CHANGE LAWS STANDING IN OUR WAY, PRESIDENT HICHILEMA TELLS MINISTERS
President Hakainde Hichilema has directed new cabinet ministers to take advantage of their presence in the National Assembly and amend the laws that are standing in the way of the Executive.
And President Hichilema has urged ministers NOT to be greedy but share with ordinary people economic privileges and opportunities that come with their offices.
President Hichilema also explained that for a long time, Zambian avoided voting for him as he was perceived to be a stooge of foreign interests in the country.
The Head of State was speaking in Lusaka on Wednesday when he swore in 24 cabinet ministers and 10 provincial ministers as he advanced in completing his full cabinet.
President Hichilema urged ministers to uphold
constitutionalism and the rule of law.
“The law is paramount: I don’t have to repeat what you know. We stay within the law; we operate within the law. When the law is standing in our way, we change it, isn’t it. That’s why you sit in that house, you’re privileged to be in the Executive. At the same time, you’re in the legislature. So, that gives you an advantage,” President Hichilema said.
“If the law stands in our way, we don’t break it first; we amend it. Then we stay within the law.”
He also called on Members of Parliament as well as ordinary Zambians to conduct debate on national matters in a civilized way
“I do watch the [Parliamentary] debates; but it’s not just the people in here and inside there. All of us must debate in a civilized way, and then we’ll inject a sense of civility in the people next to us or those listening to us,” he said.
And President Hichilema has observed that when some ministers get appointed, they ‘change’ attitude towards ordinary people without titles who elect politicians to higher offices.
President Hichilema observed that some ministers restrict economic opportunities to their inner circle comprising mainly their friends and relatives, instead of spreading the privileges wider .
“Let us have economic discipline and self-restraint. Nomba nimwebo ba minister, fyonse mulefwaya ukusenda, mwalaba abantu besu… [because you are a minister, you want to grab all economic benefits to yourself, forgetting our people,” the President said.
“I call it primitive acquisition; you want to take everything; even what you don’t need. But you know there are people in need. “Please read my book, ‘you can’t share poverty’- you have to create value first and it is a principled matter for me. I know it took a long time for Zambians to elect me into office because they were told I am just a stooge of things… I am a stooge of the people of Zambia. That’s who I am. And you must be part of the President’s team to be a stooge of the people of Zambia.”
President Hichilema observed that there is still a lot of discrimination in the sharing of key beneficial government programmes such as social cash transfer and Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
He explained that some regions of the country are being discriminated against in accessing FISP and social cash transfer.
Zambians must feel that this government is serving them equitably, President Hichilem said.
“Many of you know what I am talking about. There are no lesser Zambians and more important Zambians. And in these roles, it will show how you serve the people; if you serve them with a mentality of equity or bias. It doesn’t take long,” said President Hichilema.
“It does not matter where they reside in the country; they must receive social cash transfer. I am aware of distortions. I have had to confront some people; you ensure that eligible citizens as prescribed receive social cash transfer across the country. Those that are supposed to be on FISP, they must receive FISP in accordance with the agreed arrangements.”