Lungu orders reshuffle of civil servants

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 08:04:06 +0000

By Nation Reporter

THE Public Service Management Division should reshuffle the civil service in order to improve service delivery to the general citizenry, President Edgar Lungu has directed.

Speaking at the Zambian mission in Pretoria yesterday when he addressed Zambian residents in South Africa, President Lungu said public service workers needed to be moved periodically within ministries and departments to stop complacency and familiarity, which he said often led to corruption.

“I have given directives to the permanent secretary in PSMD to reshuffle civil servants so that they get to have a feel of other departments and agencies,” President Lungu said.

“How can somebody work in one office for 10 years without moving to another ministry or department and expect him to perform? Government wants to develop a system that will keep civil servants on their toes to enhance service delivery,” he said.

The Head of State wondered what would happen when a Commissioner of Lands was appointed and before settling down learnt some tricks and in the process got compromised.

He explained that his Government was working to enhance efficiency by reshuffling some civil servants who have worked for a long time in certain Government ministries and departments.

President Lungu revealed that Government had retired some officers at the Zambia National Service who were deployed to curb smuggling of mealie-meal and maize.

The President chastised some Zambians in the diaspora for living in denial over his re-election, but has assured them that as Head of State he did not harbour evil feelings against them.

“We have me for President and I shall not hold a grudge against anyone who has not accepted by presidency, including those who are sharing this denial in South Africa. We have a President,” President Lungu said.

The Head of State disclosed that he had received reports that some Zambians had petitioned President Jacob Zuma not to receive him in the mistaken belief that his election victory was illegitimate.

The President said politicians in Zambia should take a leaf from the recent elections in Gambia and United States where losing candidates gracefully conceded defeat and moved on.

“Zambians see rigging at every turn in our electoral system especially when they lose.  Politicians see rigging in their dreams. So to accept votes from the diaspora would be very difficult,” President said.

The Head of State said that he would not encourage a provision in the law for those in the diaspora to vote because some Zambians did not have confidence in the electoral system, and observed that if implemented, the system would give rise to more conflict and tension among Zambians.