I cannot take it anymore, some of my ministers and permanent secretaries are now paralyzed on account of corruption allegations, says President Edgar Lungu.

Speaking when he swore in some diplomats at State House yesterday, the Head of State challenged expelled PF member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili and others to provide evidence of their corruption claims.

“I cannot take it anymore some of my ministers and permanent secretaries are now paralyzed on account of corruption allegations. ‘You are corrupt, you are corrupt ,you are corrupt’, come on, give us the evidence and the courts will deal with it,” President Lungu said.

President Lungu insisted that he would not fire anyone based on unfounded corruption allegations.

“Especially in the aftermath of the much talked about fire tenders, people have been telling me to drop some one or two even four guys to kill this but I do not fire anybody, transfer anybody or promote anybody like that but on merit,” said President Lungu.

He urged his ministers and permanent secretaries not to be intimidated but continue working as long as they were not involved in illegal dealings.

And in apparent reference to Kambwili, President Lungu said he was disappointed that the ACC had not given feedback on their investigations, which he allowed after a hint from the institution, on one of his ministers up to now.

The head of state said this when he swore Anthony Mukwita as Ambassador to Germany, Alfridah Kansembe as Ambassador to Brazil, Dr Ngosa Simbyakula as Zambia’s Ambassador to United States of America and retired Major General Toplyn Lubaya as Zambia’s Ambassador to Egypt.

Others sworn in were Dr Simon Miti as principle private secretary at State House, Patrick Kangwa as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Administration, Mabvuto Sakala as higher education permanent secretary and Yande Mwape as National Coordinator for DMMU.