President Michael Sata has appointed and sworn-in two more MMD members of parliament to serve as deputy ministers in his government.
The President is empowered by the republican constitution to appoint members of the executive from among Members of Parliament regardless of political affiliation.
Those appointed are MMD’s Solwezi East Member of Parliament Richard Taima as deputy minister in the ministry of Commerce and Mkaika MMD parliamentarian David Phiri who will serve as deputy minister of tourism and Arts.
The appointments comes barely a day after MMD leader Nevers Mumba made another passionate appeal to the MMD parliamentarians currently in government to resign of face expulsion from the party.
The latest presidential appointments bring to ten the number of MMD parliamentarians serving in the PF government.
Other MMD deputy ministers witnessed the swearing in ceremony of colleagues. These are Patrick Chikusu, Nicholaus Banda, Keith Mukata and Elijah Muchima.
And president Sata said during the swearing-in ceremony that the PF government has a sufficient number of MPs in Parliament to run government.
The president however, stated that his decision to appoint opposition MPs is meant to enhance inclusiveness in the country s governance system.
President Sata hinted that the PF government would also be willing to work with another MMD Parliamentarians in filling up the vacancy in the ministry of energy following the resignation of MMD Lumezi Member of Parliament Isaac Banda.
The head of state teasingly wondered how the Mr. Banda could have bowed to pressure from MMD leader Nevers Mumba who at one point left his own party for the position of vice president which was dangled to him by late former president Levy Mwanawasa.
And speaking to journalists after the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Taima noted that as a parliamentarian he has a duty to serve the people of Zambia at all levels of governance.
Mr. Taima noted that he consulted widely before taking up the appointment and has since indicated that the people in his constituency have given him their blessings to serve in the PF government.
Meanwhile President Sata has also appointed Rose Katula and Shadrick Musichili as permanent secretaries for the ministry of defence and Copperbelt province respectively.
QFM
Game on!
this is tatol confusion does it means their kraal has not enough members in to appoint these potifolios
#2: The president however, stated that his decision to appoint opposition MPs is meant to enhance inclusiveness in the country%u2019s governance system. (I hope this answers your question).
let them know the powers the president can exercise coz kubeba nomba
Ukwa lishilu. I hope Nevers will be bold enough to expel these headless chickens.
A president who has run out of ideas….. Â Ukwa is really a distress to Zambia. We used to walk with our heads high up.. Â now one even feels ashamed to be Zambian
I am like you #2 on these appointments.
I need to be educated on these appointments, their time-tables, the specifications needed
and on whether I can put my name forward as an independent candidate.
Advice will be highly appreciated.
we appriciate the effot being made by the presdent to include opposition mps in the government.but frm the look of things his appointments is in bard faith there a lot of mps in pf and upnd but wy tugeting mmd alone it shows wat hi is up to something bard.the mps being apointed shuld be very careful if not they are helping pf to destroy mmd and after which they will be thron in the dust bin.remember the dont kubeba slogan.
#3 are u sure??? Still being duped??? Is MMD the only party with parliamentarians???? Just asking maaamaa………..
But why is Sata not appointing UPND MPs who are much more educsated than those MMDs with issues? He can also appoint Elias Chipimo, Kalusha Bwalya, Emmanuel Munaile, Modon Malitoli, inclusiveness.
Ten months in office but still appointing? Still Settling? Just asking maaaaaaamaaa…..
#9 even Douglas Chiwaya, Mbesuma, Mampi and Difficult or mayb a Mwine Mushi or Mfumu Chidano, ati nani nomba??? just adding to No.9’s list maaaamaaa!!!!!!!
this policy of appointing opposition MPs was an MMD policy. so they are getting a test of their own medicine, in future they will think before doing things. that said this policy is destructive by nature. it does not promote inclusiveness as MCS want to fool us. it poisons opposition,cripples democracy, rewards *****s and promote political prostitution. the citizens are the eventual loosers and politicians winners almost alwaysÂ
This is now lunacy at its stinkiest! If tyhere are still people out there who honestly think Ukwa CNP knows what he is doing then they need to take their heads to Chainama for a detox of excessive masalamusi! There has hardly been any month since Sata came to power that he has not held these appointment ceremonies, what a waste of time and resources. Sooner than later, the entire National Assembly will comprise only front bench, and this at a dear cost to the electorate he had promised a lean smaller and inexpensive government.
UPND mps cannot be appoint into our govt, Because its a tonga party that only serves SP interests not that of the nation! So why include them in the cabinet and moreover HH said he does not want his tonga MPs in the govt
Taima,can he be honest which people did he consult,level minded people can not advise him to accept the appointment except fools.Its just poverty and wanting to see a flag on your official car.If Taima had any morals could not accept to be used as a pawn by PF who are always blaming them to have mismanaged the affairs of the country.
How many ministers and deputy ministers does UKWA have? Arent they more than what he campaigned against? Is there any campaign promise that he is going to honor? Â
On the issue of appointing from the opposition parties. Isnt this the same UKWA who was against the famous PF rebel MPs who were appointed by RB?
Chiwamila Galu ku luma mbuzi.
If you can not beat them,simply join them.
Its very clear that Ukwa has no clear idea of taking Zambia anywhere. Instead of looking at real issues like how the slowing Global economy will affect Zambia especially the mining industry he his busy playing with Zambians by playing useless political games.
This monkey needs to be taking where it belongs in a CAGE
#3 YOU ARE WSTING YOUR TIME #2 SIANVELA CIZUNGU. NDIYE BANE BAMAFELUKA GRADE 7 BANTU BA CHONCHO.
When the MMD got frightened of the power with which PF was coming with, they appointed PF members of parliament in a bid to weaken the strongest opposition. History is about to repeat itself here, PF’s attempt to weaken the MMD is just confirmation enough that like their story, MMD is the next government in waiting!
Finish them stupid and impoverished opposition MMD MPs! Well done M.C.S and lets go for more mpaka basile!!!!!!!!
An apology of a government! At least Isaac Banda has a backbone to decide not to be associated with this pack of tribalists who can’t tell “dung from shit” and have no solid agenda for Zambia during their tenure, except to propagate tribalism and cronyism. All inclussive government – my foot! These are token positions (Deputy Ministers) to hoodwink Zambians into thinking ukwa runs a balanced cabinet. Time of reckoning is coming!!
A D/Minister is a bored chap. He doesn’t have anything to deputies. He is only a rumor monger for the President. The President can run the ministries as d/m.
Ukwa please we have one zambia to sefaeguard and nature. please your way to finish MMD will backfire on u. U have failed to run Zambia as your 90 days u promised. Now u have resorted to cause comfusion? why are u not appointing UPND MP’s????
TB Joshua when is God redeeming Zambia again?????
Number 10, the President cant appoint anyone from UPND because they are tribal. Besides, UPND has no track record of experience. While a few of the UPND MPs have sufficient educational qualification, they are schooled not educated. HH himself has never held an elective political office be at local government or parliamentary level. In addition UPND has never held a party convention in years. Anyway, it is the party for the Tongas and by the Tongas. The party has no chance of ruling the country as long as it remains confined to one province, the Tonga land. It is a Bantustan.
The President feels more comfortable to include MMD Parliamentarians than UPND, mind you most of them have worked with the President and he knows their capabilities. By the way UPND is more tribal than MMD, the only problem with MMD is corruption but I can tell you these men are credible and corrupt free. As to Nevers I challenge you to fire those members of Parliament. Let me remind you to morrow is your dateline.  Â
tit for tat!
It’s black and white. This will be the most expensive government, exploiting taxpayer’s money at the expense of the poor Zambians. You are overdoing it Mr, Zambians are now wondering whether you even have wise advisors or it’s one man’s show?Â
The people who put you into power are watching and waiting for results and not the cheap politics and talk!……..
PF is a tribal party for Bemba’s and monkey eaters. When Sata interviewed these new MP’s, I am sure he asked them if they would be willing to add Monkey Meat to their diet. What MMD and UPND need to do now is to advise their MP’s to infiltrate PF as spies. Let them agree to serve under PF but with a secret plan to destabilize PF from within. Know their corruption from within, know the diseases that are assailing Sata, know who Masebo is sleeping with now and other things of this nature. Pretend to vote with them in parliament on useless issues but surprise them on the big issues. This strategy can work. Nerver’s should be strategic in who he fires from MMD. Don’t fire in a PF stronghold (in Bembaland) fire in Eastern and Northwestern and form an election pact with UPND.
UKWA is heading for the drop end. Ka Kasai(perish 4 ever) u made a mistake to kill Mazoka (rip) maybe Zambia should now be an economic giant like South africa, Botswana and Angola. HH now is yo time but pliz be careful with the monkey cabinet, monkeys are good at poisioning pipo at braais.
People voted for change of politics, but I can’t see any change – Africa????
Shouldn’t MMD demand for a coalition government with PF looking at the number and rate of these appointments.
I thought all these guys, the so called politicians had the country at heart. And if what i thought was right, then i see no wrong if those guys work together for the betterment of our mother zambia. What i now think is that, these our zambian political parties are trying to safeguard the interests of their parties and not of our country. Coz it shouldn´t  be an issue if PF appoints MMD MPs to work together. Those appointed are people PF has seen to be capable of those ministries they are appointed to. If they appoint someone not capable it will gain be bwafya. Let´s work together guys, we only have One Zambia eeeeeh.
You can not understand not until you read between the lines. Look the president is trying to make sure that the number of MPs who will vote on the non approval of the 50 + 1 is increased so that he can remain in power in 2016 because he knows with the 50+1 he wouldnt pull through.So hence the appointments. Th e MMD Mps as you konw most of them are not principeld so he cant go for the UPND. But I assure you it will back fire he has made alot of blunders. These MMD MPs how sure are they that Sata cannot fire them Tommorrow?