By ADRIAN MWANZA
THE reprehensible staggering failure by the UPND government to appoint diplomats almost six months after being voted into power, is a serious indictment of its ability and preparedness to govern the country, former Defence Minister George Mpombo has said.
Dr Mpombo said the yawning gap created in the Foreign Service due to non-appointment of diplomats had robbed the country of a voice at the United Nations and several bilateral engagements and investment opportunities.
He said that the move had all the hallmarks of an accidental outfit because a prepared government hits the ground running with little fumbling.
Dr Mpombo said that this was a scandal and that it had never happened in any country apart from Zambia and if the head of State did not act then the country would have serious implications in foreign interactions.
He said it was wrong and that the reason was that there were political cadres in the civil service which made it difficult for them to advise the head of State.
Dr Mpombo said the President needed to know that diplomatic engagements were very important and that he was embarrassing the country with his slow pace.
“You will recall that both Frederick Chiluba and Michael Sata made their appointments under three months, not the current state of affairs which is totally shambolic and unacceptable,” he said.
He said it was only prudent that the government expedited the process of appointing diplomats for the good of the nation.
