Chief Government Spokesperson, Chushi Kasanda has defended President Hakainde Hichilema’s decision to establish the Presidential Delivery Unit.
And Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Charles Milupi says the unit will be key in closely following up policy pronouncements made by President Hichilema.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Ms Kasanda who is also Minister of Information and Media says the Presidential Delivery Unit is not a duplication of other Government institutions.
The Minister of Information added that the work of the Unit will not in any way take away from the functions of already established institutions.
“We are in a hurry to develop the country and the fact that we are in a hurry, it is important that we have a team that is actually looking into this development we want to bring in the country. What this team will do is that, all that we will be doing, they will be like what we would call a watchdog to look into what every ministry is doing, what developments are going on in the country so that they are able to see that those things are being implemented,” Ms Kasanda said.
And Mr Milupi said the formation of the Presidential Delivery Unit has been long overdue.
He said the unit is beneficial in ensuring that President Hichilema and his administration deliver development to the Zambian people.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development who was speaking at the same briefing said the Unit will help unlock rigidities in the governance process.
“One of the pronouncements President Hichilema has made is that this year is for unlocking all rigidities, so sometimes the government may make a pronouncement and find that somewhere there are certain impediments to implementing that pronouncement. This team will help ministries, departments where there are issues so that they can be resolved so that we achieve exactly what is being said,” Mr Milupi said.
President Hichilema recently established a Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) to accelerate the implementation of high priority government programmes and projects.
The President appointed Kusobile Kamwambi to head the PDU and Chipokota Mwanawasa as the deputy head.
Ms Kamwambi also serves as Permanent Secretary at Management Development Division, Cabinet Office while Ms Mwanawasa currently serves in the Presidential Advisory team.
However, the creation of the unit received mixed reactions with certain critics questioning the relevance of the PDU.
Nansense coming from a very attractive woman. I miss the old you when we used to play together on my boat in kafue
Presidential Delivery Unit is key to Slush funds
This is just a means to give jobs to complaining cadres.
So what? Do you want jobs to be given to pf id.i0t cadres?
No new jobs or appointments hv been made. Existing officers hv just been given more responsibilities.
Piranha oh poor piranha… giving jobs to cadres in the public sector is not job creation, it’s a drain on government coffers.
Gunner in Zambia…my friend don’t be naive, cadres will be appointed to as extra staff to do the donkey work.
This is an admission that cabinet doesn’t function. Any government or cabinet that doesn’t function as intended will create unnecessary layers of functions through which money is pilfered. We all remember the presidential slush fund and the PHI.
Not to forget another unauthorized and unbudgeted for office for the unelected first lady. Zambians should not be ndwiiiii while their money is stolen. We are only poor because we allow those we vote into office to steal our money. I’m afraid here is where we are seeing how weak our opposition is. They are doing nothing as poor Zambia is being looted
African politicians will always find a way to get their hands on the blank cheque..all that talk of prudency was all empty air…this is no different to Lazy Lungu’s Presiential sluash fund
Africa we joke too much….even justifying nonsense…just wasting tax payers money on things that doesn’t make sense….HH is doing exactly what he used to complain about when he was in opposition….typical Politician