The North-western Province Council of Elders says the appointment of Dawson Kafwaya as Provincial Minister by President Edgar Lungu should not be seen as a ploy to weaken the opposition.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Solwezi today, Council of Elders chairperson, Lucas Chikoti, said Mr Kafwaya’s appointment is a demonstration that president Lungu wants to run an inclusive government.
Mr Chikoti said his organisation welcomes the appointment and is hopeful that this is the only way of uniting the country.
He said for a long time the people of North-western Province have been crying to have a representative who will be a direct link to the President.
Mr Chikoti called on all well-meaning people in the province to embrace President Lungu’s decision and work with Mr Kafwaya in fostering development in the province.
He pledged his organisation’s support to the new Provincial Minister in order for him to excel in driving the province forward.
It is true that appointing a minister from the opposition is a good thing and can unity the nation but why cant the president ask for permission from the said party? Why appoint him behind the party the appointed minister is coming from?
What we have seen so far is that these appointed ministers don’t behave professionally especially when it comes to debates in parliament. Immediately they change and shift their support to the appointing authority. That is not building or uniting the nation. Heritage Party suffered a lot and lost everything after the late President Mwanawasa appointed Heritage Party MPs and that was the end of the Party and in recent times, we have seen what has happened to MMD
Why ask for permission? And besides if permission was sought, HH would refuse. For HH, everything is about jealousy.
There is no such law anywhere in Zambia that makes the replicant president to ask for permission from HH and his minion to appoint a Zambia citizen – sorry. Lungi has executive orders to appoint you without your father or wife’s consent!!
The question is which manifesto is that minister going to be pondering upon? When did this minister begun to consider the manifesto? Why is he in another party in the first place? After delivering development how is this minister going to stand and oppose the PF in Solwezi and convince people not to vote for PF? Can he be trusted to campaign for opposition? Such people have always been divided in mind. He must be lucky to be like Tetamashimba. He must be careful and UPND must begin to look for a replacement for 2016 in Solwezi Central.
This move is a two way street depending on which perspective makes you sleep better. I agree with Joe Mwansa that perhaps the president should have engaged the opposition in a cordial manner rather hijack one of theirs when relations are already strained. Lungu has a choice either to be a ka-president by doing what he just did or a statesman by engaging the opposition. A good father will always try to engage his children when there’s a problem. Lungu is a president of all Zambians and his leadership should be as such.
He has lot of people in pf why from opposition
Good move his Ex Hon Edgar C. Lungu did and this should be commended by all well meaning Zambian…….
From your friends in Livingstone 2015
Why hasn’t Lungu Nominated somebody else from North-Western other than resorting to poaching – are there no other capable people from the province?
A nomination of another person would have increased the number of representatives from the NW, as opposed to causing another by-election!
Yes thats very good council of elders. Work with the ruling party.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
Clearly the president’s action confirms that the two PF MPs in the province are useless hence his looking to UPND. On the whole, we hope those Kaondes in Solwezi will be happy that one of their own is now the provincial minister.
This is what we need to hear more from progressive Zambians who want the country to move forward. Let’s encourage when something good is done, every province needs equal representation and access to the President and if appointing someone from the opposition is what leads to this, then so be it. Anyone is at liberty to refuse this but it is usually done to the detriment of the people who need this support. When it comes to national development, the needs of the masses should always trump those of the party. Put Zambia first and we can go far.
This is meant to weaken the opposition UPND with disdain, period! Why did he not nominate Mulusa as he’s done Chikwanda? After all Mulusa supported his campaign. Really appointing ministers from outside parliament will give a whiff of fresh breath.
Rubbish! Why didnt he appoint Ngimbu because he is already Pf Mp? Just designed to cause confusion in opposition parties. Just a cosmetic move. There is nothing Pf will do in NW. Those so called council of elders are just a bunch of useless and irrelevant old pipo who have done nothing for NWP. They disgust me a great deal.
Surely Lungu is looking at 2016. Look Southern and North Western he has quickly appointed provincial ministers to appeals voters in these regions leaving other regions with still no appointments. Why the rush for NW and SP after all he received very little votes from these regions. It does not need an intelligent person to read between the lines. Will it yield results, well 2016 will tell. They key person in PF is Chikwanda. He works behind the scene and I am sure was instrumental in convincing Rupiah Banda to come to the aid of PF when things were going touch for campaigns. After all RB and Chikwanda are from the same generation of politicians.