By Patson Chilemba
Information reaching Daily Revelation indicates that there is a looming Cabinet reshuffle as the President has expressed displeasure in the performance of some ministers during the eight months the UPND has been in power.
And well placed sources have said the appointment of Ambassadors and diplomats to take up various postings has been delayed as the government has been trying to beef up resources which were heavily spent on recalling the former diplomats, and that UPND national chairman Stephen Katuka is earmarked to be Zambia’s next High Commissioner to Namibia.
But Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Anthony Bwalya said he has not received such information, and that “until there has been formal communication of some sort in relation to the kind of information that you say is rolling around, I would not be able to speak to any of it.”
Well placed sources have told Daily Revelation that President Hakainde Hichilema is unhappy with the performances of Copperbelt minister Elisha Matambo, given the continued problems, especially those linked with the Jerabos.
“The head of state feels the minister has failed to live above board with regards most of the problems going on on the Copperbelt, including the problem of jerabos. Remember it was not too long ago that some jerabo was even granted police protection on the Copperbelt,” sources said.
The sources further said the President has not taken the late supply of agriculture resources around the country lightly.
“In most instances, farmers are only receiving fertilizer now when the farming season is over,” sources said. “The President has also been watching closely the happenings at Indeni and in the petroleum sector. You are likely to see some reshuffles at the Ministry of Agriculture where Mtolo Phiri is currently. Also there are likely to be reshuffles in the Ministry of Energy where Peter Kapala is.”
And the sources said the government has been working towards beefing the financial resources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hence the delay to send ambassadors and diplomats to various postings to take over from those that have been recalled.
“You May be aware that recalling and sending diplomats is not an easy undertaking. For instance, just to recall one diplomat, the government spends on average around $25,000 to $30,000 dollars just on transporting the goods. Then those diplomats will have to be paid gratuity depending in the number of years they served,” sources said. “The diplomats appointed are also entitled to transportation costs and other payments. Therefore the undertaking is very expensive and the government has been working on beefing up resources so that these diplomats don’t suffer. Remember there has been this incidence where diplomats in several missions went for months without pay.”
The sources said after initial reports that Katuka was going to be appointed to Ambassador to Germany, there has been some change with information now indicating that he is going to be Zambia’s High Commissioner to Namibia.
When contacted about the looming reported reshuffles of Matambo, Phiri and Kapala among others and the appointment of Katuka, Bwalya said: “I have not received any such information. And therefore I’m not able to speak to any of that. Until such information has officially been communicated to myself, if it’s ministerial reshuffles, obviously Secretary to the Cabinet and Cabinet office at large, if it’s diplomatic appointments, Foreign Affairs has to be able to speak to that. Until there has been formal communication of some sort in relation to the kind of information that you say is rolling around, I would not be able to speak to any of it.”
