.LUNGU

By DELPHINE ZULU –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed Cabinet ministers to update Zambians on a weekly basis on important Government decisions in order to improve information flow.
Meanwhile, Mr Lungu said he is convinced that he has the best team in his Government that would deliver according to the people’s expectations.
The Head of State has further instructed his Cabinet and deputy ministers to prove to detractors that the ruling party means well.
He was speaking at State House yesterday when he swore in Gender and Child Development minister, Nkandu Luo and deputy ministers in all the Ministries except Finance.
Mr Lungu said his administration only has one and a half years to deliver and that he expected hard work among all leaders.
“This must be a custom, I want to see developmental statements from each ministry weekly, this will help the nation to know exactly where we are in terms of developing our country,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu ordered his ministers to be proactive in their duties and not be reactive especially in Parliament.
He said he did not want a situation where his ministers were struggling to answer questions without assistance from their deputies, because of a failure to work together.
The President urged ministries to ensure that they coordinated and moved together on issues of development.
“This is the best team, don’t worry about what people say, go and work because we only have one and a half years to prove ourselves, even in football we have seen that winners have come from behind,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu urged the deputy ministers to interact more with their Ministers to avoid uncoordinated statements to the nation and in Parliament which was confusing and showed lack of seriousness.
He said he wanted to engage Parliament through the Parliamentary reforms committee to work out a modality of how deputy ministers could be active in Parliament and contribute during debates.
“I want to see how you can be integrated fully so that if your Ministers are not around you can be utilised. The challenge is if it has not worked somewhere but even then, there is always a beginning. These will be getting taxpayers’ money, so let them work, my Veep acts when I am away,” Mr Lungu said.
Those appointed are Matero Member of Parliament (MP) Miles Sampa who retained his position in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, while Richard Musukwa and Charles Zulu have been retained at Mines, Energy and Water Development.
Stephen Kampyongo and Bwalya Chungu are Deputy Ministers in the Office of the Vice-President, Keith Mukata to Justice, Gerry Chanda and Panji Kaunda are assigned to Home Affairs, while Chitalu Chilufya has retained his position at Health.
Rayford Mbulu has been moved to Foreign Affairs, Ronald Chitotela to the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Greyford Monde has been retained at Agriculture, while Maxus Ng’onga joins Mr Monde as a new entrant.
Forrie Tembo goes back to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, while David Mabumba has been retained as deputy in the Ministry of Education.
Nicholas Banda goes back to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing together with Danny Chingimbu.
Davis Mwango and Susan Kawandami would be deputy ministers in the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Patrick Ngoma and Esther Banda have been taken to the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, while Christopher Mulenga is the Deputy Minister of Defence.
Alfredah Kansembe has been reappointed and taken to the Ministry of Labour, while Obvious Chisala and Josephine Limata are deputy ministers in the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health.
Dorothy Kazunga and Joseph Lungu are at Ministry of Gender, while John Kufuna is Chiefs and Traditional Affairs deputy minister and Mutaba Mwali and Richwell Siamunene have been taken to Transport, Works, Supply and Communications.