PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has made changes in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and other departments, including the dismissal of permanent secretary Himba Cheelo, citing a lack of implementation and decision making but just “fiddling around.”
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President Hichilema stated that permanent secretaries are appointed to implement projects and make decisions which result into delivering development on time.
He told the newly appointed permanent secretary in the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, Dr Max Choombe to ensure the implementation of tasks needed in his ministry.
“Vaccinations are supposed to be done by a particular month, vaccinations have a calendar. There is no reason why they should not be done. We have a beef export agenda. And all I see is fiddling around, just going round and round and round, no decisions are made, no implementations made,” he lamented.
“You are there to make sure that we can deliver according to time, by now we should have delivered the first consignment. We haven’t, that’s why I have made a change. I can go on and on.”
He said this during the swearing ceremony for key government officials held at State House today.
The President also terminated the appointment of Commissioner of Lands in the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Lynn Habanji.
He appointed and swore in George Zulu as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
The President also swore in Stella Nyonda as Deputy Auditor General for Administration.
Hilton Chibeleka was appointed as permanent secretary at Cabinet office while Beatrice Chilomo as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
President Hichilema also swore in Alfred Sakwiya as permanent secretary in Management Development Division while Joma Simuyi was sworn in as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health for Administration.
The President advised the newly sworn in officials to work with diligence and integrity.
“Tomorrow after office, you are on your social media posting confidential information. It means you have signed just to get this role or get a salary. When you are exited, you start crying foul,” said President Hichilema.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, July 3, 2025
