LUNGU FIRES MAWERE
MOSES Mawere was yesterday the biggest casualty in what many have described as the “mother of all reshuffles” since President Edgar Lungu appointed the current Cabinet in 2016. President Lungu dropped and replaced him with the equally youthful Ndola Central Member of Parliament Emmanuel Mulenga as minister of
Youth and Sport.
MOSES
Mawere was yesterday the biggest casualty in what many have described as the “mother of all reshuffles” since President Edgar Lungu appointed the current Cabinet in 2016.
President Lungu dropped and replaced him with the equally youthful Ndola Central Member of Parliament Emmanuel Mulenga.
Professor Nkandu Luo and Mr Ronald Chitotela suffered what watchers dubbed ‘mini demotions’ after they were transferred from Higher Education and Housing and Infrastructure Development, respectively.
President Lungu has transferred Prof Luo to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock replacing her with Dr Brian Mushimba, who was moved from Transport and Communications.
Mr Chitotela has moved to the Ministry of Tourism and Arts.
Dr Charles Banda is the new Minister of Local Government from Tourism and Arts. Former minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale has been ‘promoted’ to the sensitive Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development to replace Mr Chitotela.
Ms Kampamba Mulenga Chewe was transferred from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to Community Development and Social Services while her counterpart Olipa Phiri, who was at the same ministry, has moved to the Office of the Vice-President in the same capacity.
The President transferred Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Sylvia Chalikosa to the Ministry of Works and Supply while Mutotwe Kafwaya has since been transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Announcing the reshuffles yesterday, special assistant to the President for press and public relations Isaac Chipampe said President Lungu had made the changes to counter the business-as-usual tendencies that might affect the execution of duties among ministers. “The President wants to rejuvenate the performance of his ministers because overstaying in one position might affect their performance. The President has also observed with concern that some ministers have not been visiting their constituencies regularly to ensure Government projects and programmes are implemented and monitored,” Mr Chipampe said.
He said President Lungu had said if the laxity was allowed to continue citizens would believe that Government had abandoned them.
President Lungu had urged all ministers to visit their constituents regularly.
“The President will not hesitate to part ways with ministers who will not improve their performance,” Mr Chipampe said.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has appointed Francis Chipimo as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Zambia.