By Patson Chilemba
I will be the President’s lieutenant in the fight against corruption, says newly sworn in Lusaka Province permanent secretary Robert Kamalata.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Kamalata, the former senior private secretary to former Republican vice-president Dr Guy Scott, said he will adhere strictly to the financial regulations as enshrined in the Public Finance Management Act, saying the newly appointed officials have no excuse to fail following the tone set by President Hakainde Hichilema, the various trainings they have gone through and the resources availed to them, to fail to deliver for the Zambian people.
“We have no excuse to fail as PSs. He has given us direction and he has fully oriented us…if you fail it means you just wanted to fail,” Kamalata said. “We shall be the President’s Lieutenants in fighting corruption and bringing back professionalism. Those who will be found in corrupt activities will have themselves to blame.”
Kamalata thanked the President for having appointed him as Lusaka Province permanent secretary.
“You May wish to know that Lusaka is a hub of activities. It houses all ministries, State House and Government House. It is a Province where a lot of activities are taking place, and to be appointed as permanent secretary it means he has confidence in me,” Kamalata said. “I know Lusaka could be problematic but with his encouragement we shall manage to run the Province as expected. We have no excuse to give because we have a supporting President himself, supporting Vice-President and a supporting minister Mulyata.”
Kamalata said President Hichilema was categorical when swearing him and the other officials into office that he would not relent in fighting corruption and that he was bringing back professionalism, saying “even us have to adhere strictly to the messages he is telling us.”
“It’s not just a swearing ceremony, he is telling you what he wants to do,” Kamalata said. “With the new budget we are not going to give excuses of resources. But when we have them we must not misuse them.”
He also spoke glowingly of his former boss, Dr Scott, saying he learnt a lot about professionalism when he served under the former vice-president, saying the two (President Hichilema and Dr Scott) aligned on this aspect.
“He (Dr Scott) told me he is getting a lot of support from this new dawn government,” said Kamalata.
