PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says ministers and permanent secretaries who perpetually travel, without tangible results, should be ashamed of themselves.
The President said this when he addressed permanent secretaries, Cabinet and provincial ministers at a Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
He asked ministers about what change they have done in their ministries to improve things.
“We were elected on the ticket of change. What have you done to save public resources? What have you done to re-allocate the saved resources into revenue generating areas? Most of us are guilty!” President Hichilema said.
“Hopefully from today we’ll wash away the same from our ourselves individually and then as a team.”
The President noted that he is tired of swearing in people and that those who are already serving should deliver.
“It starts and ends with us here. We want to change this country and we’ll change it. [But] if we don’t want to change it, it will not change. But why should we be paid our salaries? Just to travel!” he said.
“Some ministers are perpetually travelling. [But] when you check the deliverables, there is nothing. You should be ashamed to fill in a form for the President to allow you to travel before you have done your basics that you need to take care in the office. Same with permanent secretaries!”
President Hichilema further said expenditure extravagance is not part of the UPND government.
“[But] what do I see? You are still applying to buy new VXs! Secretary to Cabinet, anyone who has bought a VX in central government, local government, quasi government institutions…. Yesterday I was in an IDC (industrial Development Corporation) Board… I would like an instruction which will be followed up to bring those VXs, put them on the market and sell them. Anyone who bought a new VX after we government…”
Kalemba April 27, 2023
