Give Mwanakatwe chance – Lungu

Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:55:49 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA and SIMON MUNTEMBA

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says Margaret Mwanakatwane, the newly appointed Finance Minister, is equal to the task and should be given time to prove herself.

Mr Lungu told reporters at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) enroute to Rwanda, that it was expected that some quarters would react negatively to the reshuffle.

He described criticism of Ms Mwanakatwe, bordering on personal issues, as unfortunate.

Ms Mwanakatwe, he said, should be given chance to work because she was equal to the task.

Mr Lungu is in Rwanda at the invitation of his counterpart, Paul Kagame, aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between Zambia and the East African nation.

State House Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda, said the trip will also serve as reciprocal visit to the state visit paid by president Kagame to Zambia in June last year.

In a statement to the Daily Nation, Mr Chanda explained that the visit was carefully selected as the Head of State was expected to witness Rwanda’s best practices for implementation of economic zones.

He said the visit will further help enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries especially in Aviation, Information Communications Technology (ICT), Tourism, Trade and Investment, among other areas.

“This trip will enhance economic co-operation and it is a carefully chosen state visit where President Lungu will witness best practices for Rwanda in terms of implementation of economic zones that they have undertaken.