Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Harry Kalaba (MP) has warned Zambian diplomats serving in Foreign Missions around the world that Government will not hesitate to re-call diplomats who are underperforming.
And Hon. Kalaba has demanded order in his Ministry and called on diplomats to stay focused, disciplined and follow the channel of command.
Speaking when the Minister addressed Diplomats at the London Mission at Zambia House, the Minister said Government has now moved from Political to Economic diplomacy and diplomats should endeavour to explain the various economic activities the Zambian government was engaged in as a country to the countries they are accredited to for the development of Zambia.
Hon. Kalaba said there was massive economic opportunities in the United Kingdom and implored diplomats in London to tap into the UK economic opportunities that Zambia could benefit from.
“As you are aware we are spending colossal sums of money to maintain the mission here in London. What this means is that every quarter, all of us we’ll have to work full throttle to account for the works that we have been assigned to here in the UK. Those who will fail to make the mark will have to be re-called,” he said.
Hon. Kalaba told the diplomats that it was incumbent upon each of the officers to present quarterly reports and each officer should have to account for the roles assigned to them at the mission respectively.
The Minister said that said President Edgar Chagwa Lungu wanted to see that the resources being spent on maintaining Foreign Missions was justified by the quality of output from diplomats.
He said President Edgar Lungu has directed that every quarter, he should be presented with quarterly reports on what benefits the country has accrued from various Zambian embassies across the global.
The Minister said there is a lot Zambia is expecting from the missions owing to government’s investments and diplomats should take advantage of the opportunities to market the country abroad.
And Hon. Kalaba said Agriculture is a key avenue for future investment and growth in Zambia adding that Agriculture, will be the main driver and focus while aiming to reduce dependency on copper and rain-fed agri- culture.
Meanwhile Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom His Excellency Mr. Muyeba Chikonde assured Hon. Kalaba of hard work.
“We take this directive seriously. We would like to assure you of our commitment to remain relevant in the realisation of Government’s goal of developing our country,” he said.
The High Commissioner also told Hon. Kalaba that they were a lot of queries from Zambians in the UK on the diaspora policy and dual citizenship.
In response, the Minister said that the diaspora policy and dual citizenship issues remain the key interest to Government adding that Government had reached an advanced stage on the two critical subjects and would soon communicate with various embassies on the forward.
The Minister also said that following President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s pronouncement to establish a career Foreign Service in Zambia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started conscripting the Foreign Service bill in order for the Ministry to be focused and streamline operations and to give clear direction and standard of a career foreign service.
The Foreign Service bill is a constitutional document that will form policy on the implementation and management of career Foreign Service. The Bill, among other things, require that career diplomats are appointed into the Foreign Service. It will also sum up the structure, conduct and the means by which the country will conduct diplomacy and international relations.
Well how do you describe an underperforming diplomats ? One who doesn’t do enough fund raisings to be self sufficient ?
If there is no tangible benchmark to use, might as well send the right people and not anyone who has little to no credentials as diplomats.
I have a PhD
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Chilaizya, Litiya get your suitcases ready!
More cadres for the diplomatic jobs.
the Zambian embassy in London cant even afford toilet paper.
Recall all of them; they are wasting our money since they were posted as cadres
What about underperforming illegal government like pf? The fruit does not fall fall too far from the tree
What yardstick does he use?
Sara’s relatives.
Meanawasa’s relatives.
Chiluba’ relatives.
Hey, what is Mumba Kapumpa SC doing now?
It’s 3 years now and we keep hearing the same ditty from Kalaba.
Not Chiluba’s relatives! Bushe kulandilamo fye without facts. These things started with Mwanawasa. Do you recall something called Mwanawasa family tree? Before that this never significantly existed.
I thought it is standard that underperforming workers are discipled or fired. Is Kalaba just learning this now? In any case we have cadres or relatives as diplomats with no clue at all what diplomacy is all about.
Kalaba we know you have never been a public servant so etiquette may have failed you. You don’t deliver such messages in public you do so behind closed doors. Second have you set objectives with your ambassadors to bench mark your expectations or could be just saying something for the sake of?
There re terms of references that govern diplomatic missions and these are internationally accepted norms. But if you wake up to unilaterally change ToR’s without other partners’ involvement, then their anticipation will be at odds with yours. Dont just follow the overzealous Emmanuel Mwamba’s conduct in RSA and take it as govt’s position.
The true faces behind social media defence of the ruling party
All these lumpens you see in the picture above are either Bemba or Nyanjas! Ala, awe sure bakoswe na bakolwe bakwa good old Queen Elizabeth bali buchibe ku bulaya uko!
I support idea of career diplomats because there are a lot of unqualified personnel in Embassies appointed by relatives
An example is the middleman we have in RSA with sticky fingers!!
The woman in Sweden so called Christian lady.. always out off office due to over weight and laziness.
All she does is searching for Zambians traveling back home in order for her to send items. Being late for meetings is one of her daily routine. Honestly, what a representative!!!!
Perhaps ka Mushota can do better after all, she has a PhD and don’t need too much money you move from Scotland to London. What do you think bloggers?
Start with Emmanuel mwamba…. He is just busy politicking..
That is called hard working by pf standards. Am sure other countries with normality are shocked with the level of politicking Mwamba is able to engage in.
And also that Lady cynithia jangulo in Brazil who used to be late President MCS’s receptionist at farmers house is one of the people that are wasting tax payers money.
Wait a minute!!! If dual citizenship has not yet been finalised, how did Tasila Lungu (President Lungu’s daughter) obviously a USA citizen manage to stand for elections as a Chawama councillor? Is she Zambian or American?