‘HH should avoid appointments of appeasement’

A CIVIL society organisation in Solwezi has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to avoid appointments of appeasement because the trend is retrogressive to the true development of the country.

Justice for Just Communities Foundation executive director John Kalusa has observed that appointments on the basis of appeasement had the potential to negate the economic progression of the country as those appointed would either be inept or ill-qualified to deliver to the expectation of the people.

Mr Kalusa cited the recent appointment of the GEARS executive director Mr Mc

Donald Chipenzi as Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) commissioner and Ms Mwangala Zaloumis as chairperson respectively who are known UPND members.

He said the two appointments were not done on merit but were pure appeasements to the people for their contribution to the governing party and not to the nation.

On Ms Zaloumis, Mr Kalusa said despite being a qualified constitutional lawyer, the UPND member had not renounced her orientation to the ruling party and it was therefore prudent for President Hichilema to reconsider their appointment.

“Mr Chipenzi also applied to contest for a parliamentary seat on the UPND ticket in Chirundu and cannot therefore be the man to manage our elections.

He said if such appointments were going to continue, it would not only divide the country but would certainly negate the economic, political and social progression of the country.

Asked if Members of Parliament could stand against the appointments and shoot down the two their ratification, Mr Kalusa said: “The problem with governance issues is that in as much as some Members of Parliament would want to shoot down the ratification of the two appointments by either staying away from voting or voting otherwise, they are likely to be disciplined by the party that sponsored them to parliament.”