move Mr. President
He still speaks unnecessarily and wonders a lot in his speeach. Keep short and to the point.
All appointments will judged by results and besides have one year to proof themselves.
These guys who bow to ka Lungu as if he is emperor Hirohito, make me very uneasy. To the point of even feeling embarrassed on their behalf. A little head nod can suffice. not that ku njenjemela crap. come on.
WHY DOES MR PRESISENT ALWAYS HAS TO JUSTIFY EVERYTHING HE DOES. TODAY HIS JUSTIFYING HIMSELF , YESTERDAY THE CIVIL SERVANTS ARE OUT TO GET HIM, SOMEONE IS BEWICTHING HIM, HIS NOT SICK. HIS NEVER LOOKS CONFIDENT, MUMBLES WHEN HE TALKS. WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON, MR PRESIDENT? YOU REALY MAKE US WONDER….
WHY DOES MR PRESISENT ALWAYS HAS TO JUSTIFY EVERYTHING HE DOES. TODAY HIS JUSTIFYING HIMSELF , YESTERDAY THE CIVIL SERVANTS ARE OUT TO GET HIM, SOMEONE IS BEWICTHING HIM, HIS NOT SICK. HIS NEVER LOOKS CONFIDENT, MUMBLES WHEN HE TALKS. WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON, MR PRESIDENT? YOU REALY MAKE US WONDER….WHEN YOU COME COME OUT TO MAKE A SPEECH PLEASE FOR ONCE ADDRESS ISSUES
The following are facts:
[1] That ECL is Zambia’s current republican president
[2] That HH is the current UPND party opposition leader.
[3] That no one on this earth including all bloggers is all-good and all-knowing.
[4] That PF party revived tribalism,regionalism and nepotism in 2011.
[5] That Zambian presidents are usually elected and put into power by the uninformally-educated.
[6] That All former Zambian presidents, the current one, some presidential aspirants and most politicians worship other deities(Illuminati members).
mama Mirriam, ha ha ha! that’s a doozy!
Lungu is always complaining each time he speaks and how can he inspire the nation when he is always low? He is so demotivating. No wonder the economy is sinking.
President Lazy is truly an empty tin who is not confident in his position, very uninspiring and very contradictory in his speech…does he have to justify his appointment and what’s a young person in our country? If someone is qualified and has the experience and qualifications age should not come into question only someone like him who sees it as issue would bring it up.
Its really laughable for this man to talk of the legal fraternity when he was barred from it for misappropriating his client’s money.
Why is the President lecturing the legal fraternity? The Law Association did their job and parliament and EL chose to ignore them. Of course LAZ has to accept this Kalaluka now but EL must not lecture them because he and Kalaluka are under LAZ supervision as lawyers even while they are eating our money. I hear this Kalaluka is a bit dull and not well respected so he will fit in well in government.
Typical of id!ots always wanting to call others dull as though they are most intelligent! Sam Chungu, you retard!