I will fire you, Lungu warns ministers

By ANNIE ZULU in Shiwang’andu

NON performing ministers will be sacked, President Edgar Lungu warned yesterday.

He issued the warning in Shiwang’andu following an inspection of projects in the districts that have largely stalled.

The President expressed disappointment at the lack of progress on all infrastructure projects in Shiwang’andu.

President Lungu could not hide his anger when he found that Matumbo police station and Matumbo Secondary School works had stalled.

He has since called for a meeting on Friday with the leadership in Muchinga Province to discuss the way forward for all stalled projects.

“I am so disappointed, this is depressing. We promised people that we will deliver but nothing seems to be working here. What will we ‘sonta’ in 2021?” President Lungu wondered.

He also openly expressed his disappointment with Shiwang’andu Member of Parliament Stephen Kampyongo for failing to monitor projects in his own constituency.

“Mr Kampyongo, this is your area and works have stalled. This is really depressing, what I have seen here is unacceptable. What will you tell people when time of voting comes?” the President asked Mr Kampyongo.

He said at the end of the day the buck stops with him.

The President said he was very concerned with the slow progress of work.

“Our colleagues should pull up their socks and ensure that the projects are worked on. I got a lot of support from this region and yet the projects are failing to take off,” Mr Lungu said.

He urged the leadership in the province to improve or he would have to part company with some of them.

“This is not a threat but time will soon come when I will fire people failing to deliver,” the President said.

He said he would take a postmortem of all projects in the country and ensure that they take off.

And President Lungu said he does not get offended when people criticise him for doing what he thinks is best for the people.

He said when people were praising a person, then that person was on the path to downfall.

He said he was aware that some people condemned him for involving the defence force in cleaning up Lusaka.

“I will not pay attention to those wanting to distract me. Even on the issue of e-voucher, those who were stealing through the old system want it to fail but the e-voucher is here to stay,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Chibesakunda commended President Lungu for engaging the defence forces to clean up Lusaka to contain cholera.

Senior Chief Chibesakunda also thanked President Lungu for the projects but complained that they have stalled.