President Hakainde Hichilema says he is not a hurry to appoint Permanent Secretaries as fixing the economy is his administration’s topmost priority.
President Hichilema says rather than appointing Permanent Secretaries as expected by sections of society, his administration will not be rushed into making haphazard decisions.
Speaking to journalists shortly after arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from the United Kingdom, Mr Hichilema said government is managing time and decisions being made are well orchestrated.
Responding to concerns over the delayed appointment of Permanent Secretaries, Mr Hichilema said from the time he took over office in August this year, his preoccupation has been to work on the economy.
“What’s your priority? It’s to get this economy going, the economy goes on. The Budget was one of the key issues,” he said.
The Head of State added that he will not appoint Police Commissioners as this will be the responsibility of the Police Command.
“We want to reduce the direct number of presidential appointments in the Commission. That was an anomaly which was not normal but already you believe it was normal. This was only altered a few years ago,” Mr Hichilema said.
And responding to criticism by sections of society which saying the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K1.6 million to K25.7 million per constituency is illegal, President Hichilema explained that the budget is legal under the Budget Act.
He further expressed surprise with such levels of debate.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to understand where people come from, what their conceptualization in their mind when they raise issues like that. How can there be no legal framework. How can anyone argue like that,” he said.
And President Hichilema dismissed suggestions that most appointments and reinstatements are being done on a tribal basis stating that his administration has unprecedentedly created inclusive appointments representing all the regions of the country.
And the Emirates aircraft plane carrying President Hichilema and his entourage touched down Kenneth Kaunda International airport from the United Kingdom at 14:50 hours.
The President arrived back home after he attended the World Leaders Summit of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow Scotland.
During his visit to the United Kingdom, President Hichilema held high level meetings in London with members of the House of Commons and UK policymakers, potential investors, as well as the Eurobond holders.
And the President told journalists that his Government will continue to engage the Eurobond holders until a lasting solution is reached.
Fixing the economy. What has he done so far. We have seen more damage to the economy than fixing.
Appointment of permanent secretaries, he is looking at tongas. He is overwhelmed by the number of tongas who were loyal whilst in opposition.
Bally please work at your own pace, we elected you and nobody should rush you to do things. We don’t want you to be like PF who said more money in peoples pockets in 90 days and we did not see that money for 10 years, instead the money went to the PF leaders pockets. There is only one President and that is HH
How can you fix the economy without the Bureaucratic leadership? Is this guy Okay?
Man is in a fix on who to appoint. Just take the BULL BY THE HORN.
Permanent Secretaries are essential in implementing your vision to improve the economy.
But I am sure you know what you are doing.
At least we don’t have thugs and thieves running the country anymore.
There should be no rush nor fuss on appointing permanent secretaries, government work is on course, there is absolutely nothing pending because of the absence of permanent secretaries
Fixing is a continuos tense, You fix something that was damaged and so the economy was damaged by pf thieves.
If you are married , does your wife immediately go for a pregnancy test after sex? Why?
Muletekanya bane. The results will be visible after a year or so. Besides bring back the money you stole.
I agree with the president that Permanent Secretaries and police commissioners appointments are just overheads as they do not serve the purpose. Yes, lets us do away with such positions for good.!
On this one HH7 as your ardent supporter I would disagree. Please remove the remaining PF carders in government and replace them with people who have the Zambian people at interest.
Ba Ding Dong,what you are saying and what the president is saying are completely different., Read what the president is saying before you go out misleading people.
THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL IN THE INCREASE OF CDF. WHAT WAS ILLEGAL IN THE PF WAS THAT THE PRESIDENT THEN EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU FACILITATED THE WASTAGE OF NATIONAL RESOURCES BY ORDERING THAT MINISTERS CONTINUE HOLDING THEIR MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS DURING GENERAL ELECTIONS EVEN WHEN THE LAW CLEARLY STATED THE OPPOSITE.
Zambians are impatient after ten years of PF
Rule as they want overnight results from UPND.
Top GRZ positions are bloated ……….
Too many for a small economy like zambias….
MPs and ministers can cover most roles…….
Kikikikikikijukija Hehehehehehe nkunkunkunkyu hahahahahaha kwekwekwekwe kwikwikwikwikwi!
Yaba!
He never been in a hurry! Economy president? Of course, he doesn’t understand. Don’t blame Kapya for calling him baby president.
The president shall appoint so and so, so says some document. How could he understand?
Yeah, no not me! I am like the ECONOMY president, don’t you get it? I am Mr. ACC so I appoint the DG there; I am the BUDGET president; not ivi vama PS, PS so, vama CONTROLING Officers nagaga, nisiyeni ine!
Thats why HH is a wealthy business man and most of you critics are not……….
How much in wages have been saved from these appointments not being filled before the economy starts ticking over ????.
There is no vacuum, acting permanent secretaries are there. There is absolutely no vacuum. Not sure why some chaps are panicking for nothing. There is nothing broken
Even surprising that political feather weights like Kalaba and SET Tembo who were even beaten by rejected ballots in the last elections were adding their voice to it. Please be advised that there will only be one President at a time, and he has a five year mandate and if so wishes he can even appoint permanent secretaries in his Fifth year. Government is still operating very normally, nature does not allow vacuums, the acting permanent secretaries are equal to their tasks
A DOWN HILL TREND FOR 10 YEARS BY PF
AND SOME ARE EXPECTING MAJOR RESULTS IN A FEW MONTHS
CRAZY OR ILLITERATE NOT SURE WHICH
Please HH do a proper due diligence before appointing permanent secretaries, take atleast six months, so that they can be properly vetted. Once you appoint permanent secretaries I wonder what else these chaps will point to. Anyway since the beginning of the world there is a constant fight between good and evil.
I thought that one day I will die in opposition. The way things change……Now we are ruling, soon fruits will bare. We are on our first budget starting Jan 2022.
Abena thorn in the fimo fimo have gone past the use by date, just ranting like Kanye West. Kikiki
Aspire to be different. As humans we lean towards mediocrity because its the easy way out. If you appointed PSs in a hurry allow him to be different for once
The PF government had even suspended civil liberties in this country and the people calling for permanent secretaries now were very quite. Imagine freedoms shut, no assembly of opposition parties, ZNBC and public media was exclusive for PF, Hospitals were being given expired drugs, Law enforcement agencies fighting corruption were rendered impotent, fire tenders were being bought at one million dollars each, a basic shelter like a toll gate was costing 4.3 million dollars and you were quite, and now you want to raise your voices on permanent secretaries. Sit down quickly
HH please abolish the position of permanent secretaries, they are so fixated on traditional positions, no innovation at all. Has government collapsed without permanent secretaries. Focus on fixing on your rejectecd parties, the Zambians for now spoke on August `12. Go and sleep now
Sorry, but it is written.
184.(1) The President shall, on the advice of the Civil Service Commission, appoint a Permanent Secretary for a Province, ministry or department.
(2)A Permanent Secretary shall—
(a) carry out or cause to be carried out the portfolio functions of the provincial administration, ministry or department;
78No. 2 of 2016]Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Secretary to Treasury Permanent Secretaries (b) advise the Minister or provincial Minister with respect to the activities, projects and programmes of the Province, ministry or department; (c) cause to be implemented the policies of the Government and decisions of Cabinet;
(d) be responsible and accountable for the proper financial management and expenditure of public monies appropriated to the Province,…
And who said he will not appoint permanent secretaries?
A Permanent Secretary shall—
(a) carry out or cause to be carried out the portfolio functions of the provincial administration, ministry or department;
78No. 2 of 2016]Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Secretary to Treasury Permanent Secretaries (b) advise the Minister or provincial Minister with respect to the activities, projects and programmes of the Province, ministry or department; (c) cause to be implemented the policies of the Government and decisions of Cabinet;
(d) be responsible and accountable for the proper financial management and expenditure of public monies appropriated to the Province, ministry or department; and (e) be responsible and accountable for the management of
human resources in the provincial secretariat.
Please advise this politicking muntu properly.
Totally irrelevant, he will appoint permanent secretaries, though they are not a necessity, deputy permanent secretaries are just okay, it is even cost effective. But don’t rush the President, but anyway he cant be rushed by anybody, he is methodical, organized and following a well orchestrated program
Don’t be rushed Mr. President, these critics just want you to Fail. We have some Directors in these Ministries acting on the positions so what’s the PROBLEM, YOU CRITICS. Let us fix the Economy First because we will not Eat Permanent Secretaries. It shows that these positions are irrelevant. Life goes on without them. And we are Saving Money imagine the cost of their 4X4s, Free Fuel and other allowances. Keep the Positions vacant up to Next Year.
As UPND Lets appoint permanent secretaries in our fifth year in power, Its not a disaster which requires urgent attention for now
What this President must know is that Zambia doesn’t belong to him, it belongs to all Zambians so he needs to be careful to what he says or he will cry one day.
Someone said power is sweet yes it is but very dangerous as well the guy has become pompous as if he owns everyone no sir you don’t you only have one vote so respect people’s voices .
Those permanent secretaries are the managing directors of all government institutions they must be respected by any thinking president , as they will out live your term in government.
@17: Upnd cadre from Ngombe compound lsk: You made my day, kikikikiki let these Critics Die, wait and see the deals signed in the UK, Pathetic Fools (PF CADRES), the likes of Lubinda will die with High Blood Pressure. It pains them that HH is in Power. Hmmmm Bowman Lusambo I am sure he does not know how to start… *****s who thought, they are more Zambian and special than others. The more they criticize HH the better he will perform.
@24-nshilimubemba: Have you been to these Ministries? Let’s not be emotional. People are acting on these positions and doing very well. We have very Educated and Experienced Directors in these ministries. Some even better than the same Permanent Secretaries we are crying for. PS position became Political under Lungu, same like Police Commissioners. Give the President a chance. We want top Cream, True TECHNOCRATS. Not Dunderheads.
This **** on his return just insulted and called all president’s and governments since 1964 as a clique of thieves. He thought he was a clever westerner by answering journalists every time. A presidnet cannot go around answering every question that is posed. That is an office and not just your personal view. Can someone guide that under 5 before he causes hell IN ZAMBIA. He has started with his tribal talks
We realise you are taking your time sir. Unfortunately, being a president means you have to tackle your duties like a top Chef tackles cooking multiple meals simultaneously! A Chef cannot afford to cook meals, one at a time; his custmers will walk out!
#plant a tree now!
Fixing 10yrs of vast damage done to the economy by PF thugzz is not an easy task.I propose we sacrifice KZ’s empty head to the gods to fix our rotten economy in addition to other measures.
We the Zambians we are just the same people who do the same things, replacing others and removing others doesn’t make any difference as all Zambians have the same characteristics and they go into politics with only one motive to make money if they have the chance, even the president knows it he is there for the same reason he is there to make money.
I for one I don’t see any difference with having new officers, the only difference is that they belong to another Zambian party , and the same people just go round from one party to the next now they are in the ruling party and they will do what they did in MMD and PF so in UPND congratulations.
Meanwhile: our farmers are happy with early delivery of Fertilizer & seed – they are all confirming. Just here, in Zambian politics, once the peasant farmer is happy,then the country is yours. I ll add on, and Education is free. Again, while our peasant farmers kumunshi have received their input on time, they also don’t have to worry abt school fees – come January 2022. Hahahahhahahahahahhahahahahaha! But HH mwe, this guy wants to make Zambia a Europe in Africa – awe HH reduce , it’s too much pls.
So you cadres crying for permanent secretaries – PSs to do what exactly? Fertilizer & Seed is on the ground, Free Education and I forgot, CDF! All this done without PSs . So what ll these mwankole PSs come to do cos the hardest jobs have been done already. And he negotiable our Debt in London. Awe imwe bakolwe “Go to Hell”.
I think the debate should be about what role Permanent Secretaries perform in the running of the country and the economy. Are they project managers responsible for the execution of projects, ensuring that they are within budget and schedule or are they mere administrators? With CDF Decentralization, what is their role? The President can’t be everywhere and if PSs have his delegation then he probably needs them fast. Let us debate the gap created in their absence and the impact that gap is causing on the economy and the running of the country; and how that gap is being filled.
What I don’t like about this picture is just how many people who probably traveled or have come to greet/welcome him back. We don’t need this perpetuate this sill!ness from past regimes. These people should be spending every minute working and being productive. And just look at heavily armed to the teeth that cop is. It’s high time the President is protected by secret service in civilian attire and concealed weapons. My people let’s move with timed and focus on improving the lives of our people, not this “look at me” mentality.
Bally is not in a hurry to appoint permanent secretaries because he is busy moving like a chicken without a head fixing debtors and honouring promises to his funders.
That seat is sweet that he can even call PSs as overheads. He has saturated the new dark government with Tongas in everything ministry. Remember what he said In his inauguration speech he said and I quote ‘Names will not matter but competence’. Only Tongas are competent!!!!
Mr. President, you don’t have a choice regarding permanent secretaries because it’s a constitutional matter. It’s not up to you until perhaps the constitution is changed.
Permanent secretaries run ministries and provinces and so how are you going to implement your programmes and policies without them?
I don’t see what your problem is.
In any case, fixing the economy is not an overnight exercise but rather a continuous exercise which can take up to the end of your mandate. So many things and variables always crop up.
So the statement about first fixing the economy before appointing permanent secretaries actually doesn’t make sense.
And by the way, fixing the economy by borrowing from IMF? Kaya.
HH please work at your pace. They had their time and failed big time and they now want to tell you what to do. If you want you can appoint office bearers from one province, the law allows you but we know you are too decent for such things. MMD left them a decent economy which they brought on down on its knees, concentrate on fixing that, forget their tantrums from their August 12 thrashing, they are mourning and abound to say and blogg things that are in their confused heads. Signs are already telling that this will be the best President since 1964
HH please soldier on, the rejected guys will try to find for fault in your every move, but just focus on what you have to do, if they were relevant the Zambian people would have kept them in power
Out of all you said small minds like Kaizar have already picked one line only which they heard out of context, but it’s typical of such characters. Work according to your program and not what bitter PF rejects are writing here
These upnd guys where not ready to govern, they have no idea of what to do.
How on earth do you postpone census for two years! This is why the late Sata called these people as Under5.
Sata was not even a god, so stop showering your ignorance all over here. Everything PF from origin to expiry was untold disaster
This f00I on his return just insulted and called all president’s and governments since 1964 as a clique of thieves ??
TO THE TR000L >>>>>>>IS HE NOT IN MANY WAYS CORRECT ????
The guy is extremely overwhelmed, very baby president. He is tying to shield his incompetences.
His job does not start and end at the budget and the economy.
The rest can wait because his preoccupation is on the economy. Very sick utterances. Simply can’t process many tasks at the same time except those that action reflexively.
Who does that?
#30 Anayenda….as a farmer on FISP I will disagree with you. We normally received our in puts in middle September. This year we are just receiving the in puts now. So I don’t know which farmers you are referring to. Please let’s not continue with falsehoods otherwise there will be little to differentiate between Upnd and PF. If it’s not right say it’s not right.
Under 5 response
In less than 4 months Under5 government borrows 2.4 billion dollars!
It’s shameful because hichilema is on record that he was not going to borrow once he formed government! When iam sworn in at 10 hrs by 14 hrs the kwacha will appreciate against the dollar… bufi
These upnd chaps are the real chipantepante…
The PF rejects will lie and lie and the money they are using to buy bundles and post here is questionable, the Zambians spoke and spoke loudly in August, HH will rule in his fashion, he has the mandate, the same mandate which was given to PF failures and they lost the opportunity and damaged a decent economy bequeathed to them by the MMD, what is remaining for them now is blogging with a lot of hate, sorry you are rejects in the eyes of main Zambians, your feeble blogging here is all in vain
I repeat, somebody you call under 5 trounces you like pulp in an election, then you the trounced qualify to be under what, 1, 2, 3 or 4
Now fuel pump price is the cheapest in the region. The PRICE IS NOT COST REFLECTIVE.
Yesterday it was the most expensive and NDANI UYU worked it out and assured us that once in the White House (sic) he cut out middle men and reduce it to K5 per litre.
#49 Because he took advantage of A HUNGRY MAN IS AN ANGRY MAN situation. Same as we did against KK.
According to hh all the leaders and governments before him since 1965 are cliques of thieves. Only hh is a Saint. What is funny is that his cabinet is full of people from previous governments. Does this mean that he is working with thieves? Is he not a thief himself given that he benefited from privatisation and sold our resources for peanuts? Do you now see why I call hh ***** Lusakatimes won’t report about hh gaffe at the airport because they are scared of this tin pot dictator.
Why are people defending him over the CLIQUE OF THIEVES statement? He said his thoughts aloud. There’s a volcano boiling over the shares of spoils of elections. Reality is not fiction.
#53  Deja Vu November
7, 2021 At 2:24 pm
“Why are people defending him over the CLIQUE OF THIEVES statement? He said his thoughts aloud. There’s a volcano boiling over the shares of spoils of elections. Reality is not fiction……”
He is right……..
With power and the economy concentrated in Lusaka, how mush has zambia lost to corruption ………???
HEHH is now decentralising operations and funding to provinces……….
Away from the band of theives concentrated around Lusaka and CB…….
It has been proved that this President is not intelligent enough to do things at the a top speed , now he is overwhelmed with the task on his hands , if he retained the permanent secretaries they would have helped him to do the work quickly.
I just don’t know what grade we can give this President , can we call him (snails pace president or the tortoise pace president) , he doesn’t qualify for the office he was rushing for, his office must be flooded with millions of the un signed documents his secretary must be in a mess not knowing what to do next.
This guy talks big but his performance is zero and he hides in lies he is Mr liar who doesn’t tell the truth ,
( John 8 : 44 . unfortunately that is the name of Satan. Who is called the father of all lies the Bible says the…
The PF and their band of supporters are used of lungus haphazard rushed decisions and implementations followed by U turns and silence……….
Not with this president………..
He will not rush to waste money on wages for positions that can be covered by others already there……..
issaacher, nshilimubemb and issaacher still dont believe that there now a new Government. THE THREE ARE APPARENTLY THE DULLEST PERSONS IN CENTRAL ARRICA. THEY DONT KNOW THAT A NEW GOVERNMENT HAS TO COME UP WITH A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS. OTHERWISE IT CAN’T BE CALLED A new government AT All. HH, THE PRESIDENT IS VERY REALISTIC. IN THE PF Government, THE SO CALLED PS WEREN’T DOING MUCH TO SERVE MASSES APART FROM SERVING AS MINIISTERIAL AND PROVINCIAL SECRETARIES AND COORDINATORS FOR CADERISM. A PRACTICE WHICH THE NEW DAWN ,HAS RIGTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY SUPPRESSED TO ENHANCE PEACE AND FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE IN OFFICES, MARKETS AND BUS STATIONS. IN CASE YOU DIDNT KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING EVEN IN PF Government, WERE THE DEPUTIES AND AND THE UNDER SECRETARIES. AND HELPED BY…
Shut up you clique of thieves
MR AWE YOU ARE RIGHT. MOST OF THE SO CALL PS CEASED TO BE PROFESSION AND WERE EVER JUST FOUND CHATTING AND MAKING NOISE IN OFFICES WITH PF CADRES DEGNIFIED AS COMMANDER 1 UP TO 4, IF YOU VISIT ANY MINISTRY HQs OR PROVINCIAL HQs TODAY YOU WILL REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO VACUUM AS YOU MAY THINK AND SURPRIZINGLY, THE PUBLUC WORK IS BEING DONE FAR MUCH BETTER. THIS BY ITSELF SHOWS AND TESTIFIES THAT THE PS, ACCORDING TO THE PF ARRANGEMENT, WAS A MAJOR FACTOR CAUSING RETROGRESSION. AS FOR ME THE DEPUTIES AND THE UNDER SECRETARIES IN OFFICES TODAY, ARE SUFFICIENT AND EQUAL THE TASKS AND MONEY IS BEING SAVED TO BUY CHALK FOR SCHOOLS. OH, HH IS GREAT ALTHOUGH YOU DONT LOVE HIM FOR REASONS BEST KHOWN TO YOU.
The president wants Civil Service institutions to regain their mandates and start functioning the way they are supposed to. Appointments to civil service top positions before being hijacked by politicians were indeed through recommendation of the Civil Service Commission thus permanent secretaries were mostly technocrats well versed in subject matter of ministries they served or had good knowledge of operations of government institutions. All competence in running of government institutions was lost when these positions became gratification rewards to party cadres ignorant of civil service functions and a few selected at “the president’s pleasure!”
#61 FuManchu All PSs in previous goverments were educated enough to hold those positions. The only reason they can be CADRES is because they are appointed by a politician (the president), which means if and when Mr Hakainde appoints his own PSs they will also be Political party cadres regardless of their qualifications. Whether you like it or not that’s the way it’s. Find away to get around this problem.
Ya-ya-ya-yaaaa! Koma wantu wafuna ma ncito yamene awa bati? Relax fellas. What is it about having PSs that should take precedence over the agenda to attend to critical matters? Constitutionally Bally is duty-bound to appoint PSs … there is no timeframe. Musiyeni muyanu asewenzeko. You are used to ceremony and mediocrity mwe benangu. It is appalling. Let the guy work. Pilisi napapata namuyanu.
Yakunyokolani njala and now you want Bally to rush into appointing your friends e!. Relax he is doing everything strategically.
HH is a slow thinker if he were in my I could always give him zeros he is always behind time .