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Tourism Minister Jean Kapata says tourism is among the alternative sectors that can save Zambia’s economy in light of the current decline in copper prices.
Ms. Kapata said tourism was one of the world’s leading employment sectors as it alleviates poverty and drive inclusive development.
“As a nation, we need to work together to maximize the immense potential of tourism to drive inclusive economic growth, protect the environment, promote sustainable development and a life of dignity for all our citizens and humankind,” she said.
Ms. Kapata said this in Livingstone today during the commemoration of World Tourism Day held under the theme, ‘One billion tourists, one billion opportunities’.
She said Zambia has seen a steady increase in tourist arrivals from 812, 000 in 2008 to 920,000 in 2011.
“By 2016, Zambia’s tourist arrivals are forecasted to reach the one million mark,” she said.
Ms. Kapata further said the steady increase of tourist arrivals has seen a proliferation of hotel establishments for the hospitality industry, which increased from 1,000 in 2010 to 1,120 in 2012.
“The holding capacity of the hotel establishments has also increased from 19, 000 bed spaces in 2010 to 22, 000 in 2012,” she said.
Meanwhile, the tourism sector employed 44, 292 people in 2012 from 20, 000 in 2011. The sector is forecast to create 300, 000 more jobs by 2016.
Earlier, Southern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu called for the promotion of domestic tourism.
FILE: Elections officials verifying details of a voter during elections at matilyo polling station in Kapiri Mposhi
A civil society organization in Mbala district has appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to increase the number of voter education facilitators in the field in order to adequately cover the constituency.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) chairperson in Mbala, Frazer Muwowo disclosed in an interview with ZANIS that facilitators were few and could not cover the long distances between polling stations.
Mr. Muwowo described the facilitators as important people that should make Zambians aware of the exercise and turn en-masse to register as voters in the forthcoming general elections.
And Mr. Muwowo has revealed that in some places, people were not issued with National Registration Cards (NRC) during the mobile registration exercise hence the need to redo the exercise in these areas.
Mr. Muwowo, who is also District Voter Education Committee Chairperson, suggested that issuing of NRCs will allow more electorates to obtain voters’ cards for them to exercise their rights to vote in next year’s tripartite elections.
He also observed that lack of development in some far flung areas was increasing voter apathy.
Mr. Muwowo has described the poor state of most roads leading to polling stations as a demotivating factor for people to participate in elections
FILE: Bus Accident
Zambia has achieved five pillars of the UN decade of action on road safety whose aspirations are to reduce road traffic accidents by 50 percent by 2020.
International Road Federation (IRF) chairman Kiran Kapila said the Zambian government through the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has made tremendous strides and adopted road safety as a governance issue.
Mr. Kapila has since commended the Zambian government for its efforts towards the implementation of the UN decade of action on road safety.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Kapila was speaking in China during the IRF and CHTS 2015 China Congress and annual general meeting.
This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by RTSA Public Relations Officer, Frederick Mubanga.
He said Zambian government has shown political drive to reducing the numbers of road traffic crashes and fatalities in the country.
“Zambia is one of the best countries in Africa that is doing well in implementing the UN decade of action on road safety and l hope that in future she will be a leading example in championing road safety,” he said.
The IRF president has meanwhile challenged IRF African chapter president and Transport Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga to spearhead the promotion of road safety on the African continent and adopt road safety as a governance issue.
And RTSA Chief Executive Officer Zindaba Soko pledged to develop and put in place the strategic plans to reduce road carnages by the year 2020.
Mr. Soko said the agency is determined to reduce road accidents in the country through a multi-sectoral approach by sensitizing all road users through road safety education programmes.
President Lungu disembarks from a chartered private plane
As His excellency travels yet again, the Zambian foreign policy seems haphazard to say the least. It does not seem to have a clearly defined objective.
The trips seem to be more of ceremonial arrangements than trips to target certain specific objectives.
What we need as a country is to increase the number of countries we do trade with, especially in Africa, and thereby lessening the impact of the Chinese economy on our economy. The fact that China accounts for the majority of our produce is frightening. Because the current economic down turn we are undergoing is as a result of over dependance on a single customer, who now has challenges of her own.
Even as we strive to diversify into agriculture, Africa presents a unique opportunity for trade in agriculture produce. An example, Angola has the second highest cost of living in the world, because of pockets of violence still exists in the outskirts, and also the heavily mined fields, means the conditions are not suitable for farming.This essentially means , Angola is heavily dependent on agricultural imports. Many countries in Africa are in such predicaments as Angola. Burundi, Sierra Leone, DRC, etc Are all examples. All these still import a lot of food.
The Congolese maize saga of two years ago, for instance seemed like a problem because we nearly had a shortage of maize produce because farmers and millers preferred to sell their maize and mealie to DRC because they would pay three times more than Zambians would have at the time, but indeed that was a window of opportunity that we ought to have exploited further. There are numerous markets around Africa for what we are currently producing and for what we hope to produce. So even as His Excellence and Honourable Kalaba , Minister of foreign affairs travel around the world and especially, Africa, trade formalization should be the main agenda item. We need to see focus on this area more and more because currently it does not seem as though that is a key agenda .
Mr. President, Excellences, Heads of States Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Mr. President, allow me to join other dignitaries in congratulating you for convening this landmark nations nations summit on the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda.
I wish on behalf of the people of Zambia to applaud the secretary general of the nations nations, for his unwavering commitment to nurturing consensus of member states on sustainable development goals (SDGS).
I would also like to express gratitude to the co-facilitators for their distinguished leadership during the process. We further applaud member states and observers for the tireless efforts and constructive engagement that culminated in bringing this momentous task to fruition.
Mr. President,
This summit will go in the annals of history as the world is witnessing the end of the millennium development goals whilst ushering in the sustainable development goals and the post 2015 development agenda.
Zambia wishes to re-affirm its commitment to embracing a common development agenda which will help enhance development partnerships among member states.
Zambia acknowledges and appreciates the input from important developmental processes that have contributed to the success of this new development agenda notable among them are:
The third international conference on financing for development; and, The high level political forum on sustainable development.
The multi-dimensional nature of this process signifies our determination to have a global development agenda that is responsive to the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the world to provide for the needs of the future generations.
To this effect, Zambia looks forward to starting a new development era in 2016 within the spirit of “leaving no-one behind” with renewed vigour and focus. On this point, I thank the assembly for yesterday’s adoption of the groundbreaking resolution AA70/l.1.
Let me thank his holiness, Pope Francis for his candid and inspiring remarks on the need for nations to take seriously the question of climate change and protection of the environment for sustainable development.
I am happy to report that in the 7th National Development Plan we are developing, climate change ranks among our top priorities.
Mr. President,
I am glad to report that at country level, a number of consultations were undertaken with various stakeholders with a view to put into context the fundamental provisions agreed upon by member states. Coincidentally for Zambia, the SDGS and the post 2015 development agenda have come at a time when the country is developing its seventh national development plan.
This gives us greater latitude to effectively domesticate the various provisions of these global initiatives. We are glad to note that SDGS have brought out a number of development issues such as maternal health, poverty, gender equality, water and sanitation, land degradation, climate change, among others that Zambia is determined to confront in the post 2015 era.
I wish to reiterate Zambia’s commitment to ensuring the use of evidence-based priority setting and targeted mechanisms with a view to achieve inclusive socio-economic development.
Mr. President,
Zambia being a least developed and landlocked developing country, will require support in completing the unfinished business of the MDGS, especially in the area of education, health, water and sanitation, gender equality, agriculture and science and technology.
With regard to technology, Zambia underscores the need to forge south-south technology transfer cooperation as an essential component to accelerate the implementation of the SDGS and the post 2015 development agenda.
I wish to reiterate what I said at the high level meeting on the follow-up to the second nations nations conference on land-locked developing countries held in Zambia in june this year, that there will be need for the nations nations office for south-south cooperation to fulfill its pledge and commitment to establish centres in these countries for purposes of technology transfer.
Being a pilot country, Zambia is ready to fully participate in this initiative. We are also committed to institute strategies that will promote environmentally sustainable socio-economic development aimed at proactively addressing employment creation opportunities, particularly, for the youth and women in order to reduce poverty.
Mr. President,
My government recognises the importance of mobilising resources both domestically and internationally for development.
For this reason, the official development assistance and the foreign direct investment continues to play an important role in fostering sustainable development.
I therefore, call upon the developed countries to fulfil their pledges. As the developed countries honour their pledges, it is critical that developing countries put in place comprehensive institutional frameworks that will identify, promote and facilitate partnerships aimed at creating a platform for a shared vision that resonates well with the private sector to bring about a win-win situation between investors and the communities.
Let me take this opportunity to stress that sustainable development pre-supposes the existence of peace. In this regard Zambia has been actively engaged in peace-keeping missions particularly in the Central African Republic (CAR) and in Sudan. We are seeking the support of developed countries to help capacity-building of our troops so that they are better equipped to carry out such noble assignments.
In the same vein, Zambia sees counter-terrorism initiatives as critically important in preserving peace and stability. In collaboration with regional and international partners, Zambia remains committed to ensuring that we curb this scourge.
Mr. President,
In conclusion, Zambia pledges to give primacy to SDG implementation as a means to stimulate its development trajectory that takes into account all the three pillars of sustainable development.
I also call upon the UN to initiate follow-up actions and review processes as to promote cross-pollination of ideas and exchange of best practices. This will help attain higher global outcomes on SDGS and the post 2015 development agenda.
I am confident on behalf of the people of Zambia that this summit provides us an opportunity to emerge stronger and more focused to attaining the post 2015 development agenda.
FILE: First Lady Esther Lungu admiring a bottle of honey when she toured women Clubs in Itezhi Tezhi District during an Outreach Programme on Monday, September 7,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
SOUTH Africa has granted Zambia, access to its pure honey market following what it terms as Zambia’s compliance to South Africa’s sanitary import requirements.
This is contained in a media statement released to the media by Press Secretary at the Zambian High Commissioner in South Africa Nicky Shabolyo.
According to correspondence dated 25th September, 2015 from South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Zambia will now be able to export its pure honey into South Africa after the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Zambia confirmed compliance to the requirements.
“The National Plant Protection Organisation of South Africa (NPPOZA) hereby wishes to inform the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Zambia that after the NPPO of Zambia confirmed compliance to the sanitary import requirements for South Africa with regard to the importation of pure honey, a market access for pure honey from Zambia into South Africa has been granted,” the letter addressed to the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute and signed by Mr. Kgabo Matlala, Manager for International Plant Health Standards under the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa, said in part.
Mr. Matlala said that issuance of import permits for the importation of pure honey from Zambia into South Africa had already started.
“In our efforts to facilitate safe trade within the region, we look forward to future collaboration between the two NPPOs (National Plant Protection Organisations),” Mr. Matlala said in the letter.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba has welcomed the development saying this will go a long way in contributing to the improvement of lives of most rural Zambians and consequently to the development of the country’s economy.
Mr. Mwamba said it was encouraging that the long-standing issue had now been resolved and urged that all those trading in the commodity should ensure that they observe the conditions that Zambia and South Africa have agreed on through their respective government wings.
He, however, pointed out that some of the import requirements that still regulated the trade remained stringent and that Zambia would monitor the situation and engage South Africa to look at possibilities of relaxing some of the areas.
Under the permit which has just been issued, the honey should come from a country or zone free of Nosema ceranae (which is a small parasite that affects honey bees), or the honey should have been tested and found free of Nosema ceranae.
Pure honey shall only be packaged in closed and sealed new, unused, uncontaminated containers.
The permit also stipulates that on arrival of the consignment at the port of entry, a random sample may be drawn and sent to a laboratory for testing of Paenibacillus larvae (which causes American foulbrood disease, a highly contagious disease of bacterial origin affecting the larval and pupal stages of honeybees).
Should Paenibacillus larvae and Nosema ceranae be detected, notification of non-compliance shall be communicated to Zambia and all imports of honey shall be subjected to irradiation or sent back. South Africa will then advise Zambia of the actions to be taken.
All the honey is further required to be quarantined in Zambia at an approved quarantine facility by the department of veterinary services, at which point a sample will be drawn by a veterinary approved person and sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis of Nosema Ceranae and pollen. A valid certificate of analysis has to be obtained indicating the source of pollen, the lack Nosema Ceranae spores before a sanitary certificate can be issued.
Roan United on Saturday kept their slim chances of bouncing back to the FAZ Super Division alive after coming from behind to beat Copperbelt Buffaloes 2-1 at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya.
Victory in this Week 28 match was Roan’s 13th of the season and it pushed the third placed club to 49 points on the table, three behind second placed Kalulushi Modern Stars.
Copperbelt Buffaloes, formerly Kalewa, made a false start to this FAZ Division One North match with Job Kama giving them a 17th minute lead.
The Zambia Army outfit deserved to take an early lead after creating four great chances before breaking the deadlock.
The two teams went to half time break with a 1-0 score-line.
However, the John Lungu coached side managed to turn the game on its head with a revived performance in the last half.
It took just seven minutes after break for Roan to equalise through Jeffrey Siakasipe before Lyson Sikaonga grabbed the winner five minutes away from time.
This was Roan’s four consecutive victory.
Meanwhile, other Division One matches will be played on Sunday.
FAZ DIVISION ONE NORTH WEEK 28
Zesco SFC Vs. Chambishi
Kansanshi Dynamos Vs.Real Nakonde
Gomes Wanderers Vs. Mufulira Blackpool
Konkola Mine Police Vs. Mining Rangers
FQM Mining Operation Vs. Zesco Luapula
Ndola United Vs. Lumwana Radiants
Kalulushi Modern Stars Vs. Chindwin Sentries
Kitwe United Vs. Indeni
Like many other Zambians who have the interest of our beloved country at heart, I am confounded by President Edgar Lungu’s decision to create five more government ministries.
Since our beloved country’s political independence in October 1964, we have miserably and lamentably failed to use our national resources wisely in our quest to attain meaningful socioeconomic development and improve the livelihoods of the majority of our people. Besides, we have continued to mortgage our country by borrowing heavily from both local and external sources of funds in order to sustain government operations.
1.1 The UNIP Era:
During the UNIP era, for example, rampant economic and public-sector mismanagement resulted in the diversion of human, financial, and other national resources to unproductive projects and programs.
For instance, the creation of the Central Committee (a somewhat parallel structure to the National Assembly) and the position of Prime Minister that followed the introduction of a one-party State in 1972 contributed greatly to the misappropriation of public resources, and also escalated the cost of performing government functions.
During the same era, implementation of socialist policies increased our country’s public-sector borrowing and government spending to finance the operations of state companies, and the operations of their subsidiaries, especially in times when they were not able to generate profits.
Alan Whitworth has summed up the financial situation which our beloved country faced between the late 1960s and 1991 in the following words: “[V]irtually all resources were devoted to wages, debt service, subsidies … and bailing out parastatals.”
Besides, the compulsory recruitment of Grade 12 students to undergo military training and engage in agricultural production activities between 1975 and 1980 at Zambia National Service (ZNS) camps (as mandated by ZNS Act No. 121 of 1972) contributed to the draining of public coffers.
A lot of money was wasted on ZNS personnel, the construction of facilities to accommodate Grade 12 graduates, payments of stipends to the graduates, and on procurements of food, uniforms, semi-automatic rifles (SARs), and live ammunition and blanks for training purposes.
1.2 The MMD Era:
In March 2007, the late former President Levy Mwanawasa, during his official visit to Namibia, revealed that 65% of the national budget was devoted to the sustenance of a bloated state apparatus, and that only a paltry 35% was left for education, agriculture, healthcare, roads and bridges, and so forth.
In June 2009, former President Rupiah Banda decried the fact 50% of the government’s domestic revenues were spent on 1% of the population, including government ministers, and wondered how provision for roads, hospitals, schools, energy, and defence and security could be met.
1.3 The PF Era:
In October 2012, an article by Kabanda Chulu, which appeared in The Post Newspaper, revealed that 50% of the 2013 national budget would be spent on the wages, salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of civil servants and government officials.
And in October 2014, Comrade Alexander Chikwanda was quoted by Zambia Weekly as having revealed that 75% of Zambia’s domestic revenue in 2015 (amounting to K35 billion) will be consumed by wages, including those of Zambia’s 200,000 civil servants (K15 billion) and other salaries supported by government, leaving only 25% to cater for all other government operations designed to facilitate socioeconomic development in the country.
Besides, there are news stories reported by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe of The Post Newspapers and Katherine Nyirenda of the Times of Zambia, which have raised fears that Zambia may slip back into the ‘debt trap’—that is, a situation whereby a country’s borrowing from external sources of capital eventually leads to its ‘debt servicing’ (which includes interest payments plus amortization) in any given year being greater than the total amount of new loans it may secure, resulting in a reverse flow of capital from the debtor nation to its creditors.
One would perhaps do well to use the following summary provided by Zambia Weekly of September 11, 2015 to describe the evolvement of our beloved country’s debt burden:
“In the mid-1980s, in the face of an economic meltdown, [the] … UNIP government embarked on economic reforms supported by the [IMF] … and World Bank … to curb overall expenditure and reduce budgetary deficits. Yet, in 1987, Kaunda famously divorced Zambia from the IMF due to shortage of foreign exchange and food riots. When Frederick Chiluba’s MMD government in 1991 inherited a fiscal mess, he embarked on harsh Structural Adjustment Programmes approved by the IMF and World Bank [which] …. allowed Zambia to eventually qualify for the [HIPC] … and Multilateral Debt Relief … initiatives [and] … reduced the country’s debt from over $7 billion in 2005 to less than $1 billion in 2006. The foreign debt has since increased to over $6 billion.”
Clearly, it is surprising that President Edgar Lungu could create five more government ministries rather than trim the existing and highly bloated structure of government!
Apart from the general lack of both vision and compass among our national leaders, their apparent failure to prudently administer our country’s resources has made our quest to break the bondage of the majority of our people to want, misery and destitution a formidable challenge.
If it is actually not for our leaders’ lack of vision and compass, how else can one explain our failure to improve the livelihoods of the majority of our people when our beloved country is blessed with abundant natural endowments, which include fertile soil, ideal weather conditions, an ideal system of perennial rivers, a wide range of wildlife, wide stretches of natural forests and grasslands, a wide assortment of mineral resources, and a sizeable population of peaceful and hard-working citizens?
In the ensuing sections, I have outlined viable ways and means by which a Republican president who has the interest of our beloved country at heart can spearhead the process of administering our beloved country’s resources in order to save financial and material resources for application in meeting some of the needs and expectations of the people.
By the way, the need to prudently marshal our beloved country’s resources is one of several development-related issues that have been pressing hard upon my heart over the last 20 or so years.
2. Consolidation of Public Services
There is a need for any newly elected Republican president to seriously consider the prospect of consolidating some government services that would result in cost savings. Such service consolidation could include the following:
(a) Incorporation of the functions of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) that is currently vested in the Office of the Vice-President into the functions of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) in order to make it more efficient and effective by making it less prone to political meddling and manipulation;
(b) Creation of an autonomous Bureau of Statistics and Archives to replace the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the National Archives of Zambia (NAZ) so that the new entity can freely and independently collect, process, maintain, publish, and archive essential data and information about our country;
(c) Detachment of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) from the Ministry of Agriculture and conversion of the Agency into an autonomous body in order for it to perform its duties without any political meddling or manipulation, and to broaden its mandate to the provision of assistance to the needy by incorporating the functions of the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme currently administered through the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, including the Social Cash Transfer Scheme; and
(d) Removal of public assistance to chiefs from the office of the Republican president and place it under the aegis of a new Ministry for Culture, Gender and Community Services, which should deal directly with the House of Chiefs in matters relating to the various forms of assistance extended to chiefs, including the allowances or subsidies granted to chieftains, electrification of chieftains’ palaces, the procurement of motor vehicles for chieftains, and any other matters relating to the welfare of chieftains.
3. A Smaller National Government
Clearly, there is a pressing need for our beloved country to streamline its government structure by creating ministries that do not have overlapping functions. The national government should, in this regard, have at most 12 government ministries, the functions of which should be complemented by the work of several semi-autonomous executive agencies.
Each of the 12 government ministries should have no more than 1 Deputy Minister, and no more than 1 Permanent Secretary. And each of the executive agencies should be administered by a small group of technocrats.
The need for a newly elected Republican president to make political appointments designed to reward major political supporters, and to attain satisfactory levels of ethnic and gender balancing, can be fulfilled within such a leaner government structure.
To paraphrase Mr. William J. Clinton, a former U.S. president, we need to create a government that is smaller, a government that lives within its means, and a government that does more with less.
The creation of a “smaller” national government can be accomplished by getting rid of sinecures—that is, positions that inflate the cost of running government but which contribute little or nothing to the overall output of government services.
Suggestively, a smaller national government for our beloved country should be composed of a fewer number of Cabinet portfolios, such as the following: (a) Education, Training and Sport; (b) Public Health and Sanitation; (c) Agriculture and Food Security; (d) Finance and Revenue; (e) Commerce, Trade and Industry; (f) Defence and Security; (g) Home Affairs; (h) Lands and Public Housing; (i) Works, Supply and Transport; (j) Justice, Prisons and Immigration; (k) Culture, Gender and Community Services; and (l) Foreign Affairs and Tourism.
(I have provided a description of the specific functions of each of the suggested government ministries below.)
It is also important to make a distinction between “line” ministries, which perform actual functions (such as the Ministry of Health) and “staff” ministries, whose functions are advisory in nature (such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock).
Accordingly, “line” ministries would necessarily be larger, and would require larger allocations of funds, while “staff” ministries would be smaller, and would require smaller allocations of funds. It is, therefore, strange that Comrade Edgar Lungu has decided to create two ministries out of a “staff” ministry like the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, for example.
In the Table below, I have provided an example of savings that would accrue from having a 12-member Cabinet and 1 Deputy Minister for each of the Cabinet portfolios.
Performance of the functions of the Executive branch of the national government would be complemented by the work of several semi-autonomous government agencies, as provided for in the Republican constitution. For reasons of cost, each of the semi-autonomous government agencies should be managed by a small group of technocrats, and should be expected to enhance the national government’s ability to meet the changing needs and expectations of the people.
Civil servants who would be affected by the streamlining exercise should be encouraged to seek early retirement with full benefits. Professional and skilled civil servants should be re-deployed in the handful of new government ministries, while others could be re-deployed in executive agencies.
With respect to District Commissioners, they would need to be afforded the opportunity to compete for positions in the civil service.
Huge savings in the form of salaries, special allowances, and utility allowances could be made through the streamlining of the national government.
Table:
Example of Savings to Be Made
Current Structure*
Proposed Structure
Posts
K/Post/Yr
Total K/Yr
Posts
K/Post/Yr
Total K/Yr
Minister
20
316,780
6,335,600
12
316,780
3,801,360
D/Minister
32
302,080
9,666,560
12
302,080
3,624,960
Total:
K16,002,160
Total:
K7,426,320
Savings:
K16,002,160 – 7,426,320 = K8,575,840 per year.
Other savings would be in the form of the various kinds of payments currently being made by the government on behalf of government officials who would be retired, including payments for housing, phones, buildings, office supplies, automobiles, gasoline, water, and electricity.
All these savings could supplement the existing sources of government revenue, which include personal and business income taxes, value-added tax, postal revenues, national lottery, commercial undertakings, customs duties, passport fees, fire-arm registration fees, excise taxes, hunting licence fees, work permit fees, citizenship and naturalization fees, and NRC replacement fees.
The selling and/or buying of government bonds by the Bank of Zambia through the Lusaka Stock Exchange and regional stock markets (by means of “open market operations”) on behalf of the government could also provide additional revenues for the central government.
The creation of a government with a smaller number of Cabinet portfolios needs to be complemented by the following measures designed to capture additional cost savings:
(a) Removal of unnecessary and cumbersome bureaucratic procedures and excessive paperwork that prevent civil servants from competently performing their work;
(b) Waging a vicious war against corruption and, thereby, reduce the hemorrhage of public resources through the scourge;
(c) Ensuring that tenders to perform sub-contracted work and/or supply materials to the government are awarded to companies which have the lowest bids, coupled with relevant experience; and
(d) Reduction of the number of our country’s foreign embassies in a manner that would require servicing clusters of countries through single embassies by means of extra-accreditation.
The handful of government ministries suggested above should be constituted in a manner that would make it possible for them to perform all existing and any planned government functions. To reiterate, performance of the functions of the Executive branch of the national government should be complemented by the work of several semi-autonomous government agencies, as provided for in the Republican constitution.
The functions of portfolios in President Edgar Lungu’s Cabinet which are not reflected in the suggested structure of our country’s government should be performed as follows:
(a) Ministry of Tourism and Arts: Functions should be performed by the proposed Ministry Foreign Affairs and Tourism; and the proposed Ministry of Culture, Gender and Community Services.
(b) Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs: Functions should be performed by the proposed Ministry of Culture, Gender and Community Services. There is really no need to have a government ministry intended to provide services to only 286 or so chieftains! I also do not understand the rationale for the provision of public assistance to our chieftains through both the Office of the Republican President and the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs!
(c) Ministry of Labor: Functions should be performed by a new government agency to be referred to as “Labor Standards and Occupational Safety Board” or any semblance thereof.
(d) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: Functions should be performed by the existing Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA).
(e) Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environment: Functions should be performed by the proposed Ministry of Lands and Public Housing, and the existing Environmental Council of Zambia.
(f) Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development: Functions should be performed by the proposed Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry; the existing Energy Regulation Board; and the existing National Water and Sanitation Council.
(g) The “Communications” part of the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications should have been assigned to the existing Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA).
(h) Ministry of Community Development and Child Health: Functions should have been assigned to the a proposed Ministry of Culture, Gender and Community Services; and the existing Ministry of Health.
(i) Ministry of Local Government and Housing: Functions should be performed by Provincial Deputy Ministers and Provincial Permanent Secretaries; the proposed Ministry of Culture, Gender and Community Services; and the proposed Ministry of Lands and Public Housing.
(j) Ministry of Gender and Child Development: Functions should be performed by the proposed Ministry of Culture, Gender and Community Services; the proposed Ministry of Education, Training and Sport; and the proposed Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.
(k) Ministry of Youth and Sport: Functions should be performed by the proposed Ministry of Education, Training and Sport. The function that the government is currently performing in overseeing the administration of sporting activities which are outside the realm of formal and tertiary education is misplaced. Superintendence over amateur and professional sporting activities should be left to non-governmental institutions, associations, and/or federations. And
(l) There is absolutely no need for a new Ministry of Development Planning! While our country needs sound, formalized national planning, such planning should not be the preponderance of a government ministry to generate Zambia’s annual and/or longer-term socioeconomic plans.
Moreover, there is no need for the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC), which was established in 1999 to engage in policy articulation, advising the government and the Republican president on the most efficient ways of implementing economic reform programs, identifying obstacles to socio-economic development, and, inter alia, undertaking research on the application of socioeconomic policies.
By and large, the capacity for generating, implementing and evaluating policies should exist within government ministries. After all, government ministries are supposed to be staffed with our fellow citizens who are the finest in their respective fields of endeavor.
There is, therefore, a need to require each and every government ministry to bear the responsibility for making estimates of expenditures and stipulating the projects and programs on which the expenditures would be committed. Thereafter, each ministry’s budget and project proposals should be presented to the Cabinet for scrutiny.
The composite of government ministries’ refined budget and project proposals should ultimately constitute the Republic of Zambia’s “National Plan” for a stipulated period of time. Here are a few suggestions of what would need to be included in each ministry’s proposals: (a) role of the ministry; (b) existing projects, progress made on them, extenuating circumstances (if any), and contemplated projects; and (c) any other pertinent matters related to the ministry’s mandate.
4. An Efficient National Government
There is also a need for our country to create a national government that is not only “smaller,” but one that is “efficient” as well—that is, a government that does more with less.
This can be accomplished by:
1) Passage of pieces of legislation designed to reduce the incidence of by-elections, which have been costly to the nation. And
2) Implementation of strategies designed to create a work environment that is conducive to the nurturing and tapping of new ideas and innovations from civil servants—ideas and innovations which can be used to improve the dispensation of public services.
Such strategies should include the following:
(a) “Quality circles,” which represent a Japanese management practice that provides for work groups to meet regularly (say, once every month) on the employer-organization’s time to critically discuss production and/or operational problems and how the existing modus operandi can be altered to yield improved performance.
(b) A “gripe system,” which would require an employer to introduce a formal system for gauging employees’ innovative ideas and suggestions, and which should be operated by means of suggestion boxes and a hotline through which employees could anonymously or otherwise suggest changes that can benefit the organization or institution involved.
(c) A “ringi” decision-making system, which refers to a Japanese decision-making system in which an employer-organization encourages individual middle-level managers and administrators to generate or suggest innovative ideas and prepare a plan or proposal (referred to as a “ringisho”) on how the ideas can be implemented to the benefit of the organization or institution.
The system may be described in a nutshell as follows: first, the written proposal, or “ringisho,” is initially circulated among the sponsor’s peers for examination and comments; and, second, the “ringisho” is sent to the employer-organization’s managers or administrators for evaluation and possible approval for implementation either as suggested by the sponsor or with some suggested modifications by the sponsor’s peers.
(d) An “Open-Door Policy,” which would require senior managers and/or administrators to generate a formal policy that encourages managers, administrators, and supervisors to adopt an open-door posture so that the rank and file can freely call upon them any time to suggest or discuss ways in which quality, productivity, work-related stress, employee morale, and so forth, can be improved. And
(e) Adoption of “Theory Z” management, which is essentially a Japanese management philosophy that seeks to integrate consensual decision making, greater job security, holistic concern for each and every organizational member, open communication, and the like, as ways and means of ensuring the long-term success and survival of an organization or institution.
5. Aid from Development Partners
In addition to the creation of a smaller and more efficient government, we need to ensure that the financial and material resources provided by our country’s development partners are used wisely.
In this regard, we should earnestly thank our beloved country’s multilateral and bilateral cooperating partners, including the African Development Bank, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, the IMF, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and The World Bank.
And we should be grateful for their support in different fields and sectors of our country, including agriculture, decentralization, education, energy, gender, governance, health, housing, HIV/AIDS, macroeconomics, private sector development, social protection, science and technology, tourism, water, transportation infrastructure, and the environment.
There is no doubt that their support has continued to bolster our efforts to address some of the problems facing our country and its people, including poverty, hunger, ignorance, illiteracy, disease, widespread unemployment, disadvantaged children, dilapidated infrastructure, crime, corruption, and moral decay.
Therefore, their continued support in these important fields and sectors of our beloved country needs to be acknowledged and appreciated.
At this juncture, allow me to share with you the following comment made by Mr. Murray Sanderson in an article entitled “High Rates, High Charges, High Taxes,” which appeared in Volume 2/Number 2 of the Profit Magazine of July 1993: “High inflation and high taxes are a reflection of inefficient and bloated government institutions which serve themselves instead of serving the public.”
6. The Cost of By-Elections
To circumvent the costs associated with Parliamentary or local government by-elections, we should make the following additions to the draft Republican constitution:
(a) A constitutional clause providing for a political party that loses a Member of Parliament or elected local government official due to death or incapacitation to appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the incumbent’s term.
(b) A constitutional clause providing for a Member of Parliament or elected local government official who loses a seat through a nullification of his or her election by a court of law to be replaced by a candidate from another political party or an independent candidate who secured the 2nd highest number of votes to serve the remainder of his or her term.
(c) A constitutional clause providing for a parliamentary or elective local government seat that becomes vacant due to an incumbent’s expulsion from his or her political party, or due to his or her decision to voluntarily leave his or her party, to be filled through an appointment of another member of the political party by the party’s national executive committee, or any semblance thereof, to serve the remainder of the term.
(d) A constitutional clause providing for a Member of Parliament or elected local government official whose political party ceases to exist due the dissolution or de-registration of his or her political party to become an independent elected official and serve the remainder his or her term.
(e) By-elections should be held only in the case of unopposed office bearers; or in the case of non-availability of persons with the second highest number of votes due to death or incapacitation of the persons with the second highest number of votes, or due to a tie in the number of votes obtained by persons with the second highest number of votes, or due to any other reasons.
Addendum:
Functions of the Suggested Government Ministries
1. Education, Training and Sport: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on matters and issues relating to the following: general and tertiary education; vocational training; the training of teachers; adult literacy programs; matters concerning remuneration for teachers, lecturers, trainers, and researchers; and sporting programs in all educational and training institutions.
2. Public Health and Sanitation: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on matters and issues relating to the following: medical care, medical research, child health and development, family planning, disease control and prevention, food safety (local and imported foodstuff), drug safety (local and imported medicines), safety of herbal medicines, public health education, public health inspections, and matters concerning remuneration for public health personnel.
3. Agriculture and Food Security: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on matters and issues pertaining to the following: sustainable agricultural development and long-term food security—including the provision of agricultural incentives, support to agribusiness establishments and agricultural research centers, damming rivers, and construction of irrigation canals.
4. Finance and Revenue: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on: financial matters and monetary issues, including the stock / securities market; national debt management and external debt resolution; management of all state-owned enterprises; administration, dispensation and recovery of loans granted to students and trainees admitted to institutions of higher learning, and management of a government scholarship fund through a “Loans and Scholarships Committee” to be created in due course; and revenue generation through taxation, customs and excise duties, service fees (charges), superintendence over the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA), and provision of postal services through the Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST).
5. Commerce, Trade and Industry: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on trade and industrialization strategy, tourism, mining, business and investment promotion, regulation of imports and exports, trade relations, registration of foreign companies, research and development (R&D) support for local manufacturers, and superintendence over the operations of the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA).
6. Defence and Security: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on matters and issues concerning the following: enhancement of national defence and security, including the issues of training, equipment, and matters concerning housing and remuneration for defence and security personnel.
7. Home Affairs: To be directly responsible for advising the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: the protection of life and property; the preservation of law and order; the detection and prevention of crime; and the operations of the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
8. Lands and Public Housing: To be directly responsible for advising the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on, and spearheading the implementation of policies relating to, the following: delineation, administration and development of state and customary lands; management of the land resettlement program; issuance of title deeds; resolution of land-related disputes; provision of consent in the acquisition, transfer and leasing of lands; implementation of home ownership schemes for all civil servants; provision of low-cost rental housing units for low-income families; management of a home-ownership scheme for low-income families to be financed through low interest mortgages; stipulation of fair eligibility requirements to be met by applicants for low-income rental public housing; generation of rules of occupancy, and determination of rental and other related charges; and derivation of a grievance procedure and guidelines for resolving any and all the issues and matters relating to non-compliance with rules of occupancy.
9. Works, Supply and Transport: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on matters and issues relating to the following: utilization and management of nationally owned pieces of land; provision and maintenance of vital infrastructure nationwide – including an efficient, inter-modal and safe network of ground and air transportation; development of malleable stretches of the Zambezi, Kafue, Luangwa and other sizable perennial rivers for water transportation – including the proposed Shire-Zambezi Waterway involving Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique; construction, renovation and maintenance of government facilities and pieces of property nationwide; the supply of office supplies, fixtures and equipment, and maintenance of office equipment; and physical arrangements for party functions.
10. Justice, Prisons and Immigration: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on legal matters (including representation of the government), protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, administration of the Zambia Prison Service, legal aid, national registration, passports and immigration, citizenship and naturalization, work permits, treaties and agreements with other countries, intellectual property rights (patents, copyrights and trademarks), and remuneration for judicial personnel and support staff.
11. Culture, Gender and Community Services: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on issues and matters relating to the following: preservation of the country’s national treasures, including national monuments, museums, historical sites, cherished traditional and cultural values; promotion of traditional music and culture-related crafts; national unity and patriotism; religious harmony; national ceremonies and festivals; and issues relating to women, children, disabled citizens, and retirees and the aged. And
12. Foreign Affairs and Tourism: To be directly responsible for advising and representing the REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT on: foreign political relations, including conflict resolution and peace-keeping efforts; consular affairs and services; profiles of foreign countries; services and vital information to Zambians in, or traveling to, foreign countries; publicizing Zambian society abroad; tourism; and management of a program which shall confer rare and special “Zambian Residency” status upon a selected number of distinguished foreigners
The author, Mr. Henry Kyambalesa, is a Zambian academic currently living in the City and County of Denver in the State of Colorado, USA. 1535 Krameria Street, Denver, CO 80220 / (303) 399-1765
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde has called for strengthened private sector partnership and participation in the training of health workers in the country in order to meet the internationally set Nurse – Patient ratio of 2.5 per 1,000 population as currently the country is at 0.8 Nurse to a 1,000 population.
Dr. Kasonde made the call during the first combined Graduation Ceremony for Mansa and St. Pauls Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Nchelenge District last Friday.
The Health Minister disclosed that there is need to strengthen partnership with the private sector in training health workers for the country because Government alone cannot meet the target as set by the international health bodies.
Dr. Kasonde said Government values the partnership that exists between Government and the Church in the training of health workers as both the Church and Government were serving the same constituency which is the people of Zambia.
And Mansa Diocese Bishop Patrick Chisanga appealed to Government on behalf of St. Pauls School of Nursing and Midwifery to start offering training for Registered Nursing because the Institution has the required infrastructure in place.
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Boniface Chimbwali appealed to the Ministry of Health to send specialist Doctors to all strategic Health Institutions in the Province.
And Luapula Province Medical Officer Dr. Mathews Ng’ambi disclosed that he is working towards having a skilled health worker to assist in deliveries at every health facility in the province within the next five years.
“In the next five years, every woman in Luapula should deliver with the help of a skilled health worker,” he said.
Zambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency, Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with members of the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa in his office
Designate to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba, has urged Zambians in that country as well as in other territories under the Mission’s representation to take advantage of the upcoming consultative forum on formulation of a national diaspora policy and make submissions that will help address their challenges.
Mr. Mwamba said Zambians living is South Africa, as well as Lesotho and Madagascar, which also fall under the Mission in South Africa, should ensure that they attend the consultative forum to be held in Lusaka from 7 – 9th October, 2015.
The High Commissioner was speaking when he met representatives of the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa at his office in Pretoria yesterday.
“We are inviting Zambians living in South Africa and indeed in our other territories of Lesotho and Madagascar to attend the diaspora forum. It is an opportunity for you to voice out your concerns, express your hopes, your desires and your challenges. That forum is key to us just as it is to you as it could, maybe eventually allow us to provide certain services for our citizens, which we are not empowered to do at the moment,” Mr. Mwamba said.
He told the group that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lusaka could have easily asked diplomatic staff to attend the event and make submissions on behalf of the citizens but had opted to invite the intended primary beneficiaries so that it could get information first hand.
The High Commissioner also encouraged the group to join and work with the Zambia Association in South Africa (ZASA).
The group also offered to be part of the preparations for the national day of prayer and fasting for Zambians in South Africa which the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria will hold to coincide with President Edgar Lungu’s proclamation of 18th October, 2015 as a day of national prayer, and fasting for reconciliation, forgiveness and generally to encourage the nation to seek the face of God.
The Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa will also hold an independence mass celebration on 25th October, 2015 to which Mr. Mwamba has been invited.
Chairperson of the group, Mr. Chimwemwe Mtonga said a lot of Zambians in South Africa have always wanted to contribute to the development of their country but had failed to find avenues through which to do so.
“Some of us have done great things for South Africa and it worries us that we have not been able to do not even a small fraction of these things for our own country. We have not been given that chance even when we have offered to help,” Mr. Mtonga said.
He pointed out that the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa had consolidated itself into a formal body and operated under a constitution.
Zambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency, Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with members of the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa in his officeZambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency, Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with members of the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa in his officeChairperson of the organisation Mr. Chimwemwe Mtonga presenting a copy of their constitution to the High Commissioner.Zambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency, Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with members of the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa in his officeZambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency, Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with members of the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa in his officeZambia’s High Commissioner – Designate to South Africa, His Excellency, Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with members of the Zambian Catholic Community in South Africa in his office
Mwansabombwe Member of Parliament Rodgers Mwewa says he will ensure that his constituency benefits from the national cake.
Mr Mwewa said this at Koni Primary school during the launch of the Luapula Livestock development programme organized by Heifer International Zambia.
And Mr Mwewa has implored people in his constituency to avoid butchering cattle that Heifer has brought to the area.
He said taking cattle to the area is a step in a right direction especially that people are only known to be fishermen and not herdsmen.
Mr Mwewa said he would be happy if Mwansabombwe district became the leading cattle rearing area in Luapula Province.
The MP said he is hopeful that people will now have an interest of keeping cattle and discard the belief that the villagers in the area cannot keep animals.
Mr Mwewa thanked Chief Mwata Kazembe for supporting the introduction of cattle rearing in his chiefdom.
Earlier, chief Mwata Kazembe urged the government to consider increasing the number of fertilizers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to his subjects for the 2015/2016 farming season to enhance production in his chiefdom.
Meanwhile, Heifer has presented 20 cows and five bulls to Koni cooperative group of Chief Mwata Kazembe’s area.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Maxus Ng’onga officially launched the Luapula Livestock development programme on behalf of the Minister, Given Lubinda at an occasion characterized by traditional dances and singing.
Luapula Province Minister, Brigadier General, Benson Kapaya, Luapula Permanent Secretary, Boniface Chimbwali and his counterpart from Ministry of Agriculture, Dr David Shamulenge also attended the launch.
LUSAKA Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga has said the search at the home of President Edgar Lungu’s Special Assistant for Political Affairs Kaizer Zulu on Friday has yielded positive results.
Ms Katanga clarified in an interview with the Sunday Times yesterday that the search at Mr Zulu’s residence was purely incidental to the case the Lusaka Division Police were handling concerning the shooting incident at Chrismar Hotel.
“Our office conducted a search in relation to the case that he (Mr Zulu) is facing against the Firearms Act as well as the Penal Code, threatening violence. So since it’s to do with firearms we needed to look at other issues related to the case.
“I can say the search yielded positive results. As I have said, in the course of investigations there are some things which police may be looking for incidental to the case, so what we were looking for yielded positive results,” she said.
Ms Katanga could, however, not divulge more details regarding the findings after the search, saying other things found could not be material to the case.
Police on Friday arrested and detained Mr Zulu at Woodlands Police Station for allegedly threatening violence against former vice-president Enoch Kavindele’s son, Enoch Jr, and firing gunshots in the air at Lusaka’s Chrismar Hotel in the early hours of September 19 after a difference.
And President Edgar Lungu has been commended for ensuring that his Political Aide Kaizer Zulu answers to the Police for his conduct in an incident where he fired two gunshots after being involved in an argument with former Vice President Enoch Kavindele’s sons Enock Junior and Kaunda at Chrismar Hotel last Saturday.
The Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali says President Lungu has done the right thing by allowing the Police to pursue Mr Zulu’s matter.
Mr Tayali says his organization hopes that Police will come up with a full report over the said incident.
He has told Qfm News by telephone that this will help the President to make the right decision with respect to Mr. Zulu’s fate.
Police yesterday arrested Mr Zulu and charged him with threatening violence.
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
(Mark 2:22, NKJV)
A New Way of Thinking
Are you ready for increase? Are you ready to go to the next level spiritually, physically and emotionally? In today’s verse, Jesus is basically saying that you can’t go to a new level with an old way of thinking.
I’ve found that many people hear the truth that God has more in store for them, and something resonates on the inside. Their spirit comes into agreement with God. But oftentimes, their natural minds will try to talk them out it. Thoughts come like, “It’s not going to happen for you. You’re not going to have a great year. You know what the economy is like.” Or, “You’re never going to get well. You saw what the medical report said.” “You’re never going to get married. You’ve been single so long.”
Friend, those are the old wineskins that you have to get rid of. This is a new season. What’s happened in the past is over and done. You may have been through some disappointments; you may have tried and failed, or things didn’t work out. That’s okay. We serve a God of restoration.
It’s time to get a new vision for your life. It’s time to open yourself to a new way of thinking so that you can move forward and receive all of the blessings God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
“Father in heaven, today I choose to get rid of old wineskins. I choose to release old thinking, old habits and anything that would keep me from Your best. Strengthen me by Your Spirit so that I can live my life in a way that pleases You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Nkana won in Wusakile while Mighty Mufulira Wanderers home coming after two months away didn’t go according to plan.
12-time champions Nkana rallied to beat 10-man Lusaka Dynamos 3-1 at home in Kitwe to erase the 3-0 first leg loss this past May.
Dynamos took the lead in the 8th minute via a penalty converted by Thomas Kunda after Joseph Musonda had fouled Conlyde Luchanga.
Donashano Malama equalised in the 23rd minute with a superb long-range strike.
Three minutes later, Dynamos were reduced to ten men when defender Jubell Sakala handled Simon Bwalya’s header on the line.
Striker Walter Bwalya stepped up to convert the penalty before completing his brace in the 34th minute with a chip over goalkeeper Robert Nsama.
Then there was a sigh of relief for striker Jimmy Ndhlovu who broke his Nkana drought in stoppage time of the 90 minutes since returning on loan from Power in July.
Meanwhile at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira, Mighty Mufulira Wanderers first home game after their six-home-match ban was reduced to two games ended in a 1-0 loss to Green Buffaloes.
Buffaloes won the match thanks to a 15th minute Jack Chirwa goal.
Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota
President Edgar Lungu’s Special Aide for political affairs Kaizer Zulu has been advised to resign on moral grounds following his arrest for allegedly threatening violence.
Mr. Zulu, whose alleged offense emanates from last Saturday shooting at Lusaka’s Chrismar Hotel, has been encouraged to do so to save President Lungu from embarrassment.
Constitutional lawyer Sakwiba Sikota thinks that despite the fact that there is no legal requirement that can compel Mr. Zulu to resign if he faces charges which do not directly have anything to do with his duties, his predicament hinges on morality.
Mr. Sikota states that morality however requires that the Republican President is not put in an embarrassing position where someone who is a closer staffer of his is facing criminal charges.
He has told Qfm News that this is even when the alleged criminal charges do not related to his official duties.
Mr. Sikota who is also opposition United Liberal Party (ULP) president has advised that if he was in Mr. Zulu’s shoes he would therefore resign to same the Head of State the embarrassment.
He notes for the very least he would ask for leave until such time issues surrounding the charges he has been slapped of threatening violence are sorted out.
Mr. Sikota has suggested that in doing so, one has to however take into consideration whether going on leave would be fair to the person whom one is supposed to be providing services for, who in this case he says is the President.
He says if going on leave, on the other hand, will create a void it would better to completely step aside in order to free the Head of State to put in somebody who does not have the impediment that one has to perform his duties like Mr. Zulu has.
