Tue, 17 Oct 2017 12:49:39 +0000
By Aaron Chiyanzo
FOUR Zambians have petitioned President Edgar Lungu to dismiss minister of National Planning and Development, Lucky Mulusa with immediate effect for alleged breach of Cabinet collective responsibility.
In a video circulating on social media, Mr Mulusa is alleged to have been mocking his fellow minster of Local Government that he was struggling to explain the purchase of 42 fire tenders at a cost of US$ 42 million.
And the petitioners, Celestin Mukandila, Katimba Chisanga, Denis Bwalya and Benjamin Siwila charged that Zambia could not have ministers making a mockery of other ministers as that was tantamount to abrogating provisions of the Law.
The petitioners explained that the constitution, the ministerial code of conduct Act, clearly stated that “a person holding Ministerial office, cannot issue public statements criticizing another person holding ministerial office”.
They reiterated that Mr Mulusa had become so “Trigger Happy” in terms of issuing statements and that he should be fired with immediate effect.
“We wish to condemn the statement that was made by our Minister at a CIMA function, circulating in video format on social media. It seems that our minister has become so “Trigger Happy” in terms of issuing statements.
“He must be dismissed with immediate effect for breach of cabinet collective responsibility and section 9(a)&(b) of the parliamentary and ministerial code of conduct act – CAP 16 of the laws of Zambia,” they said.
The petitioners said Mr Mulusa should have kept in mind that a fortnight ago, the Minister of Local Government, Vincent Mwale presented a Ministerial Statement in Parliament concerning the acquisition of Fire Tenders as was requested by the House.
They reminded other ministers that basic principles of public administration ought to be exemplary as they were a reflection of the confidence that citizens had.
Meanwhile, the Petitioners also requested that a Commission of Inquiry be instituted in order to establish whether the statement or action by Mr Mulusa could be prosecuted.
