Emmanuel Mwamba
Former FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi has called on President Edgar Lungu to fire Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba.
Reacting to media reports that Mwamba had applied to contest as Member of Parliament for Matero on PF ticket, Chipenzi charged that Mwamba cannot continue as a civil servant.
Mwamba is not the only there are a number of District Commissioners who are reported to have applied for adoption. Kalabo DC Fredah Luhila is one of them. She is reported to have applied for Nkeyema a new constituency near Kaoma in Western province.
Below is Chipenzi’s statement:
If the media reports suggesting that High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba has now decided to apply to contest the Matero Seat on the PF ticket are true, I urge, President Edgar Lungu to immediately fire and recall Mr. Mwamba.
The firing and recalling of Mr. Mwamba from SA will serve as a deterrent measure to DCs and others in the habit of actively involved in politics before they relinguish their public service positions and who use civil service to promote their political ambitions and want to serve two masters.
Additionally, if Mwamba was fired, President Lungu’s recent sentiments that he would not tolerate civil servants involving themselves in active partisan politics would be treated to be genuine.
But if not, then the sentiments would have meant targeting only those who want to support the Opposition political parties while those in the ruling will be allowed to enjoy their jobs while practisings partisan politics as Mwamba has already demonstrated. Imagine if he had applied on the opposition ticket? He would have been fired yesterday!
It is will be ironic for the president to allow Mwamba continue serving as South African High Commissioner pretending to be civil servant hiding in Pretoria when he is an active member of a political party in the name of PF.
This is the same Mwamba who condemned others and demanded for their throats based on speculations of their partisanship.
Therefore, If the same measure which has been applied onto others who based on speculations or indeed truly involved in active politics were fired, retired or made to resign, Mwamba’s case is classic and must be treated not with kid gloves but seriousness it deserved by immediately firing him or forced to resigns.
Mwamba should be recalled by the appointing authority immediately or made to resign on moral grounds so that he concentrates on his political career.
PF members and officials who have been aloud on speculations over other citizens’ political affiliations should not be mute as if they have ascended to the heavens but should be now seen to be loudly condemn those who have applied to contest elections on a party ticket and yet still serving in the civil service.
Let us all who believe in Justice for all and rule of law demand for Mwamba’s immediate recalling and firing or resignation to safeguard the office of the High Commission in South Africa which he might use to fund raise for his campaigns.
Let him come back home and face his opponents squarely in Matero. Let us all unite to have this politician hiding at the high Commission in Pretoria, SA smoked out of there to allow a non-cadre to take up that position.
If nothing done, Mwamba and President Lungu will be breaching Article 186 (1) and (2) of the amended constitution on participation in politics which states and i quote;
“A public Officer who seek election, or is appointed to a state Office shall resign while Clause 2 states “Clause (1) applies to a constitution office holder.
And according to definition of a Public Office in the amended constitution, means “an office whose emoluments and expenses are a charge on the consolidated Fund or other prescribed public fund and includes a state office, constitutional office and an office in the public service, including that of a member of a commission”.
Furt
