Lungu threatens to fire absent Cabinet ministers

Sat, 11 Feb 2017 09:28:07 +0000

PRESIDENT Edger Lungu has threatened to fire cabinet ministers who have not been regularly vising to their constituencies.

President Lungu said he has information that some cabinet ministers have been refusing to visit their constituencies because they are located in typical rural areas.

Speaking when he addressed the a rally at Samfya primary school grounds yesterday, President Lungu told Patriotic Front (PF) members of Parliament and cabinet ministers to choose one job if they were not capable of handling both jobs of being an MP and a cabinet minister.

“I am sounding this warning publicly that if you cannot handle both jobs please give us back one job,” he said.

President Lungu challenged PF members of Parliament that he managed to work as Chawama MP while serving as cabinet ministers without any difficulties.

The Head of State said he wanted all the PF members of Parliament to be regularly inspecting government projects in their constituencies.

“I want to know what is happening in your constituencies by regularly visiting the people who voted for you. MPs should know if fertilizer has been supplied on time and whether the E-voucher system is working.

“MPs should know if schools are being constructed in their constituencies and also know if the contractors were following tender procedures,” he said.

The Head of State said he wanted to MPs who had first-hand information on the levels of Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases.

President Lungu said members of Parliament should not only be at National Assembly making law BUT should also be visiting their constituencies.

“I do not care whether you are a cabinet minister you should be visiting your constituencies.

“I have been a deputy minister and cabinet minister before and I used to work in my constituency that is why I am where I am today,” President Lungu said.

The Head of State also reprimanded civil servants who had a bad working culture to immediately stop before they were fired.

He said he expected the civil servants to be cooperating with political leaders in order to deliver quality services to the people of Zambia.

President Lungu also appealed to politicians to cooperate with the civil servants.

“I will not tolerate indiscipline in the party and the civil servants including the defence force,” he warned.

President Lungu said it was clear that some people did not understand that civil servants were on the other side of the coin and politicians were also on the other side of the same coin which belongs to him (Lungu).

He said when he goes back to Lusaka he expected change in the attitude of civil servants.

President Lungu said he would like to see a developed nation with the help of civil servants and politicians.