. Wina

By CHILA NAMAIKO –
PARLIAMENT has unanimously approved the creation of new ministries in line with President Edgar Lungu’s proposal to re-align and reconstitute some portfolios to enhance service delivery and economic development.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Inonge Wina told Parliament yesterday that the new ministries would be funded under the 2017 national Budget.
The newly-created ministries include Housing and Infrastructure Development, Water Development and Sanitation, and National Guidance and Religious Affairs.
Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday took turns to debate the motion moved by the Vice-President to approve the abolition and establishment of Government ministries and departments in pursuant to Article 92 (2) (d) of the Constitution.
First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Namugala called for a division for the lawmakers to vote electronically on the motion, and those in favour of the motion were 90, while 47 voted against it.
Earlier in moving the motion, Ms Wina said the new ministries and re-aligned departments were key in enhancing service delivery and helping the country to achieve more sustainable development.
“This will rationalise existing structures to improve service delivery to the people as Government is in a hurry to diversify the economy from mining to agriculture and manufacturing, as well as provide socio-economic services to the people. To achieve this, we need to decentralise operations,” she said.
She said President Lungu’s proposal to create new ministries needed support to enable the Government provide good services to its citizens.
Patriotic Front (PF) Msanzala MP Peter Daka supported the motion, saying President Lungu was on the right path.
He cited the ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs which would help foster more peace and unity.
Independent Mwembeshi MP Machima Jamba and his Kantanshi counterpart Anthony Mumba hailed the President for the creation of the ministry of Water Development and Sanitation to enhance water provision in rural areas.
PF Chama South MP Davison Mung’andu said the new ministries were key in uplifting the welfare of all citizens regardless of political affiliation, hence it was wrong to politicise the President’s proposal.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Monze MP Jack Mwiimbu, however, argued that the new ministries would entail Government increasing its expenditure and called for prudent use.
And Ms Wina told the House that the new ministries would be included in the 2017 national Budget and that the liquidity of the nation was secured.
She also said the civil servants would get their salaries before the end of this month.
This was in response to UPND Kafue MP Miriam Chonya and her Kabompo West counterpart Ambrose Lufuma, who asked, during the Vice-President’s question time, whether the new ministries’ expenditure would be included in the new Budget and if the civil servants’ salaries for October were secured.
Ms Wina urged Zambians to be wary of a named politician who could not ‘swallow’ his pride to accept the fact that President Lungu was duly elected.
She said Mr Lungu was the only duly elected President of Zambia in the August 11 general elections, and any other politician claiming to be President was just masquerading as such.
The Government warned that it would not tolerate civil servants not hanging the Presidential portrait of Mr Lungu in public offices.
She was responding to PF Nchelenge MP Anthony Malama who asked what measures the Government was taking to ensure that civil servants placed the portrait of Mr Lungu in public institutions.
Meanwhile, the Government has set aside about US$105 million for the Jimbe-Ikele’ngi Road project and a contractor has moved on site, while the Government would fulfill its promise to build the Robert Matoka University in North-Western Province.
Ms Wina also distanced the PF from a statement by party member of the central committee Paul Moonga, on Thursday, proposing to extend the  term of office of the President and MPs to seven years, saying he was expressing a personal opinion.