By Mubanga Mubanga
Sometimes we veer off to focus on our personal interest, which then overrides public interest, observes President Hakainde Hichilema.
And President Hichilema has cautioned permanent secretaries about aimlessly traveling while leaving work behind.
Speaking at a meeting with permanent secretaries, controlling officers and senior government officials at New Kenneth Kaunda at Mulungushi International Conference Center, President Hichilema said he was elected to work for the people.
He said he was married to 20 million Zambians and that all of them needed his time.
“I shall repeat why we are in this office, is to deliver for the people, nothing else. It’s as simple as that. Sometimes we veer off to focus on our personal interest, which then overrides public interest,” President Hichilema said. “As a chief servant since August 24, 2021, l accepted that l was married to 20 million husbands. My life changed, and I said so to my wife, now I am a wife to 20 million Zambians. So they need my time. And l remind myself regularly that I am here because of the 20 million Zambians.”
And President Hichilema cautioned permanent secretaries about aimlessly traveling while leaving work behind.
“When you are filling forms everyday to travel, muleya kwisa?(where are you going)? Mulesha inchito mu ofesi ( where are you going, you are leaving work in the office? Nchito niyikulu yapaka (leaving huge work). But your priority is to be on the road, to be on the flight,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Hichilema said when the government arrested people doing wrong things like those who were arrested in connection with Sugilite mining, he was accused of hating the people of Luapula.
He said he was concerned that a narrative was being pushed that he hated the people of Luapula.
“l have learned a lot in the two years in government, you can miscommunicate to people. And people will walk away feeling bad when actually your intention was good. So I am learning on my feet. From my business background, we set things as they should be set,” President Hichilema said.
He said there was no skating, but in the public sector, they could interpret a good intent and call it a different name.
“No, the president doesn’t love us. How is it that l don’t love you, l appointed you as permanent secretary, I am the one who appointed you. This side l appoint you, this side l don’t love you. Is that not a contradiction, is that not a contradiction?” he asked. This is a wonderful story PS (Permanent secretary) Luapula … that is a wonderful story, when we tell people don’t do illegal sugilite mining, it doesn’t mean we don’t love them. Don’t say to the people of Luapula that the President doesn’t love the people of Luapula no! …that is wrong, that is not right. You know what the president is trying to do, is to make sure that they are doing legal mining there. Illegal mining, people are dying in Kasenseli in Mumbwa,” said President Hichilema.
