By Isaac Zulu
The President has discretion to appoint anyone to serve as Ambassador or High Commissioner, including political party loyalists, says former Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba.
Commenting on the appointment of Stephen Katuka and Colonel Panji Kaunda as High Commissioners to Namibia and Malawi; respectively, Ambassador Mwamba explained that the Head of State is at liberty to appoint any Zambian to serve as High Commissioner or Ambassador in the foreign service, regardless of their political affiliations.
Ambassador Mwamba was, however, quick to state that the rest of the establishment in foreign Missions ought to be professionals.
“Those appointments are okay. The President has discretion to appoint anyone to serve as Ambassador or High Commissioner, including party loyalists. Even at the level of deputy Ambassadors and High Commissioners, the President has discretion to appoint anyone, regardless of their political affiliations,” Ambassador Mwamba explained. “But the diplomats are supposed to be proffessionals.”
He said that what should be questioned is the issue of inclusivity in the President’s appointments.
“What you should question is the issue of inclusivity. The President has not been including youths and women in his appointments. The youths voted for President Hakainde Hichilema in the majority, but they are the least rewarded in terms of appointments,” observed Ambassador Mwamba. “Look at his Cabinet of 27 Ministers, there are only five women; the lowest we have had for so many decades.”
Ambassador Mwamba pointed out that President Hakainde Hichilema’s appointments fall short of international standards in terms of gender equality.
“President Hakainde Hichilema’s appointments lack gender parity, gender balance. His appointments fall short of international standards for gender equality and that is why Chapter One Foundation took him to the African Union so that he can exculpate himself over gender inequalities in his appointments,” said Ambassador Mwamba.
