President Edgar Lungu has defended the position of Deputy Minister at State House stating that it has always been in existence has not been created as a new position in his government as it has.
And the President has directed the Minister of Health Dr Joseph Kasonde to investigate the alleged shortage of medical drugs in some health centres in the country.
President Lungu clarified that he has not created a new position at state house as alleged by some sections of the media but has only appointed an office bearer in an already existing office.
The position of Deputy Minister at State House is said to have been created under the MMD regime by late second republican President Frederick Chiluba.
President Lungu recently nominated Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata as Member of Parliament and appointed him as deputy Minister for state house.
The Head of State assured Mr. Sata of his support during his work at state house and urged him to help bring sanity in Lusaka.
Mr Lungu urged the former Lusaka Mayor not to pay attention to critics but to extend his culture of work hard to State House which he had exhibited at the local authority and in Lusaka’s Chawama constituency.
President Lungu was speaking after swearing in former Barclays Bank Managing Director Margaret Mwanakatwe as Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Joseph Katema as Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Mulenga Sata as Deputy Minister at state house and Boniface Chimbwali as Luapula Province Permanent Secretary.
The President has also swore in Major David Muma as Zambia Air Force Deputy Commander and Kakoma Kanganja as Deputy Inspector General of Police.
President Lungu cautioned the newly sworn in defence and security personnel not to undermine their superiors and to respect the constitution of Zambia.
Mr Lungu expressed confidence in the abilities of Dr Katema and Mrs Mwanakatwe to discharge the functions of their offices because of their competencies in various fields.
The President stressed that Dr. Katema was the best Minister to handle the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs and warned him to stay away from succession wrangles.
He said Margaret Mwanakatwe is placed at Ministry of Commerce because of her experience and qualification in field of commerce and industry as she has worked at various high positions locally and abroad.
The President said the new Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Mr. Chimbwali has a big challenge ahead of him as the people of Luapula are expectant of good service delivery.
The Head of State wondered how medicines in some health centres could be in short supply as the country has enough stocks of drugs.
President Lungu has since directed the Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde to investigate the cause of the shortage of drugs in clinics and that those responsible should be dealt with accordingly.
But why are you appointing people at a snail’s pace? Do it quick and get back to work. Alaaa!
Mulenga Sata is just following RDA which he will be in charge of.
A SIGN OF HAVING MENTALLY CHALLENGED BRAINS!
Mulenga Sata to expedite harvesting from RDA before the 2016 general elections.
More dormant positions may be resuscitated to appease many more that lent a hand! In this short period we are yet to see a more bloated government!
For sure Nkandu Luo must be given a different portfolio to avoid fighting with the elders and our origin.
The are all bandits . how can things change if the some people just changing party’s and positions ? why would state house need a minster? this country we are separating very soon
At the rate he is moving, it will take him over 40 days 2 complete the cabinet, deputy ministers n provincial ministers as if he has 5 years to rule. He has no sense of urgency and likely a lot of carcass will remain unattended to
I await the appointment of Kambwili, Lubinda, Fr Bwalya, G.S, Yaluma, Mukanga, Kabanshi, Luo-etal
Joseph Katema as Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs? Where is gorgeous Kandu Luo? Kikikikikikikiki.
@ MM LE GRAND GRZ is not like a farming Block where you just work up and ask someone to start cleaning a chicken Run and feed some Kalulu’s, you need to think about someone who is going to Help GRZ deliver. where are u as at now, you sound like someone who is in shang’ombo and have learnt something in Civics and you think u know current affairs.
When campaigning you need to have a tentative or shadow cabinet. People are developing BPs by waiting in limbo.
@Umwina Zambia Inkoko, You are very big fooool! I pity you because you’ve a brain of a chicken. Don’t just shoot down my comment just because you a beneficiary of these liars. Just crawl back in that hole you came from and switch yourself. !diot!
I meant to say wake up.
Has Willie Nsanda been appointed yet, his Lungu’s right hand man..it should be a deliberate move if he hasn’t appointed him yet.
Mr President, it’s a fact, there are shortages of drugs not ‘alleged’ shortages. What is Dr Kasonde going to investigate when everybody knows that drugs are not being supplied by GRZ while ministers and their relatives are taken SA?
Valid Point! Lip service iyi, looks good now.
What will Presido say in 8 months time from today, coz be rest assured,the Top Boys & Girls, will be evacuated to medical facilities abroad, while POVO, continue to Die shouting, PF! PF! PF!!
There are shortages of drugs even in the UK
Bufi!! The U.K Government does NOT evacuate it’s ill officials to die in foreign hospitals,- U.T.H included.
A nation that 50 years after Independence, still has its top leaders scampering to foreign medical facilities, @ the slightest hint of a headache should be ashamed to
1. Dare call themselves Independent
2. Call themselves Leaders.
SHAME!!!
Which UK Naimwe?
Where were you last year when the NHS was fighting with a family who wanted to evacuate their son to Poland in search of better medical facilities which are not available in the UK?
In the end the NHS were forced to pay for the cost of treating that boy who was dying slowly in UK hospitals. Within two weeks in Poland the boy could even sit and play with his family…..
So what if UK suffers a shortage of drugs????
Must we always imitating what UK does?
Baonawile fye amatebela.
You low expectation ignoramus!
CORRUPTLY MADE APPOINTMENTS! LUNGU IS CORRUPT AND A CROOK! IT’S A PAY BACK TIME FOR LUNGU TO THE SATA FAMILY. I EVEN THINK THAT LUNGU WANTS TO PROP UP MULENGA TO STAND AS PF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE NEXT YEAR 2016, SINCE LUNGU’S HEALTH WILL CHALLENGE HIM A GREAT DEAL. WATCH THE DRAMA UNFOLDING!
Mulenga Sata and Lungu are first cousins: Mulenga’s mother and Lungu’s other are sisters.
Check out the language:
[quote]The Head of State assured Mr. Sata of his support during his work at state house and urged him to help bring sanity in Lusaka.
[end quote]
Nobody was promised support by State House but him!
@11,Truth even me I have seen the game here. These two are trying to play the game SMARTLY so tht either of them can be a candidate for 2016.
But we will catch them they will not escape.
In all fairness,Nsanda,Kambwili,Lubinda were supposed to be appointed second after the veep.These guys worked hard for PF to survive.
Lolela tatulapwisha….!
We still have Defence to come, Works and Supply, Mines, Agriculture etc.. Inch into shingi…
Bakula fola fey nga Masuku.
NO, they are part of PF. let them campaign with no foresight of unwarranted positions. No more employment due to friendship.
So far so good the Presidents appointments areon merit not wako ni wako. Please clean-up the cartel by Kolopa.com formula. What is the delay Chenda, Shamenda, kasolo must be chased not fired without delay or notice, but please keep Kambwili & Sampa they were just rubber stamps for Scott’s cartel.
Since when have cabinet appointments stopped development and progression. Permanent Secretaries are still functional. A minister is a Board Chairperson, while the permanent secretary is the CEO. Do we need to re-educate those in the diaspora in Civics and social studies?
Let move on.
Congrats to Hon. Mulenga Sata…. I think he is technically the Deputy President. Bo Ma Inonge is ceremonial…
So, because Chiluba had that position it needs to be reinstated? Come on people, lets be serious. And Mulenga, what makes you think Lusaka will be sanitized now that you are at State house when you couldn’t do that as Mayor? So, cleaning up Lusaka City can only happen from State House and not the City Council?
Try starting with Street Vendors who do not even have toilets. I’m inclined to agree that this is ECL’s way of prepping Mule for 2016.
Investigate drug shortages?What are you talking about.You are now politicking.There are no drugs in in the country period.