President Mwanawasa has removed from office Southern province minister Joseph Mulyata.
Dr Mwanawasa said in his letter to Mr Mulyata that he has no option but to remove him from office following his arrest by the Anti Corruption Commission and subsequent appearance in court on December 17th, 2007.
“I am informed that you have finally been arrested and must have appeared in court for plea on 17th December, 2007. Under the circumstances, and assuming that the Anti Corruption Commission are now serious, I regret that I have no option but remove you as Provincial Minister pending the outcome of those criminal proceedings,” President Mwanawasa said in his letter to Mr Mulyata.
This is contained in a press statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today issued by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations John Musukuma.
Former Southern province minister Joseph Mulyata has confirmed his dismissal from office by President Mwanawasa.
Mr Mulyata has since thanked President Mwanawasa for the privilege accorded him to serve in government.
He confirmed having receoved a fax message indicating his dismissal from his position as Southern province minister.
Mr Mulyata says his conscience is clear because he did not order the release of an overloaded bus belonging to prominent Lusaka businessman Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, at a check point in Livingstone some time last year.
The former provincial minister who is making arrangements to vacate the ministerial house in the tourist capital, said he has since written to President Mwanawasa to thank him for affording him an opportunity to serve in government.
Mr Mulyata is alleged to have abused the authority of his office when he ordered the Road Development Agency, RDA, to release Mr Mwamba’s overloaded bus last year which matter is now in court.
Meanwhile, President Levy Mwanawasa has handed over 18 vehicles to the ministry of health in Eastern province.
Presenting the Landcruiser station wagon vehicles at a mammoth rally at Chiutika basic school in Mambwe district in Eastern province this afternoon, Dr Mwanawasa also disclosed that government will soon buy ambulances for each constituency in the country.
Dr Mwanawasa said wants to make health facilities accessible and as close to the people as possible.
The President appealed to health authorities in Eastern province to ensure that the vehicles are used for the intended purpose.
And President Mwanawasa said government has blacklisted Tomorrow Investment, a Zambian owned construction company from undertaking any government project because of a trail of shoddy performance.
Dr Mwanawasa said the government has disappointed government on various projects through poor workmanship and failure to complete projects within the stipulated timeframes.
At the same rally, health minister Brain Chituwo said government has made tremendous progress in making Zambia a measles free zone.
Dr Chituwo also revealed that Mambwe district performed the best among all the 72 districts in the country in the national malaria control programme.
The health minister said the district scored 85 per cent in the distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets with an average of three nets per household.
Happy new to all bloggers am back and hope you had a nice holiday like me. Going to the topic above, am tempted to say this is hypocrisy being exhibited by LPM. What about Katele and Mabenge, their cases are in court just like Malyata. But again, those two are elected officials and Malyata was not. Maybe I should just say good job LPM and future ministers must learn to resign before you sack them. I hope you withdraw Malyata from NCC and ask him to refund the first allowance he collected.
Happy new year to you too chanda. Personally i think its about time this fellow was shown the door. We cant have chaps moving from court to a government office every time. Let Mulyata sort out his differences with the law and then maybe he can be reappointed.
The grovelling failed to do the magic this time.
Mr INDEE BWANA finally kisses the dust and should now realise that not even LPM can protect him from answering to his real employers(tax payers).
Finally the axe has fallen! This is a big lesson for all those who still holding to power though having committeed crimes. Its unfortunate for KAKA and MIMA because they are untouchables. However its maybe wise to not that they dont hold any govt position. Dr. LPM he said at one time his govt doesnt interfere with courts proceedings. Kaka was once Finance Minister. Mabenga was once defence minister the two dont hold any office unless the MMD manifesto can be changed KAKA and MIMA will be walk…
ing freely. I dont hate them but no one is above the law. These are kinds of gestures we want. May I note the that the idea of having abulances in everyone constituency is a good idea and a very good starting point. However we need also such good reasoning other areas i.e Firebridget.
LPM should have acted the same way with T. Findley without waiting. This sets a precedent to others still in office. People should not guess what calculus LPM is using to fire or retain.
It is a shame that it took mass outcry and a concerted campaign by The Post to get this scalp. Had the normally docile Zambians reverted to type, LPM would have look the other way and let Mulyata continue. He had to go because he became an embarrassment to the government. Anyhow, it’s a good day for democracy.
Just buying a lot of ambulances without put an ambulance service in place will be just a waste of money. There needs to be a structure in place to run emergency services, i.e. fire, ambulance and rescue services. Even a small one in each region, headed by someone. Giving an ambulance to Thompson Hospital in Luanshya is only ever going to be a temporary solution. Running an ambulance service is not just a matter of having a any driver. You need paramedics to man them.
Cont’d from 9 … There is also the question of who pays for fuel. You also need to maintain the vehicles. All too often our politicians just buy these things as a political gesture. They never think things through. These ambulances will all be in a car grave yard within three years. Mr. President, put a coherent structure in place first.
#8,9, 10 Chitapankwa, Tell us now when you were kid did you start by jumping or you made the first step. Jealousy critism is not nice make complementies where necessary. The govt is doing the best to setup a working structure to save lives. Hi Maice why all these critism. Be positive instead why cant you give constructive advice to those in office. This will be benefit your brothers and sisters in Malole. Dont you want them to enjoy same services like you are having in Bulaya.
In some countries you have a clinic per 3000 residents. The next hospital is also within reach. Every hospital has a research department and its part of the university. We can do it we should just get the education and take charge.
Well done Mr president for the dismissal of Mulyata he should learn not to hold power or authorities in his hands.
I am sure lpm has a job for him in one of our foreign missions, this is politics.
Chitapankwa & easy make very good sense about ambulances.There first is need for institutional infrastructure to be in place for such an endevour to work in the first place. And yes, that structure ought to include other essential services like Fire agency or department, as well as provision of qualified support personnell.Thank you for your blogs which i find both informative and entertaining. I’m new but hopefully will keep up with all the interesting dialogue. Later!
#11 Easy. It is unfortunate that you do not like analytical thought. You always seem to interpret it as unjustified criticism. I was not criticizing anyone, but rather giving advice. Those of us who are old enough to remember will tell you that Kaunda import thousands of cars from Australia to set up a state run taxi service. Within three years there were huge yards all over the country where these things were rusting away.
Good call LPM! Mulyata thought he was untouchable, but the axe has fallen. I have a position open for him, I need someone to be kneeling for me each time I get out my house. Mulyata, we told you that days are numbered. Do you even have a house to vacate to because the govt wants its house for the in-coming Minister. Now, the law should move in quickly to prosecute him, and if he is found guilty, please send him to Katombola Reformatory so that he can learn good manners. Once again, good call LPM
cont’d from 16 … It was a disastrous waste of money. Of course at the time Zambia was doing well and most Zambians were ill informed, so no one made a fuss. Easy my friend, constructive criticism is healthy and sycophancy is what has got Africa into its present state. These ambulances will not save anyone’s life if they have no fuel. When I called the police once, they told me they had no fuel, so they could not come. One does not need a PhD to see that we need people to run things properly
Zamcab, they were called if memory servs me well.And iagree that was one huge white elephant under the auspices of UBZ(the bus company)then ran as a parastatal with a KK appointed GM.
Ba Chitapankwa and others, peace be upon you. I can’t go back to trace whoever pointed out that Ambulances need to be manned by paramedics, I humbly want to say that way brilliant thought. In Zambia, they employ drivers with a “PSV” or 21 yrs experience in driving. There are many those people, everywhere. We never try to consider the idea behind each project or program. Even those UBZ-ZamCab where brilliant ideas of KK’s era, we destroyed ourselves. Maybe we can learn something the Cubans.
Well done LPM? but i wonder why he has not done the same to Dr katele kalumba?
Buying ambulaces is a good idea. But what I know about Government is that it does not service it vehicles. I see lots of GRZ vehicles on stones in private garages with just simple ailments for ages. They end up being a piece of cake for mechanic. Hope this changes.
#21 Eastern Power
Difference is that Katele was elected by the party whereas Mulyata was appointed by chuchu. Well done chuchu.
Yes, buying ambulances is bad idea They will just end up in garages, no parts or fuel. It shows lack of system thinking on the part of his team. First baby step will be to set up structures that would allow constituencies buy their own ambulances. Do you give people fish or teach them how to fish? What works in the long term. Am afraid LPM did this donation for himself and his ego so that he looks good to the people and does not deserve any praise here.
Good stance by Levy. There is however a lot more clensing to be done both in the party and govt.
Where are the great debaters like Thoecratician?
King D, shut up!! Great Threocratician my foot, these boys suffer from a deficeincy called intellectual inadequacy, which exhibits itself in pipo with low articulative abilities, no names called here.
Learn to discern great minds without anyone reminding you of any. Good on you mate.
They ambulance service can be managed by district councils. In rich countries councils are multi- million($USD) organisations serving the local people. fire, police, hospitals, public transport and recreational facilities can also be managed by district councils. This can create a lot of employment which means more tax base for the gov’t which can be pumped back to the poor.
26 Muntuza
If you dont know the answer to the question (Where is Thoe – great debater/mind), Simple dont answer the question, or say you dont know where he is. Ha ha ha, you make me laugh.
KING DAVID
It seems, your other ID is infact ‘The great theocratician’ and your are trying to fool yourself, how daft!
29. mala
If you look back at the postings, on other topics. you will notice that there is no way on earth theo and i can be the same person. otherwise you will be saying citizen and i are the same. Citizen, theo and I have had great debates here. I may not agree with them most of the time, but I have high regard for them both. Citizen has just suprised me of late because he is stooping low on certain things. Citizen keep up that fire and stop stooping low. Theo where are you?
Citizen bring back the nice facts, I enjoy learning from both you and theo. And sharing my viewpoints on numerous topics.
Way to go LPM, but you don’t have to “assume that ACC are NOW serious” on Mulyata’s case. Infact, you should have fired the chap a long time ago even before ACC moved in.
Finally you have done the right thing and for that I say WELL DONE!!
Second grovelling Mpompo your days also at defence are numbered!!!
what about katele and mibenge?
Am I sure Mulyata is cursing himself for grovelling to chuchu for foko (free)!!!
#30 KING DAVID
I have heard you, I am humbled I will raise the my debates
Thank you
Sure Malyata did not lick Levy’s boot wet enough! Good call and only shows that no amount of kneeling will save the corrupt, yes not even kneeling for Jesus Christ! Katele, Mabenga and Findlay are not Government appointees but, elected Party Cadres. Their fate lies in the hands of the MMD NEC, which they are a central part of! Shame.
#37 Hold on right there, dont mention the Lord’s name in vain? You know very well that when you kneel to Jesus Christ you get the results.
interesting that LPM should highlight the lack of seriousness in the works of the ACC.it is a very serious comment from a head of state and possibly reflects how he has personally viewed their performance.LPM has acted decisively and most Zambians, even his harshest critics seem impressed!!
Hmmmm Bakateka its a job well done but not the way i expected. Katele alias the witchdoctor is still a free man. Mike Mabenga is also on the loose despite the highest court finding him with a case to answer. These two guys unfortunately are still your pals. In any case selective prosecutions should stop. One more thing avoid making comments on cases against brought against the purpoted plunderers and instead let the court decide. I personaly expect Let the rule of law take its course.
Undertaker(40)it would be worrying if Katele occupied an appointed position in Govt. the fact that the positions he holds are elected which the president should not ideally have no control over is testament itself LPM doesn’t want to work with this guy.we should be looking and questioning the people that elected the Chiengi Wizard as MMD Nat. Secretary and MP becoz it wasn’t LPM!Mulyata was appointed and when he messed up he was more or less promptly dis-appointed a prerogative of the president
as MMD Nat.Sec,LPM has NO CHOICE but to try and work with this guy!!When the party conference elected Katele,LPM was put in an awkward position but he has so far exercised his authority and not included him among his cabinet or senior govt appointments.What say you to this, bwana Undertaker ??
What has happened to Mr. Mulyata should be a lesson to all, that, when one is given a leadership position, he/she must not think they have power to do anything they feel like coz sooner or later there deeds will have to be paid or answered for. Your can ask former president Taylor.
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