LUSAKA – We acknowledge the concerns raised by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) regarding President Hakainde Hichilema’s recent remarks on involving traditional leaders in the process of recommending candidates for public sector positions. However, we must clarify and refute any misinterpretation of the President’s intentions.
President Hichilema has consistently emphasized his unwavering commitment to a merit-based, transparent, and fair recruitment system. The inclusion of traditional leaders, such as chiefs, does not undermine this principle. Instead, it reflects an inclusive approach that values the role of chiefs in their local communities and recognizes their deep understanding of the skills, challenges, and capacities of their people. Consulting chiefs is part of a partnership-driven effort aimed at addressing historical employment imbalances and ensuring that all regions, particularly rural areas, have a voice in national development. Importantly, any recommendations made by traditional leaders will still adhere to the established recruitment process, ensuring that appointments are based on qualifications, competency, and merit.
It is essential to note that consulting traditional leaders is not a new practice in Zambia’s governance framework. Chiefs have long played a crucial role in the administration of their communities, offering invaluable insights into local dynamics. By involving them in the employment process, we are enriching the system with local knowledge while continuing to uphold the necessary merit-based recruitment standards. This inclusive approach seeks to ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of opportunities without bypassing or undermining established procedures.
The UPND government remains fully committed to ensuring that public sector recruitment remains competitive and meritocratic. Consulting chiefs is just one component of a broader strategy to guarantee that no community is left behind in Zambia’s national development agenda. However, all candidates recommended by traditional leaders will still be subject to the same rigorous recruitment criteria and scrutiny as all others. Transparency and fairness will continue to be our guiding principles in this process.
We encourage all stakeholders, including TIZ, to recognize that Zambia’s development requires collaboration between various sectors and stakeholders. Traditional leaders, as custodians of local communities, play an important role in advising on developmental matters, including employment. The government’s decision to consult chiefs should be seen as an inclusive step forward and not misconstrued as compromising the merit-based recruitment process.
(C) UPND MEDIA TEAM
Why didn’t you ask a call-boy to take a picture of you outside, than a selfie in a toilet?
There is just need to walk the talk. Pronouncements being made daily are not reflective of what’s obtaining on the ground.
Walk the Talk
After 60 years and still havent learnt NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON
It’s just a comedy of masalamusi now, so sad because HH came into office with a lot of goodwill but his heavily Gwembe Tonga based appointments will sooner than later backfire on him. This is what tossed the PF’s Jameson Lungu out of power, tribalism.
Who says involving Chiefs in recruitment is inclusive? How primitive! That is but NEPOTISM at work. Transparency is required. In a democracy the media are supposed to represent transparency, not the chiefs. Where do Chiefs obtain “deep understanding of the skills, challenges and capacities of their people? Chiefs are never trained for any such skills. Now because you want to bribe them or include them into a corrupt framework for re-election you are appointing them as agents?
This is but the institutionalisation of corruption and unethical practices.
This is a campaign gimmick. Chiefs don’t influence the voting pattern of their subjects. I remember what happened to the late Paramount Chief Chitimukulu during the MMD campaigns against KK.
It is time to create Zambia Central Information Centre. Chiefs have no registers nor any means of knowing their subjects.
I hope we will not end up with a situation where chiefs will be saying you have employed more in that chiefdom give me the same number as well. If not properly handled could bring a lot of division and conflicts. One might say you are employing 5000, lets share among all the chiefdoms.
Chiefs cant be part of any recruitment system except for building their own palaces. Full Stop
For inexplicable reasons, this problem is more pronounced in places like Northwestern Province. One time, a group of researchers in the area was prevented from collecting data because none of the research assistants came from the area.
What we need is Central Information System Centre. The situation is always that once a thief always a thief. This adage has proven right in our own eyes and time.
Going otherwise might be construed as backbiting. Chiefs do NOT have Central Information System.