By 
President Hakainde Hichilema has warned newly appointed and returning ministers that failure to deliver on their mandates will not be tolerated, saying ministers who break ranks after Cabinet decisions will have to leave Government.
Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has been reappointed as Minister of Finance and National Planning, while Mulambo Haimbe returns as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the first Cabinet appointments following President Hichilema’s inauguration for a second term.
University of Zambia lecturer, Dr Gilbert Siame, has been appointed Minister of Green Economy and Environment after being nominated as a Member of Parliament, replacing Mike Mposha.
Former Zambia National Public Health Institute Director-General Professor, Roma Chilengi, has also been appointed to Cabinet, with President Hichilema giving him a direct mandate to address challenges at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Authority (ZAMSA) and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA).
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony at State House in Lusaka on Monday, Hichilema said public office was founded on trust and warned ministers against putting personal interests ahead of national interests.
He said the Government was entering a new phase that required results and greater accountability.
“That trust, that trust from the people of the Republic of Zambia, and that trust includes among other things, putting national interest first and your own interest subsidiary to national interest. I have seen people veering off from this rule and putting personal interest first and national interest second or even third. That will not be allowed going forward,” Hichilema said.
He also stressed collective responsibility in Cabinet, warning that ministers who disagreed with or acted against collectively agreed Cabinet decisions would have to leave Government.
“You cannot be part of a cabinet decision and after being part of that collective decision you choose to walk in a different direction. That’s a point of exit. No question about it,” he stated.
Hichilema said public resources belonged to Zambians and must be managed prudently, outlining three non-negotiable principles for public procurement — buying at the right price, buying quality goods and services, and ensuring timely delivery.
“Buy at the right price. Buy quality. And deliver on time. Those three rules must be respected. No cousin, no brother, no friend, no associate will be allowed to break these rules. No one. And I mean no one,” the President said.
He linked the Government’s performance targets to the Grow Zambia Agenda, which he said was focused on economic expansion, job creation and improving livelihoods.
Hichilema said increased Treasury revenues should translate into greater investment in infrastructure and social services, warning public officials against wastage and complacency.
“What you do with your money. That includes all of us in the public sector. People’s money must be applied for to benefit the people. Simple. Let’s avoid wastage. We cannot be in a culture where we appear at the office at eight hours, knock off at seventeen hours. It doesn’t matter what we do in between. That will not work anymore. Our people expect results,” he said.
Turning to the health sector, Hichilema tasked Professor Chilengi with ensuring that ZAMSA and ZAMRA improve their performance, particularly in the procurement, regulation and availability of medicines.
He accused ZAMRA of delaying access to medicines that had already been approved for use in other parts of the world.
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“ZAMRA is standing in the way for us to get the best state of the art medicine. Procrastinating around not allowing medicines which are technically allowed across the world and we are behind. That will not be allowed,” he said.
Hichilema said the directive was linked to his 10-10-5-3-3-3 agenda and the One Health approach, stressing that both human and animal health were critical to national productivity.
“Human health is number one. If we don’t address animal health it will bring diseases to humans. These must deliver from yesterday. A healthy nation is a productive nation,” the President stated.
He urged the new Cabinet to maintain a “blind focus” on delivery, saying public officials must work hard and smart, embrace technology and serve with integrity.
“Let us work hard and smart. Let us serve with integrity. Let us put Zambia first. Let us deliver results. Let us grow Zambia together. Blind focus. Can’t take a public job if you don’t love the people. It doesn’t work,” Hichilema said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to Zambia and urged public officers to protect the country’s interests above personal or external considerations.
“We love our country. We cannot trade Zambia with any other country. For me I cannot do that. Every time I’m on a flight back home I say to God, thank you for making me a Zambian. We should love our country. We can’t trade it with anything else. Let’s protect it,” he said.
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