PRESS STATEMENT
MY FAREWELL MESSAGE ~ DR. SIMON K. MITI
It Is with profound gratitude that I today, 14″ October, 2021, bid farewell to all the wonderful people working in the Public Service. Over the past Four (4) decades since I joined the Public Service, as a young Medical Doctor in NDOLA, I have had the privilege and honour to serve in various positions and capacities ranging from Local Government into the mainstream Civil Service.
My greatest honour and privilege was bestowed on me when His Excellency the former President, Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu appointed me as Secretary to the Cabinet and Principal Private Secretary. I, therefore, wish to thank, most sincerely, President Lungu for the honour.
Over the past few weeks as President Hakande Hichilema has methodically organized his team, it has been an honour to help facilitate the smooth transition. In this regard, I wish to thank President Hichilema for giving me a rare opportunity to share with him my thoughts about the future of the Public Service. In my meeting with the President, I indicated that ! shall be at hand to provide whatever support I can, to the New Dawn Administration when such need arises and also in my capacity as a dedicated servant of the people. As a public servant, I owe my country everything I have contributed and achieved.
Zambia through the free education policy of Government at the time, allowed me to come out of Chifubu Township in Ndola, to be the Secretary to the Cabinet. 1 shall always be indebted to my country.
I wish to thank my family for the support they have rendered to me during this astonishing journey. Without the support of my family, this journey would not have been possible. To those that may have encountered me during the course of my tour of duty, I pray that I had a positive impact on your work and indeed your lives. To those that I may have fallen short, I seek your forgiveness. When all is said and done, we must all run our own races. I have run mine.
Finally, to the civil servants all across this wonderful country, championing the development path for our country, I wish to implore upon you (Oo remain professional and non-partisan and atways serve the Government of the day in accordance with the Code of Ethics for the Public Service. Prior to becoming Secretary to the Cabinet, I as well, served in other higher positions across Government in all the three (3) previous administrations. I am a proud Public Servant who has served all the four administrations including the New Dawn Administration. This has only been possible because I remained professional and non-partisan. In some very difficult and challenging environments, it is important to always remember God and put God first.
I leave you in the capable hands of the Acting Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Patrick Kangwa, who I worked with closely and the two Deputy Secretaries to the Cabinet, one responsible for Administration and the other responsible for Finance and Economic Development. I urge you to continue supporting them. I also urge you to ensure that the upcoming 8th National Development Plan provides hope for development and is implemented fully for the good of our Nation in our New Dawn Government.
I want to thank you all for your unwavering support rendered to me during my tour of duty. It is well and it shall be weil.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” 2 Timothy 4:7.
God richly bless you ail.
God bless our President.
God bless Mother Zambia.
Farewell…!
DR. SIMON KAMWENDO MITI OUT-GOING SECRETARY TO THE CABINET
14 October, 2021
