Dickson Jere writes
It’s One Government
I have seen the address by the Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa over the recruitment of teachers. He has come out guns blazing and accused the Teachers Services Commission (TSC) of not following procedure in the ongoing recruitment exercise of teachers. Simply, he has rejected the list for Southern Province.
He makes a point!
However, the TSC is part and parcel of his government. TSC members are appointed by the President and in this case President Hakainde Hichilema found it fit to appoint the men and women who are currently serving on that commission. Therefore, the Minister should have addressed his concerns quietly to the Acting Secretary to Cabinet or indeed the President himself. It is one government and it should operate as such! Differences are bound to happen but should be managed behind closed door.
This takes me to the issue of Secretary to Cabinet. I think we need to have a substantive holder of the office as matter of urgency. The acting Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa should either be confirmed or a substantive appointment made. That office is the engine of government and cannot operate on adhoc basis for a very longtime. Kangwa has been acting in that position for more than six months now! How can one be effective when his fate is not known?
I hope the acting Secretary to Cabinet will sit down the Southern Province Minister and the TSC commissioners to iron out whatever differences they may have – behind closed doors. When government institutions fight, the public should not know. It is one government!