By NATION REPORTER
IF President Hakainde Hichilema is serious about fighting corruption, tribalism, nepotism, cronyism and favouritism, he should revoke the appointments of his ministers’ wives and relatives, Zambia’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba has said.
Mr Mwamba said it was expected that the government must stop or stay away from decisions and actions that promoted the rot and corruption, cronyism, nepotism, and favouritism.
He was reacting to the justification by Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Collins Nzovu who said his wife, Shesippie Banda deserved her appointment as Head of Procurement at Zesco because she was qualified and was unfairly fired from the power utility company for allegedly being UPND.
But Mr Mwamba said, “It appears that to this government, everyone that was fired for corruption or unprofessional misconduct can simply claim that they were victimised because of their tribe or politics and they get a reinstatement.
“Mr Nzovu says his wife was among persons dismissed from Zesco because they belonged to the opposition. So borrowing his reasoning, is the current purge of senior staff at Zesco where highly qualified persons, have been fired because they are suspected to be members of the PF, justified?
“If President Hakainde Hichilema is serious about fighting corruption, tribalism, nepotism, cronyism and favouritism, he should revoke such appointments and urge all CEO’s to abide by an acceptable developed code of conduct,” Mr Mwamba said.
Mr Mwamba said the continued abuse of state-owned institutions by the political stock, remains an abuse, whether done by the PF or UPND.
Mr Nzovu who defended his wife’s appointment said the media needed to be responsible and not incite hatred against public servants.
He said the Managing Director and all new directors at Zesco were previously employed at the power utility firm and were qualified but were victimised because of allegedly belonging to the opposition.
He added, “This lady despite her high credentials suffered because of her acquired name, should she continue suffering because of the same name? Isn’t she a qualified Zambian with the necessary experience?”
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