By NATION REPORTER
THERE was drama at Ndeke House on Monday, where the Ministry of Health is domiciled when Professor Lackson Kasonka, the former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary caused a stir after he refused to hand over his former office to his successor, Christopher Simoonga, who was appointed to the position last week.
President Hakainde Hichilema last week made several changes at Permanent Secretary level which saw the removal of Prof Kasonka who was to be redeployed.
But Prof Kasonka when contacted for a comment branded the author of the story a hired gun bent on destroying him.
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Prof Kasonka denied resisting to hand over to his successor, claiming that the hand over process was not a one-day event and that he needed two weeks to complete the process.
And surprisingly, it was a normal day for Prof Kasonka who reported for work and when his successor arrived to take up his new position, the former refused to vacate the office.
The situation was tense at Ndeke House as efforts were being made to have Pros Kasonka hand over the office to his successor but without success.
Sources close to the events disclosed that State House had to get involved as it had become evident and likely that there was not going to be a smooth transition in the office the Permanent Secretary (Technical Services.)
“There is drama at Ndeke House (Ministry of Health). Prof Kasonka, the former Permanent Secretary has refused to hand over the office to his successor. The man has declared that he is not going anywhere.
But Prof Kasonka was not amused that information had surfaced that he was resisting to hand over his former office, claiming that his successor was only appointed on Friday and that he needed more time prepare the handover notes.
“Who told you that I am resisting to handover. The man was only appointed on Friday and we had a weekend. Handing over is not a one-day process…I need two weeks because there are legal and financial matters that I have been dealing with.
There are documents I have been working on that I cannot just abandon. You are not an intelligent person to assume that I can handover the office in one day.
I know you have been sponsored to write bad stories about me but let me tell you that I am going to embarrass you. You will be embarrassed,” said an angry Prof Kasonka.
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