By SYLVESTER MWALE –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu will not tolerate civil servants that are frustrating Government efforts after being manipulated by opposition political party leaders.

. Jere

Mr Lungu said public workers were expected to tow the line of the ruling party because it was the one entrusted by the Zambian people in 2011 and January this year after the death of President Michael Sata, to govern the nation.
“But my experience has been that there are civil servants who don’t carry this confidence the Zambian people carry in PF (Patriotic Front) and have been frustrating programmes in a number of ways,” he said.
Mr Lungu was speaking at State House yesterday when he swore in Albert Muchanga as Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice-President, in charge of parliamentary business, and Bishop Edward Chomba as Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary.
Mr Lungu also swore in Paul Chanda as Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, while former Deputy Inspector General of Police Solomon Jere was sworn in as High Commissioner to Nigeria.
“You are civil servants and as civil servants, we expect you to tow the line of the party in power because it is that party that has got the vision which the people reposed their trust,” he said.
He advised the public workers to desist from falling prey to the opposition party leaders who were telling them that the ruling party was on the wrong course with the development of the nation.
“If you think we are on the wrong course, the best you can do is just quit before I ask you to leave. Simple and straight forward programmes like issuance of NRC programmes are being frustrated, why?” he wondered.
Mr Lungu challenged Mr Muchanga to help Vice-President Inonge Wina, who was leader of Government business in parliament, in providing prompt and diligent answers to pertinent issues raised in the House.
“Your reputation is impeccable and I trust that you will help the Vice-President as leader of the House in Parliament to be equal to the task and answer all questions through various ministries, promptly, diligently and meaningfully,” he said.
The President expressed concern at the low access of clean water in rural areas and challenged Bishop Chomba, the new permanent secretary to ensure that the rural community had access to the commodity to avoid outbreaks of diseases.
Mr Lungu also tasked the new Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, Mr Chanda, to look into how Zambians could be involved in mining activities through cooperatives.
He said the splitting of the ministry should help Mr Chanda to also focus on how the mines could continue with operations amid the power deficit and low copper prices on the international market.
President Lungu tasked Dr Jere to learn how women had managed to play a critical role in the economic development of Nigeria.