President Edgar Lungu has defended his appointment of Margaret Mwanakatwe as Minister of Finance stating that she is capable of overseeing the country’s economy.
President Lungu said he has confidence that Mrs. Mwanakatwe is equal to the task and will steer the country’s economy and meet the expectations of the market and the Zambian people.
ZANIS reports that the Head of State said this at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport shortly before departure for a two day state visit to Rwanda.
President Lungu said it is unfortunate that people have gone to the extent of causing turbulences in the market in order to show that Mrs. Mwanakatwe is not the right person for the portfolio of Minister of Finance.
President Lungu said people criticized his own election and cast doubt about his capacity to government the country.
He said though not everyone agrees with his decisions and choice of ministers, people will have to accept and respect his judgement.
The President urged Mrs. Mwanakatwe to ignore her detractors and work hard to shake off the turbulences in the market and stabilize the economy.
“When you reshuffle cabinet the way I did, there is bound to be turbulences, politically, economically. I feel sorry for her because people are saying so many poor things about her. I can only encourage her to work hard, she is equal to the task, I have no doubt,” said President Lungu.
Recently President Lungu made some reshuffles at Cabinet level that saw among others Margaret Mwanakatwe become Zambia’s second female Finance Minister replacing Felix Mutati who was transferred to Ministry of Works and Supply.
The Head of State said he expects his ministers and Members of Parliament to be on their toes and ensure that they serve Zambians by taking development to the people.
The President said he remains convinced that the task force of cabinet he has appointed to oversee completion of infrastructure will deliver following the recent reshuffles and inspection of infrastructure development projects.
“If I wasn’t confident, I wouldn’t have appointed them,” said President Lungu.
And President Lungu said his visit to Rwanda is cardinal in strengthening bilateral relations and has demonstrated unwavering friendship and brotherhood.
President Lungu said there is need for Zambia to share and return gestures of goodwill from the region.
He said Rwandese President Paul Kagame has visited Zambia on several occasions and it is only fair that he reciprocates by visiting him and explore ways of cementing relations for the social and economic benefit of Zambians.
The President said it will be folly for Zambia to ignore countries that desire to improve relations and trade with her.
“I have an obligation to reciprocate to friends in the region who have goodwill for Zambia, President Kagame was here when we lost our President, he was here for my inauguration, so it’s only fair that I reciprocate , ” said President Lungu.
President Lungu was seen off by Vice President Inonge Wina, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila, Defence Chiefs, and some Cabinet Ministers, senior government and PF party officials and members.
President Lungu is expected back home tomorrow Thursday February 22, 2018.
Always defending appointments, always meeting dictators.
Uubomba mwibala alya mwibala
Back to his usual trips kawalala
Defending the indefensible. Mr. President, you are the story, the reason Zambia is going down.
Imwe please…twapapata.
The turbulence was caused by the IMF refusal to bail out kongole to Zambia. The reshuffle had a negligible impact, so do not make an elephant out of the so-called reshuffles let alone the appointment of Margaret. That is just distracting the attention.
Nobody complained of Margaret appointment, we complained of Mutati’s abuse and continued insulting him to today by state house.
SHIINDA PAPER president has gone back to doing the thing he knows best: KAMWENDO-MUNJILA
I knew it, didnt I say that during the less than one week he has been at State House, he was planning the next trip domestic or international
Well there he is already travelling to Rwanda. And the justification very lame with regard to the cost of his travel on a poor Country like ours.
The money that goes to his unecessssary travels could build a matket or a road or a community center.
I have never seen such a shameless excuse for a President
So predictable !
He has started moving around, Gobble-trotting like his master RB, again and to be fair I don’t care! Jonathan can go to the end of the world if he wants, one thing for sure is, he will be held to account very soon. He has been a very very bad corrupt boy and his Presidency has been a shambles. Lungu your are heartless to say the least.
Edgar Lungu is very ignorant, it is not people causing turbulence but his poor and ill advised decision to appoint a drunk Margaret Mwanakatwe as Minister of finance.
It seems we as citizens must reward ECL with a foreign trip for him to say something or answer vexing questions about affairs of the country he has the privilege to lead each time …
The guy can go to the end of the world never to come back!
THIS PRESIDENT IS AN ARDENT WORKER: HE HOWEVER NEEDS TO CONSTANTLY SUPERVISE HIS SO CALLED MINISTERS CLOSELY. HIS WORK MUST NOT END AT APPOINTING, BUT TO ENSURE THAT HIS MINISTERS PUSHES TO THE POLICIES COMMON GOALS. THAT ALL HIS CABINET MEMBERS SUBSCRIBE TO PROACTIVE POLICIES. POLICIES GOOD OR BAD, AFFECT PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOOD.
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This one off international trip is somewhat understood. Not the ones scheduled by misled HK. Right now, we can give you a break. A word of caution though, going to school and having some role in Barclays Bank Zambia does not qualify one for Minister of Finance. The Minister of Finance just must experience and fully understand the economy. That role is not fit for trial and error you know.
Self serving always tripes, salary and allowances. Zohona, Uubomba mwibala alya mwibala. When he was “reelected” he increased his salary and allowances three times from the time he was elected in January 2015.
The Statutory Instrument number 19 of 2016 read, Lungu is now being paid K447, 599 plus K117, 648 special allowance.
Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda signed into law Lungu’ s increased salaries and allowances on March 10, 2016 (last week). Worse still, the new salaries and allowances have been backdated to January 2016. This means that Lungu will be paid the difference of the salaries and allowances from January.
The latest increment means that Lungu increases his salary and allowances every four months.
What legacy would you like to leave?
Why is he guilty of the appointment? Why give an explanation if he is convinced it’s the right decision he made? Even RB is against this appointment. Lungu is finished let 2021 come enough nonsense.
A man’s word is his honour. If a president can’t even keep his own unsolicited pledge to not travel outside the country this whole year, what guarantee can he give that the minister of finance will deliver when he has absolutely no control of her capabilities and abilities. It has not even been 2 weeks since he made that pledge and he is already in the air.
He even says and I quote “people criticized his own election and cast doubt about his capacity to governt the country”. In his wisdom President Lungu believes he has proved all doubters wrong by his success at governing. I rest.
There goes the lazy bum Edgar…..doing what tgis bum does best; dancing on foreign airport tarmacs!!
Hello EAGLE 1; “steer the country’s economy” to where if not what? “meet the expectations..” of which market?
Bossano, what you are calling “turbulence” is actually a NO CONFIDENCE EMOTION which if not arrested now may bleed into a NO CONFIDENCE MOTION in 2021!
Kanabesa, you are very blessed to sincerely consult KK and RB [they are alive and for intents and purposes on your side] on what exactly led to their political ending in LOSSES.
I rest my case, GOD BLESS ZAMBIA
useless trip to Rwanda. What can he bring from there? is this what this Amos Chanda referred to as important international trips? terrible!!
Accompanied by State house special adviser for Corruption and the likes of Freedom Sikazwe and Amos Chanda to report fake international assignments.
Say all you like sir. Zambia’s squeaking hinge is not getting the oil. The economy is cracking, all because of corruption by your government.
He thinks Maggie will balance the budget and correct the deficit with stones from Chawama…what lazy bum he is!!
That lady is perceived as the PF Presidential Running-Mate to ECL, if the ConCourt rules otherswise, she is the Presidential Candidate for the PF. Anto-Nyoo-Nawakwi will run for Munali came 2021. This is the formula. Kaizer Zulu will then be appointed DEFENCE or HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER! Watch the space!!!!!!!!!!!
Reciprocate .
Entourage, hope you heard that.
One is left with no choice but to admire, the man. Lungu, The toilet President.
Anto-Nyoo-Nawakwi, says books are good gesture for the needy school going children; what about the vast majority of Zambians who use imiseba na mabula payafwilisha? Even the women and girls who cannot afford sanitary pad? These tissues maybe another innovative gesture by born again Anto-Nyoos
the same way Foreign Affairs minister has fit in well is the same way Mwanakatwe will fit in. let us put politics aside and work for our country
someone said he only lost elections in 2006, 2008 and 2011 but did not lose in 2015 and 2016. that is an insult to Zambians.
Interesting that this trip follows the visit by Kabila to Lusaka and it well known that DR Congo and Rwanda have recently been having more than a few skirmishes along their common border. Is there more to be read in this visit and are we playing honest broker?
Nothing like that…Rwanda has some mines in DRC terriority, maybe Kabila’s paymasters the Jews are starting get uncomfortable so they sent this moron with no priorities to talk to Kagame…so the Jews and Kabila can continue stealing in peace.
Lungu is going to Kagame to consult on how to go for an illegal 3rd Term. He has already started campaigning instead of repairing the economy PF has damaged.
Why is he busy befriending presidents who want to cling on to power wamuyayaya?
– Kabila
– Museveni
– Kagame
– Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) next?
– Kim Jong un next?
This is what Lungu said during Kabila’s last week’s visit to Zambia : “These people (western countries) should desist from interfering in our domestic affairs, if our people want us to stay in office beyond the constitutional limit, that’s our own choice and so no one should be allowed to intervene”.
Correction economy was destroyed by unip as early as 1967 after independent.Am not a member of apf,but facts are facts.
@ ROKA
Mwanawasa left $3Billion in reserves & high economic growth rate. Bank Lending rates were below 9% which boosted private sector. Today walk into any bank & you’ll pay 3 times what you borrowed.
Due to CORRUPT PF incompetency, we have $23 Billion debt, high interest rates, high youth unemployment, destroyed agriculture sector, poor food security, millions of Chinese crooks looting our natural resources.
Anto-Nyoo-Nawakwi, says books are good gesture for the needy school going children; what about the vast majority of Zambians who use imiseba na mabula payafwilisha? Even the women and girls who cannot afford sanitary pad? These tissues maybe another innovative gesture by the born again Anto-Nyoos
Ba Maloza – Be careful when you spew things. Mwanawasa was aided by HIPC that the late Mazombwes (gallant son of this land MHSRIP) and others brokered. And please tell no lies, the agriculture sector is not destroyed – Zambia is currently an agricultural giant in the sub-region, of course problems are there.
Allegations of corruption which the bitter opposition cannot substantiate is just an empty meaningless song. Isn’t there someone out there in the opposition who can add value to our politics? As things are now, there is no opposition in Zambia because what they call themselves, its clear, they are just a bunch of frustrated objects. The only thing HH and GBM have in common is stolen money and money obtained through crooked means respectively and the desire and appetite to enrich themselves. They dont inspire or represent the people.
@ malinso
My dear, check this house, a product of corruption
diggerDOTnews/local/2017/07/11/moyo-put-to-rest-as-questions-about-his-wealth-rise/
@Malinso: Diggers is the latest watchdog type publication whose entire management are former post newspaper employees including Mukosha Funga who was arrested with Fred M’membe for publishing classified GRZ documents. It is the worst selling newspaper on the streets as people are tired of reading lies and unsubstantiated allegations. Gullible knuckelheads in diaspora, upnd and other opposition supporters feast on such rubbish religiously and always come up with nothing. Like what the whole post/task force set up did to FTJ and almost RB, they are after ECL now and corruption is their mode of slander. This time round the have no loud and influential trumpet to bellow their lies like Fred did back in 2002. Like the way Kambwili’s lies have become flaccid, so will this corruption slander…
Go and cement the politics of cement. Rwanda used to be a good market for Zambian cement and ceramics but we have lost it Pemba. Also brief Kagame on your DRC for he’s a large player having been involved when he fought Banyamurenge rebels
Really laughable…you think too highly of lazy Lungu!!
The major reason Lungu is travelling is for him to make money through subsistence allowances, how cheap of him. Shamelessly milking a poor Country dry.
But he won’t stop it’s one of his major sources and that’s how RB his Chief Adviser has advised him
Who reported that the president will park his plane for now and work locally. Hello
He can not stay put…he has no plan apart from issuing silly directivites and creating phoney taskforces that never report anything publicily.
Hichilema’s term of office expired in 2010. The only election he won was the one supporters of Saki were brutalized. If he calls elections in UPND he’s going to lose
So this president can not work without taking one trip or the other be it locally or abroad! Your begging bow is ever out looking for alms and where to borrow yet you do not see the cost implications of traveling every now and then. Frankly these trips do not even benefit Zambia in the final analysis. What kind of a president is this one who seem not to understand the implications of his actions on the nation. What he says and does are always miles apart.
This president protects members of his cabinet who are corrupt and continue to rape the people of this country of the national resources from which they should rightfully benefit. He has never said a word about ministers in his cabinet mentioned in the FIC report who have been receiving large amounts of monies they cannot account for, nor the mukula trade, the inflated road contracts, etc, etc. Its because of his remaining mum on these issues that he has lost credibility as head of state. A lot of damage has been done to his own standing and his government by the way he chose to lead. Going forward he will have to earn the trust and confidence of the people as a responsible leader. He will not get on a silver platter any more.
Such DULL bloggers all of you
One of the traits of being a leader is that when you make a decision, whether right or wrong, you stand by your decision. Good stuff.
She also needs the voice and support of fellow women, where are they?
Her achievements both at Barclays Bank Plc and Ministry of Commerce must tell us a story!
The key to success in such positions is humility and TEAMwork. Total Effort of All Members. Kwasila. If you had such people like these who feast on small issues, we cannot succeed. To them nothing is good at all.
the up and down party will continue to gnash their teeth in agony while Ecl rules
Napopene walilwala nokwenda. Bafwile mukukula kwabo tabaendele bwangu so amina kwati kupanga ishina.efyombona one kwati taikala bwino nabanganda yakwe kwati mwaliba umulilo munganganda nkalamba pantu takwaba na president uwenda weka no umukashi. Mano yabuchende yamwesha. We ule likamba weeeeeee
INSULTS is not part of the game, just despise if you have to; “insele ni mwikalila nchushi…” fyalipusanako na malumbo kwena
Talk of solidarity with other countries in the Region. Did Lungu congratulate President Cyril Ramaphosa on his election to the Presidency of South Africa? Is he still mourning about Jacob Zuma being sacked as President of South Africa.? Jacob Zuma was sacked for engaging in State Capture and Corruption Activities in South Africa. Since Lungu stands accused of the same allegations he needs to address high levels of Corruption in his govt and accusations of State Capture. Lungu needs to state whether or not he believes in Zero Tolerance o6n Corruption in his govt. If he does then he needs to walk the Talk and fire his corrupt Ministers and Officials. A war on eradicating Corruption in Zambia must produce casualties.Kagame is the New Chairman of AU and at its recent 30th Summit it decared…
Was there an election in SA? Or you mean the intra-party leadership change just like in Zimbabwe.
Lungu should go study how clean ,organized and strict thee city of Kigali really is.A great contrast to his filthy cholera infested Lusaka.
he is going to Rwanda to cement relations? how did we end like this mwebantu…
Rwandian President was here recently signing MOUs…what relations are there to cement…this has to do with Kabila visit and DRC’s resources…Lazy Lungu is a petty thief.
Did he say that he was not going to travel outside the country this year! He not too long ago said he was only going to focus on local trips and delegate international engagements. ZAMBIAS Do we all remember this statement???
Big contrast: airport in lusaka and airport in Kigali. In lusaka the airport is full of cadres seeing off their King. In Kigali there were no cadres, only President Kagame, few government officials and the army. In Rwanda they have no time to waste going to the airport in crowds.
Lungu stay there in Kigali and undergo a six month course on proper city sanitation .Cholera is your legacy.
That’s how bad and useless Lungu is, he is a crook and thief. You asking too much from this clueless dude, who just speaks to excite the ears of his supporters like Zambian citizen and ayatollah. He duped the people by fixing stuff before elections after the elections everything went sour, hope the Zambian people don’t get duped again.
UPND delusions: “It is Lungus’s fault for the floods in Kabwe, in Lusaka and in Livingstone! If HH were president they would be no floods in Livingstone! Maybe only in Chipata!” Du….!
If whatever the president does is wrong then whatever UPND cadres say here is absolutely wrong! Under Five department!
A thief stole money from privatization of Zambian companies and stuck it in Panama! Do you know him?
These are the reasons Lungu gave for visiting that Tutsi country and its genocidal president, Kagame”
1. It will be folly for Zambia to ignore Rwanda as it desires to improve relations and trade with
2. Lungu has an obligation to reciprocate to friends in the region who have goodwill for Zambia,
3. President Kagame was here when we lost our President,
4. He was here for my inauguration, so it’s only fair that I reciprocate.
If these are the criteria for these costly foreign trips, then one wonders really whether Lungu has any area of strength. For one, I have started doubting that man’s mental stability, he comes accross as mentally retarded.
Something has to be seriously wrong with the way we elect our presidents. Remember that more people in Zambia voted for Chama Chakomboka than those who did so for Inonge Lewanika. They also voted for Sata and Lungu over Hakainde. Now, we know Chakomboka was clearly senile. Sata was worse, he was not just senile but clearly dying from multiple organ failure triggered by a positive HIV status. Lungu is a self confessed Chimbwi No Plan. It then begs answers why we yearn for developement when all we usher in office is a bunch of headless stupid *****s! And the tribal bigotry, Zambia will without doubt sooner than later split into more than two countries and the fault line running from the Solwezi to Livingstone is clear.
As usual with We ZAMBIANS HATE ! INSULTS! HATE! INSULTS!.am just wondering if Zambia is a real Christian NATION
All Mhangos like this Mwanakatwe girl are actually all from Malawi. We now know that Lungu is also a Malawan. It all now looks like its “achimwene” in the corridors of power in Lusaka. This thing of Malawians illegally ruling this country must now stop. If Lungu does not know, this could spark a genocide against them in Zambia like what he saw in Kigali yesterday. And did Kagame tell him he is the one who shot a plane carrying President Juvenail Habyarimana in 1994 sparking the genocide that killed multitudes?