By Staff Reporter
The Canadian government has rejected President Hakainde Hichilema’s brother in-law to be Zambia’s high commissioner to that country, urging the Zambian government to appoint someone who would attach importance towards relations with that country.
And sources have said State House permanent secretary and also acting deputy secretary to cabinet Dr Oliver Mubita Kalabo is being primed to become the substantive secretary to cabinet, ahead of acting secretary to cabinet Dr Patrick Kangwa.
Well placed sources in the UPND administration, including two ministers who chose to remain anonymous have also told Daily Revelation Media that the Chinese are desirous of someone who has served in a very senior position in government to be appointed ambassador to that country, while the silence from the United States and British government to respond to aggremials on the proposed Zambian envoys has also raised concern in the UPND administration.
Sources said President Hichilema appointed Shepande, who happens to be a relation to First Lady Mutinta, as high commissioner to Canada, but the government there have rejected the appointment in their aggremial sent to the Zambian government.
“President HH appointed Kennedy Shepande, the elder brother to his wife as ambassador to Canada but they have rejected him. Information is that they are not impressed with his CV, taking it that the government have to take the relationship with Canada seriously,” sources said. “The US and British government have also not responded, and usually in diplomatic circles when that happens it means they may not be pleased with the names being proposed.”
Sources said as for the Chinese, they have indicated that someone who has served in a senior capacity before be sent to represent Zambia in that country.
“They have indicated wanting a serious senior person. As you may be aware, two former Republican vice-presidents have served as ambassadors to that country, and that is late Mainza Chona and late Lupando Mwape. They want to see seriousness attached to the relationship,” sources said. “And there is one thing you have not investigated, as there are a lot of nepotistic appointments currently going on. That list which recently went viral showing the highly skewed appointments, on that list there is a father and a daughter who are going into the foreign missions. Information is also indicating that PS Kalabo at State House has been earmarked to take over substantively as secretary to cabinet. Patrick Kangwa is merely acting and will not be appointed unless this expose changes the bosses’ position. It’s possible another person can be considered aside from those two.”
Repeated efforts to talk to Foreign Affairs minister Stanley Kakubo and his permanent secretary (administration) Chembo Mbula failed and permanent secretary (international relations) Isabelle Mutinta Matyola Lemba said she had a bereavement.
Presidential spokesperson Anthony Bwalya did not take calls.
