GOVERNMENT has urged officers working in Zambia`s foreign missions to unite and adopt a culture of working together if the country is to achieve its objectives as outlined in its Foreign Policy.
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, George Zulu, said this in Pretoria yesterday at a dinner hosted in honour of a delegation of Zambian election observers under the SADC Electoral Observation Mission. The dinner, held at the residence of Zambia`s High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr. Muyeba Chikonde was also attended by Zambia High Commission staff. Mr. Zulu led the Zambian delegation to the May 7 South Africa national and provincial elections.
He said officers in Missions should realise that they were all Zambians and should not allow tribe to divide them.
“You should all unite so that we achieve greater things as a country. There should be no Tonga, no Bemba or Lozi; everybody is Zambian,” Mr. Zulu said.
He said Zambians should emulate President Sata and First Lady, Christine Kaseba, who have not shown segregation of any one based on tribe.
“Zambia is lucky to have a very nice President and a nice First Lady. I have never seen the First Lady angry. She is always smiling with everyone. That is the spirit of Zambians; always happy wherever they go. I am happy that the High Commissioner at our Mission in Pretoria has maintained this cohesion among the Zambian staff.”
Mr. Zulu commended His Excellency Chikonde, for inspiring officers at the Pretoria Mission to embrace high levels of professionalism. He said Pretoria stood out from among Zambia`s 33 Missions for not registering problems during audits.
He said Government was happy that the Mission has maintained good relations with South Africa`s African National Congress (ANC).
“There is not a single minister in today`s Government in South Africa that has not lived in Zambia. Everyone, including President Jacob Zuma, knows Lusaka. We are, therefore, happy that you have continued to maintain the good relations that existed from the times of UNIP.”
He advised other Zambian Missions abroad to match what Pretoria was doing.
The Permanent Secretary has also advised staff serving in Missions abroad to ensure that they were exemplary in their work if they were to avoid being recalled. Mr. Zulu said there has been a number of recalls recently because President Sata wanted people to work.
“Sometimes we recall ourselves because of what we do. Please, you should know why you have been sent out there.”
Mr. Zulu also took time to brief Zambian Mission staff on the PF Government`s achievements over the last two years.
He said Eastern Province has for the first time seen train services introduced while the road network was being worked on throughout the region. He said with the construction of the Luangwa road, people coming from Eastern province will no longer need to go through Lusaka when travelling to Chirundu or Zimbabwe while more routes are being opened up to have shorter routes into the northern region of the country.
Mr. Zulu said the Pave Zambia 2000 Project currently underway, will change the face of the country once completed.
Fuel storage tanks are also being constructed in strategic parts of the country with the latest one having just been completed in Mpika.
The Permanent Secretary said Government has also improved conditions of service for civil servants, who apart from getting salary increments, were now able to get loans from financial institutions, among other incentives.
Mr. Zulu advised Zambians abroad to join in the country`s 50 years independence celebrations adding that Government has made financial and material resources available for the event.
“We want Missions to engage Government so that you celebrate in a big way. Bring along other nationals from all spheres of life to join you as you celebrate this memorable occasion.” Mr. Zulu said.
The dinner was also attended by Foreign Affairs Director in charge of the Political Desk, Mr. Chalwe Lombe, his assistant, Mrs. Isabel Lemba and officials from various Government Ministries and Departments.
I write as a former and long-time career diplomat.The Zambian Foreign Service has lost its raison d’etre as most appointee into the diplomatic are either relatives or party cadres who have no clue as to what foreign representation is all about.They are merely interested in doing business and reporting each other to their masters in Lusaka instead of reporting to the Permanent Secretary at MoFA Hqs in Lusaka.
My appeal, therefore, to the appointing authorities is to desist from politics of appeasement and appoint staff from the Ministry and relevant government agencies into the Foreign Service instead of applying nepotism, clientelism and appeasement of incompetent relatives and thugs from the party.
There’s no way those street jokers (first sec, 2nd sec, attache, etc…) can co-exist with normal diplomats.
It’s a pity nobody has the ability to guide the appointing authority. In short, until ba Mayo runs out of relatives, we can all forget about diplomatic diplomats….
Hahaha! Sata and Kaseba are regionalists , tribalists and nepotistic. Stop insulting our intelligence. Sata is at the helm of Zambia’s worst tribal government since independence.
Computer production as announced by government has not been followed up in accordance with government procedures. First of all, computer production must be contextualized. The sector of ICT is generally broad and all encompassing, including Printers, Visual Display Units, Specialized Tables for Mounting, Laptop Computer Bags, Toner, Stationery, Speakers, CDs, DVDs, etc. Hence, the category of electronic Assembly Plant is more appropriate. The time is right for a national Indaba to start operationalization. What are technocrats waiting for? The same thing applies to Motor Assembly. This is not the time for dreaming.
ifyamba fya la kulia iwe! Tekanya!! Nashako!!