By Merlyn Mwanza
The measures we are taking are not meant to appease people, says President Hakainde Hichilema
And President Hichilema said Dr Peter Machungwa has been brought back into the government service, having first been appointed as minister by second Republican president Frederick Chiluba over 30 years ago, with the President saying Machungwa provided decent services during his time as Home Affairs minister.
During the swearing in ceremony of four men; Chief Justice Mumba Malila, Judicial Service Commission chairperson Dr Vincent Blackskin Malambo, Police Service Commission chairperson Dr Peter Machungwa and Local Government Service Commission chairperson Ackson Sejani at State House, President Hichilema said the measures government was taking were aimed at trying to find a lasting solution and not to appease people.
President Hichilema urged citizens to take the Coronavirus pandemic seriously, and for the press to help government efforts, saying several staff at State House have contracted the virus and are in isolation. He said they were often having to fumigate the State House premises to ensure the safety of people around.
He said the government would not shut down the economy but advised members of the public to follow the golden rules, saying lockdowns have not proved to be a lasting solution to the problem, against his critics view that he said the exact opposite during his time in the opposition.
The President congratulated the four men appointed to public office, saying public office had been cheapened over the years, resulting in most people refusing to serve, saying they had therefore been appointed to restore credibility to the system.
The President told Dr Machungwa and Sejani that they thought they would never see themselves in office again, but they were back to serve again.
Three of the four men who were being sworn in today served under president chiluba as ministers namely, Malambo, Dr Machungwa and Sejani. Sejani was Local Government minister, Malambo was Legal Affairs minister and Dr Machungwa was at Home Affairs.
Chief Justice Malila served under late president Levy Mwanawasa as Attorney General, continued in the same capacity under president Rupiah Banda who fired him midway before being reappointed to the same position under president Sata, subsequently landing himself an appointment at the Supreme Court.
President Hakainde told Sejani that school children will not need to use pit latrines in the next four years to answer the call of nature.
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