Laura Miti Criticizes Government Appointments: “How Can He Be So Bad at Hiring and Firing?”
Governance activist Laura Miti has voiced her frustration over what she sees as a decline in the quality of government appointments in Zambia. In a Facebook post, Miti reflected on past administrations, comparing their leadership choices to the current system, which she believes prioritizes party loyalty over competence.
One thing I miss about the MMD administration from Chiluba down to RB is the quality of just about everyone appointed to high office. OK, there were one or two iffy Ministers, especially those overseeing the Copperbelt, and a couple of Vice Presidents that we should thank God were fired before they could pyana. In the main, though, you could not argue with the deservedness of Ministers, PSes, and Presidential advisers.
Miti acknowledged that while the MMD era had its shortcomings, it generally ensured that those in high office were capable of handling their roles. She suggested that this approach has faded over time, particularly after Rupiah Banda’s presidency.
Vabwela vachinja. Since RB—awee mwandi—ba Katekas bamachita chabe piki piki na pikidoli among loyalists, with the main requirement for office seemingly being that loyalty or longevity in the party.
She went further to say that many people in important government positions today do not seem to have clear roles or meaningful contributions, raising concerns that some jobs exist solely as rewards for party members.
So many people of no identifiable use to the country are in offices critical to its running. Some of the positions almost certainly created with the sole purpose of rewarding people with jobs.
Miti also expressed disappointment in President Hakainde Hichilema, saying that given his corporate background, one would expect a more professional and results-driven approach to appointments.
On that count, the current President is the most disappointing for me. I mean, corporate background and all. How can he be so bad at hiring and firing, or so at ease with incompetence?
Her post will draw attention, especially from those who share concerns about the state of leadership in Zambia. While government appointments have always been a subject of discussion, Miti’s remarks highlight the growing expectation for leadership that prioritizes ability over political ties.
Whether these concerns will lead to any changes in how appointments are made remains to be seen.
How? Corporate background? Thats just noise. Has HH ever run a succesful business? Where would he learn the art of Hiring and Firing?
Why has he not fired even one minister? Last week, a small Mpulungu dry kapenta was fired in the MoE leaving out the bigger bottle fishes sweeming, buzzing and teeming in the mighty Zambezi river. If the President does not fire any, it shows he is happy with their performances. His team is hard working, so it means, to say the least. Or else at least one must have been fished out and sacked.
I share Laura’s disappointment with HH. I suppose, like Laura, I expected too much from him; never thought he was this average.
Below average
It is one thing to be educated and quite another to be exposed
The man has never run a corporate company before a part from having shares in other people’s businesses and the in experience is now showing the country Zambia is in trouble.
Is Laura really disappointed? How long has this disappointment been in her? I was disappointed on the day Zambia chose HH. Zambia to me should have stayed as Nation Without A President. Laura my sister, please open your eyes. HH has always hired only a segment society forever. He cannot be any better than his ancestors or family. You all know the truth. Don’t be in denial.
She’s a wrong person to talk about this. A turncoat cannot be trusted. For all I know she will delete this as soon as she’s appointed cabinet minister. Let her GO TO HELL WHICH IS HOME TO HER KIND.
I second that motion, and go on to state. What hhas Laura herself done in the role as Commissioner in the Human Rights Commission? Why is she not as outspoken herself in the role on human rights abuses as she is in her bosses role?
Laura is just another hypocrite living off the public purse and wanting to act all selfrightous. Let her resign her position if that is the case. A joker she is….
Deja vu Stop stealing Bill Kapinga’s expletives! You will be sued.
“Go to hell” is owned and patented to Kapinga by LT
The boss needs a serious rethink on appointment based on patronage, tribe and tribe. Our fathers are turning in their graves …
Pls explain why? Cause you didnt get a job?
I think ballys advisors are to blame as he must
Be consulting.He is slow at firing.
Someone put it well: We put an employee in charge!
I tend to agree with her who hasn’t experienced incompetance in all GRZ departments
The police are shocking Report a crime then read the recorded statement it bears no resembalance
Education !! interview school leavers in most cases you’ll be highly dissappionted,
Teachers in the upper grades will even fail the same exam given their students
Yes indeed party loyalists before experience is in play
How come she is only seeing this now when HHs term is nearly over?
Very ironic….kikiki
Maybe this is the time to think of a challenge or an alternative for the top post
instead of criticizing day in and day out ? ?
Rose Flower.
My thoughts have synchronized with yours. One and many wonder. Why now?
Exactly my thought too. Every neutral has noted this from day one, but Mme Laura is seemingly just waking up from her slumber. Maybe this would explain why she’s been silent in the face of tons of human rights abuses committed by this administration
As for me, I am disappointed in her that it has taken her this long to lament today. Level headed people saw what she has seen way back in time. She thought the man will change. How? Even that famously patient scavenging bird of prey can’t tolerate it this long: one year out of five before time up.
But I am glad she boldly said anyway.
Unfortunately we don’t have serious opposition in Zambia…. there’s no difference in hiring between Pompwe Lungu or Pompwe HH ……during UNIP we people used to be hired on merit….but now its tribal ….almost all the Zambian Embassies are now controlled by Southerners….you find at one Embassy theres a Father..Mother…Sisters…brothers…cousins all working at one Embassy….
What do you expect from a person that doesn’t use excellence to identify appointees? His yardstick is tribal balancing, whatever that means because he’s appointed so many from the same region. He’s a disaster that must be shown the door next year.
Cow dung has the same effect as weed. That is why it is also used in Eastern province to process chamba. You expect some who spent his childhood sniffing dung to make sane appointments. Let us start Nalumango. Nalumango is there because Lungu had a woman running mate. Then we talk about Gary Nkhombo, Mweetwa, who the reason is straight forward. Then we have those occupying illegal offices like Kawana. What happened to Chushi Kasanda?
Let us just name the incompetent ones. Jack Mwimbu tops my list. Then, the Mines, Energy, Agriculture, the whole lot kaufela must go.
Mitti already got an appointment so she has a job..
The appointment of Ministers is prerogative of the President. The mistake was initiated when appointments of Permanent Secretaries was also politicized. I sympathize with ordinary civil servants of these days. How can they work so hard and fail to be rewarded with the position of Permanent Secretary. This is the problem and it is not the creation of New Dawn Government.
I was shocked when i visited one of the Zambian Embassies in Europe a few months ago…From the Ambassador to the clear…all Family members….all appointed by HH and same thing during PF….Embassies were staffed with Bembas and Easterners….this trend of Tribalism and regionalism has to stop…Employ someone based on Merit regardless of their tribe….
Most of these top appointments are made even before they form Government…these guys just become cadres and they’re promised Cabinet positions….regardless of their intellect….just like here in the USA….Trump is appointing his friends and loyalists and some of those who made big donations to his campaign and his family members in all top Government positions
When Obama was President he was surrounded by his fellow Chicago Politicians…..all his Top positions were staffed with his close friends…
Laura Miti will soon be retired in ” Nations interest”… thats how it work….Collins Barry was shown the door because he wanted Merit appointments in the Airforce…Not tribal or regional appointments