Republican President Michael Sata has said that his government is not and will never be pre-occupied with getting large numbers in parliament. The President said that it was not government’s intention to deplete opposition parliamentary numbers.
The president said that he has appointed opposition MPs to serve in government because the PF government wants to have an all-inclusive approach in governing the country.
“We have to explain to the country that the move is a deliberate gesture to be inclusive and not to deplete the numbers of the opposition in parliament”, the president said
“I am grateful to the three honorable colleagues for accepting joining government to strengthen our togetherness as a country.”
“We have huge development arrears to address for our country to seriously tackle many sorrowful pockets of misery and poverty. We need unity to achieve these high goals”, the president said, adding that “the balance of the opposition in the house still remains formidable enough to keep government in check.”
“My government is not and will never be pre-occupied with larger numbers in parliament. This is because we will not take to the house laws or measures that are partisan”, he empahised.
“Everything we will take to parliament will have consensus of the zambian people and will always have the sole purpose of safeguarding their interests and facilitating a quicker pace of development so that we can banish poverty from our midst”, he said.
“I am sure that our colleagues who join government today will serve with distinction and honor”, he stated
And the president has directed cabinet ministers to desist from making policy statements in parliament that have not been approved by cabinet.
President Sata has also bemoaned the low levels of discipline among ministers who having been missing parliament sittings.
“Let me take this opportunity to say that i have observed with disquiet and displeasure the low levels of discipline amongst ministers and deputy ministers as regards presence in parliament”, the president said.
“This is not only a wake up call but a final warning”, warned the president
The President said that he will only approve international trips for ministers when parliament is sitting in very exceptional circumstances.
The president also urged the newly sworn-in judges to work towards improving the judicial system in the country.
Mr Sata noted the need for poor people who could not afford legal representation to be helped, adding that government is aware of the many challenges that the judiciary is facing and that will do everything possible to improve the situation
And the president said that there has to be a sense of urgency in the way government work if the PF government is to make a difference.
“If the pf is to make a significant difference there must be radical change in the way we do business in government. Let us all have a sense of urgency as we adhere to correct procedures and practices”, he said.
“When parliament adjourns I want the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to have regular meetings with each and every ministry not only to harmonise positions but to monitor the progress of projects.
This will also entail that hindrances to progress are attended to before things reach crisis proportions,” he instructuted.
The President has since sworn in opposition MMD’s Elijah Muchima, Isaac Banda and Steven Masumba as deputy ministers in the ministries of lands, energy and water development , mines and mineral development and, local government,housing and early childhood respectively.
Colonel Gerry Chanda and Rodgers Mwewa have also been sworn-in as provincial ministers for Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces respectively.
Others sworn-in include Abraham Mwenda as permanent secretary in the ministry of finance and national while Miriam Chinyama and George Zulu will serve in the ministries of education and lands respectively in similar capacities.
Good thinking ba President, but why are you not appointing those guys in HH s party.
pantu fikopo (because they are dull)
They are under five
He tried and they refuse.
He tries but they refuse…stupid pride. In the end UPND will never have ministerial experience or presidency…Sad indeed.
even the PF had what they called rebel mps….. so now you are doing the same thing mmd did and wanna twist words, some citizens are dull and forgetfull, but the bantustans are smart and we never forget!!!
thats the way to go,shame these imbiciles like hh2041
Good message…looks like KK is drilling him now…national unity!
@JAU JAU:
Didn’t you read that UPND will never allow its MPs/members to become ministers or work on PF’s govt??? Alas, they then sit back and acuse everbody else but themselves of being anti-Tonga—-go figure!!!!!
Don’t mind them…
But y dd that independent MP from Msanzala resign to cause a costly by-election. i pray that he loses. wasting developmental funds…PF dont adopt him!
uyu mudala wa story,which democratic govt on earth wud not be concerned about numbers in parley????
poaching people from the oppsition is not the only way of promoting unity.
The first sound comment from cobra,the president should not involve himself in petty issues or finger pointing.As Dr Musokotwane rightly pointed it out you are the president of a nation not some opposition president change your attitude,let Chellah be your mouth piece.
Its quite confusing. If he appoints opposition MPs, he is depleting the opposition and if he appoints from his PF (which is predominantly “Bemba-speaking”, and not necessarily Bemba) he becomes tribal. On the other hand others want UPND MPs to be appointed meanwhile they have declared that they’ll not accept.
But dont mistake me for a cadre because i believe that Eastern Province Independent MP was wrong to resign
Sata will suprise many….go on Mr. President you are on the right path!!!!
We have a very shrewd president. Inclusiveness is a smart way of depleting the opposition.
show hh that ur there for 2 terms and that he may try in 2041. so it will be hhhhhhhhhh2041
@jau jau,
Iwe ulimbushi iyanakashi…. Hvent read how hh z bn intimidating upnd marpets (mp) that whoever agrees to work wt pf will be expelled? So what are you talking abt rupen? Swine! Those rebel mps wer expelled coz they attended the ncc which gobled alot of money and meant no good to yu n i… Get yo facts ryt before yu open up your stinking mouth
UPND and HH are extremely tribalistic even more than they are partisan. HH is an intelligent man whose political career has been overshadowed by his tribalistic assendance to power. Unfortunately or fortunately, unlike business, in politics personality matters more than anything.
@POACHER- Actually, if you analyse this speach, it appears Chellah wrote it. It’s just that on matters of hiring and firing in cabinet, the president has to make a statement. Those are highly trusted individuals.
Blatant lies
where is maestro. HH for 2011?. we need his contributions.
Even when he has said something important and perfectly, haters still find something negative to say about HE MCS!
Must hurt being in opposition.
I think Zambia is blessed with HEMCS! This man is down to earth and a very good listener! This man is doing exactly what he promissed people of Zambia! This man is a christian! This man is one of the greatest leaders Zambia having now. God Bless My President HEMCS
YAWN!! Â What hogwash! Â Which priority projects? Â Which part of Zambia will be developed? What national unity? Â This is a massive smokescreen for the unwary and ignorant. Â You shall know them (the tribalists) by their actions and not their words. Â Deputy Ministerial positions are not part of cabinet and have no clout whatsoever.Â
At least no one was fired whilst hold his hands behind his back, lol!!! Anyway, good approach, sober as well. I hope going forward we will see more of such speeches and less of appointing and firing people from the pulpit.
Words are words actions are actions. If the president backs what he’s saying with action, that will be the best thing to happen in Zed politics.
To start with he should discourage those costly by-elections caused by defections to PF. Not long ago he defended them saying the govt has budgeted for them.
#16 Eagle are you sure about that? According to the bible, a Christian is a child of God ie a person who is born again – born twice. 1st time, born of natural father. 2nd time, born of God. Read John chapter 1 and John chapter 3. And Romans 8.
Any person who is not born again is not a Christian. They are just religious. Dont be deceived. Read the bible for yourself. Otherwise yoy’d be shocked at day of judgment when Christ tells you he did not know you.
Jesus said he alone is the way to the father. He also said unless a person is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Romans 8 says if a person does not have teh Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Jesus. It is God who gives you the right to be called his child, John 1v12, when you accept his salvation.
# 16 is the president yo father…dont over praise him KK become despot coz of overpraising !! however Gud Job Presido! keep it up!
You, UPND MPs just accept and get a job in Gov. Otherwise, you’ll never get a chance of becoming a minister. NEVER in your miserable lives
Zambians Zambians, did you even hesr the president talk about improved Service delivery in the public Sector, a fair Judicial system for all and hard work on the part of Ministers? Most of you on this blog are Public Service workers- listen to the CEO and get down to serious business! Go Sata Go!
@JAU JAU, You can’t work with that Useless Party of Narrow-minded Dunderheads, they will forever be bitter with their public relations website ZWD!!!
how long will it tak you to appoint people that will not bring any development to Zambia but just to mint silver into their pockets..?atase..get to work..
The Ngombestan Party has categorically stated that they will never be part of an all inclusive government.What a shame on you NGOMBESTANS.Chibamba Kanyama said it all that for as long as the Ngombestans do not embrace other tribes they should forget about the Presidency of our beloved Zambia.
This is the good msg from our president.Please help the poor.We voted for you in order to help the poor.Please make sure you leave good roads,hospitals,school and clean Zambia especially in compounds.Viva MSC.
Ati HH 2041 :((:((:((:((
Progress on the 90 days briefing was missing on the press statement by the president.
Regional balancing does NOT only mean appointing people from opposition parties. There are a lot of people NOT MPs who can be Permsecs and heads of public institutions like ZESCO, etc he can appoint. Personally, I actually wish we could advertise the big positions in public office and appoint the best Zambians for the job. Surely, the President can’t have the monopoly of knowing all the good Zambians out there. Kenyans are doing it with public interviews for Heads of public institutions. Why can’t we?
After a track record of u-turns and off side statements including fake money and DR’s salary, there is need to build trust.
tongas, i like the way you come out on national issues, but not knowing that your tribal inclinisation and support of hh and his tonga party against pf actually gives more credence to the ruling party. read between the lines and learn you fellow zambians in the south.
We all suffer in a more or less degree; we all feel this awakened spirit of true manhoodand womanhood; but it is given to few the vision of leadership; it is an inspiration; it is a qualityborn in man. Therefore in the course of leadership it is natural that one should meet oppositionbecause of ignorance, lack of knowledge and sympathy of the opposition in understanding fullythe spirit of leadership.
Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey
@ mature, really opposite to your name …. lol
Zambia is always falling into a trap of a ‘Know it all president’. This has been the experience since KK period, followed by Chiluba copied and adopted by Mwanawasa. Today according to some Zambians Sata is wiser than any other Zambian. He can do whatever he deems fit such as change the delimitation of a country’s constituencies without consulting any relevant organs. Appoint individuals single handedly men and women to wright a Zambian constitution. He can confer senior chieftainship at will, can appoint and fire employees at will, even those under the jurisdiction of juniors to post of presidency like boards or parastatal orgns. This because he is convinced Zambians can not question or advise him on national issues.
Why should we beleive him when his actions say otherwise. Isn’t this same guy who was lying about 90 days development? We didn’t beleive him then and we dont beleive him now…….
This forms the basis for his boldness and send a clear message that his government(PF) does not need numbers in parliament to advance his agenda. Surely, this is extremly unhealthy for democracy. Sata didn’t need people from opposition to fill those junior ministerial posts. In fact Zambia has a pool of qualified people from the accademia environment and for his govt to be effective qualified men and women with acumen could have been sourced from that area. With all intent and purpose Mr Sata wants to weaken the checks and balance process by weakening the opposition. Its a recipe of undemocratic tendercies to be seen as an all wise person that boarders on dictatorship as seen by his govermnet and actions so far made and done.
Thanks president Michael Sata, to my Bemba and Tonga brothers on LT, shut up please. We the other Zambians are tired of your bickering. Zambia won’t develop because of tribe; which is a European concept to subjugate peoples of the world. Just like you won’t make it to heaven without Jesus, you won’t develop without one another. Castigate those ministers mr. President.
“ONLY ARMCHAIR POLITICIANS ARE IMMUNE FROM COMMITTING MISTAKES.ERRORS ARE INHERENT IN POLITICAL ACTION.THOSE WHO ARE IN THE CENTRE OF POLITICAL STRUGGLE,WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH PRACTICAL AND PRESSING PROBLEMS,ARE AFFORDED LITTLE TIME FOR REFLECTION AND NO PRECEDENTS TO GUIDE THEM AND ARE BOUND TO SLIP UP MANY TIME”(CONVERSATIONS WITH MYSELF,WITH A FOREWORD BY OBAMA).
GIVE HIM TIME TO RULE THATS ALL WE ASK ,BY THE WAY I DO NOT SUPPORT PF BUT WOULD LOVE TO SEE ZAMBIA MOVE FORWARD.
#12 – He will not be there in 2041 but 2066. I am sure by then HH would be the most experienced opposition. Hahahaha
you are all wrong HH to the grave….
Excellent. Nation building. If we continue on this line I will soon be a PF cadre.
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