All public service workers who have applied to contest for political office in the August 11th general elections have been directed to immediately disengage from the Civil Service.
In a statement released to the media by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, the directive which has been made by President Edgar Lungu is intended to protect the integrity and impartiality of the Civil Service.
Below is the full statement
President Lungu Guides Civil Servants
MPIKA (Sunday, March 13, 2016)—State House has announced that all public service workers who have applied to contest for political office in the August 11, 2016 general elections must immediately disengage from the Civil Service.
The directive by His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu President of the Republic of Zambia is intended to protect the integrity and impartiality of the Civil Service as it implements government programmes before, during and after the elections.
The directive covers all public service workers employed directly in the Civil Service and those in parastatals.
The President is desirous to see an impartial and professional Civil Service devoid of the undue political pressures. The President has emphasised that the current political season ahead of the polls must not be used by anyone to bring confusion in the Civil Service
Issued by:
AMOS CHANDA
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
(PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS)
STATE HOUSE
A leap of faith indeed. I’d keep my day job rather than join the toxic platform.
Mr Press Release guy. How about being honest about the videos hitting the air about the uncivilised brutality on the ground. A sad day for Zed. Less politics more attention to human rights, tolerance and the right to support whomever you like. It is disgusting and ED should be leading not politicking his way to his next drink break.
Agony is when you resign and you are not adopted……. hahahah
It is not the visionless Edgar who as decided…it is the law…but in this country law and order has broken down….Frank Bwalya, Amos Chanda and Kaiser Zulu are busy ordering top Civil Servants to to do this and that and the silly top guys are complying…
@katondo boys aka Manweli Mwamba where are you? Your job as high commissioner to South Africa is over
But what if Emmanuel Mwamba refuses to quit, like he already stated that new constitution allows him?
No need for Lungu to give directives on this, the constitution is very clear on this issue. But I’m sure EL wants to look busy.
In the same verne, all GRZ motor vehicles should be parked, and no allowances should be paid to any GRZ official on political campaigns.
@Nostradamus
you on the point!, but mwamba is lungu`s boss, therefore its lungu who must resgin
In Zambia it is surprising that most laws are laws until the president says so. There is a law that does not allow civil servants to engage in politics and if they want to do so, they sould resign. And there are consequences for breach of this law. People of zambia let us let the law rule. Rule of law is what develops countries not individuals. But it takes the whole presidence to enforce a law.
Just yesterday Chama said they is no need to resign …..
Mwamba must have offended the boss…..there is no honour amongst crooks!
Have read the article sir? Your comment is totally disconnected to the above topic.
A directive has been issued and must put paid all those comments on our dear Katondo Boys. I wondered where he had disappeared to! Hope he is not joining UPND, can’t wait for the much touted defection!
I just hope that Emanuel Mwamba has seen this. In any case, the law is there concerning civil servants in this matter. Does it have to take a directive from Chagwa for people to act? Why has the Electoral Commission not come out to clarify beforehand?
Elo lwanya lwanya mwana mayo lekeni ncito tumone nga muka savouvr. Some of u ve mis calculated everything we shall see pano tuli bambi malaba amalofwa
Ups to Kadansa. Hope this isn’t DUI & that his people will not defy him .
Someone tell His Excellence Emmanuel Mwamba that he cannot make an omelette and still keep his egg. He has so much misdirected energy. I am sure ECL wouldn’t want to have such a busybody near him; that is why he happily shunted him into foreign service
What are the punitive measures to taken against those (Emmanuel Mwamba) who have applied it are not ready to resign?
Simple, summary dismissal
They are to be quitted. ha ha ha ha
ALL BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TARGET EMANUEL MWAMBA. LOL THIS GOVERNMENT IS TRULY VINDICTIVE. THIS IS ALL RB TRUING TO EXERT HIS INFLUENCE TO GO AFTER HIS ENERMIES AND HAVE HIS CANDIDATES ADOPTED. THIS WHOLE STATEMENT IS MEANT TO PUT MWAMBA ON THE SPOT, DISCREDIT HIM AND PROMOTE DICKSON JERE RB BOY. MWAMBA IS TARGET 1 FOR RB AND HIS COHORT LUNGU.
But this is NOT new!
Shooting everywhere
Simply failing to fire Emmanuel Mwamba, I guess they are scared he can open the Pandora box.
In simple terms Lungu has no control of people working under him
What is political office? Even ward and Sections?
Congratulations for a job well done! The choice is between executive and legislative functions is not easy. However, for sanity to prevail in the executive ranks, the decision is courageous and long overdue. The appearance of civil servants at interview time always proved confusing and quite callous.
Dr Kasonde you seem confused what are you wanting to say?
@ Ray Romano
Our dear senile Doc is trying to say that he is proud of the President parroting Article of the PF Constitution and downgrading it to mere “directive” in the interest of Democracy and Rule of Law.
This Epileptic Cruel Liar ( ECL) is playing double standards. He is like someone who gives food in one hand and poison in the other. What about Disease Centres ( DCs) who are campaigning openly for him. Is that not politics? Are they not getting government salaries and using government resources? I believe the man who said he is an hypocrite playing humble got it right. Shame ECL will not cheat Zambians. He cant reach that level of knowing the dividing line between party activities and government for smooth running of government . KK would say wa cepa sana. “SAVE ZAMBIA’
Do you want him to fire them? If you don’t know Ecl is indirectly addressing those tongas with senior positions in govt and are busy campaigning for upnd.
We of the never never, you have made my day. Kikikikiki; now an innocent question; does Esther Lungu have to resign also as first lady because she is using government resources to campaign for her husband?
Emmanuel Mwamba aka Katondo boys vanishes…he is busy contemplating whether to resign or just join UPND
If he resigns Katondo boys(Emmanuel Mwamba ) should be charged for abuse of office.Did he apply for leave of absence when he filed in his nomination for his home constituency Matero?
There is nothing to discuss here. The Electoral Commission selects who qualifies for elections.
Ati lwanya na pwii
what is difference between ministers and appointed diplomats… for example ..is Kambwili not allowed to stand…. I think one needs to define who the civil sevant is…i dont see any difference
the constitution is clear on this point. If u are a civil servant or working for a parastatal, u need to resipn. So my friend Emmanuel Mwamba, decide fast whether to join politics or remain High Commissioner where ur bread is assured. Am even surprised u wanj to become an mp. U are better off where u are. Take this as advice from a colleagtue who loves u from the bottom of my heart.
To answer your question, ministers are appointed from among the mps. And someone badly needs to be minister.
if he was in ecl program he would have been adopted as an mp then minister,so his going for an mp is no guarantee that he will be appointed minister.
The right person to secure PF’s victory in Matero is Cllr Chrispin Kabole. He has the qualification and he is the PF’s Constituency chairperson. So ba Mwamba leave one who has mobilised Matero. Stay as High Commisioner plse.
Are you Chrispin Kabole?
It a deliberate move by Emanuel. If ECL tries to touch him, he may as well join Miles and form a formidable team in matero. Yaba kikikikikikikikik
Hurreeeh!, Katondo Boys aka Emmanuel Mwamba has defected to DF for Kasama central adoption.
The point is, civil servants need to stay out of political contests until their resignation letters are officially submitted. In the recent past, that was not clearly stated. As a result, certain candidates were misusing civil service platforms to launch political campaigns.
Please even Levy asked Dora Siliya to return home when she was Ambassador to Egypt once she declared her interest to serve in Petauke