By Merlyn Mwanza
President Hakainde has appointed and sworn-in 13 more ministers, bringing the total to 30 altogether.
During the presidential campaigns, President Hichilema had criticised the former governments of running bloated governments, which he said was a drain on the national coffers, vowing that he would run a lean government if voted into office.
The 24 ministers the President has appointed so far plus six provincial ministers are a reduced number on the 30 ministers and 10 provincial ministers appointed by former president Edgar Lungu, however some may argue that that still does not come closer to having a lean government the President promised.
Justifying the new ministries created, President Hichilema said they had been created to deliver on the government’s commitment, saying that was the reason why it became necessary to re-align ministries.
“You will see the value of those re-alignments and new ministries,” he said.
President Hichilema said he will stay within the constitutional limits on the ministerial appointments.
The President further called for unity, railing against those in the former ruling PF whom he said were spewing ethnic hatred against the others, describing such people as having a complex.
He said the UPND did not win any parliamentary seat in Muchinga and Luapula provinces, but that he used legal means to ensure there was Cabinet representation from those areas.
Among the provinces in the Northern region, President Hichilema won in the four seats of Northern Province, namely Senga-Hill, Kaputa, Mbala and Mpulungu, while he also won in chiengi in Luapula Province, and in Muchinga Province he lost by just over a hundred votes in Isoka where he and former president Lungu hit around 12,000 votes each.
“There is no ethnic group that is superior to others,” said President Hichilema.
Those appointed and sworn-in today, include:
Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo
Minister of Youth and Sport, Elvis Chishala
Minister of Mines and Minerals, Paul Chongo
Minister of Local Government, Garry Nkombo
Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba
Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda
Minister for Western Province, Kapelwa Mbangweta
Minister for Luapula Province, Derrick Chilundika
Minister for Northern Province, Leonard Mbao
Minister for Eastern Province, Peter Phiri
Minister for Muchinga Province, Henry Sikazwe
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