HH DEMANDS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says there is need to amend the constitution to increase women in elective positions. “I want to see as a nation we amend the constitution to allow for more women representation in the elective offices,” he said.

Mr Hichilema said through the amendment of the constitution, Government would able to address concerns of Zambians to have a cabinet outside parliament and once this is actualised it will be easy to appoint many women.

President Hichilema said now that the cabinet is drawn from parliament, there is a restriction to appoint more women because they have been shunning away to run for elective offices due to abuse they go through.

He said it is therefore important to ensure that the constitution is amended so that women are not left out from participating in national affairs.

Mr Hichilema was speaking yesterday when he conferred Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis, lawyers Arshad Dudhia, Kondwa Sakala-Chibiya and Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu with status of State Counsel.

President Hichilema said the esteemed rank and dignity of State Counsel was a symbol of profound commitment to public service as it transcended mere legal practice to embody the highest ideas of fairness, equity, and compassion

Mr Hichilema urged the newly sworn-in State Counsels to be true guardians of the Constitution and defend democratic values. The head of State has also appointed former Zambia’s

Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mr Lazarous Kapambwe as his Special Envoy.

President Hichilema commended Mr Kapambwe for his exceptional and distinguished service to Zambia over the decades as a career diplomat and was therefore, well-suited for the position of Special Envoy to the President.

He also swore-in Dr Choolwe Beyani as Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission and urged him to expeditiously address issues pertaining to appointments, promotions, and transfers of civil servants as they affected performance and service delivery.

He also swore in Beatrice Mpanga as Drug Enforcement Commission Deputy Director General, Choolwe Beyani as Civil Service Commission Chairperson and Father Joe Komakoma as Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission.