Chief Government Spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga says Cabinet is not crumbling because no minister is indispensable.
And Mulenga says contrary to some reports, no other minister will resign because they all believe in President Edgar Lungu.
Briefing the media soon after Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji and his National Planning and Development counterpart Alexander Chiteme were sworn in at State House yesterday, Mulenga said government had moved on from Harry Kalama’s resignation.
“Cabinet ministers came here to show solidarity to His Excellency, the President of this great republic and of course to reaffirm and assure him of loyalty of the Cabinet ministers that we stand with him and we will support him and we believe in the policies of the Patriotic Front government. Unlike speculations that are on social media that more ministers are going to resign, Cabinet is crumbling, as you are aware this morning President Lungu has sworn in two new ministers, Foreign and National Planning. So meaning government has moved on and no Cabinet minister is indispensable and all of us should remain loyal and abide by the regulations that are streamlined in Cabinet,” Mulenga said.
“And this is also an assurance from us as Cabinet ministers to the people of this great republic that we are standing firm, there is no other lucrative government that has existed ever in this country or party than the Patriotic Front government.”
She revealed that some ministers who were abroad had to fly back just to show solidarity to President Lungu.
“That is why all of us came from our various constituencies, some of our Cabinet ministers where actually outside the country but flew in to show solidarity that we believe in His Excellency the President of this Republic and and we believe that he is the best man for Zambia. So unlike the speculations that are going on that government is actually crumbling, more ministers are going to defect, it is not true. We are standing by His Excellency the President of this Republic and we are going to move this country forward. Yes, the two ministers have left but it is time for this country to move on and business of government is as usual and we will deliver as the Patriotic Front government,” said Mulenga.
Meanwhile, Chiteme thanked the President for appointing him, promising to implement projects outlined in the Seventh National Development Plan effectively.
And Malanji also thanked President Lungu for having confidence in him.