I won't hesitate to fire you, Zambian leader Lungu tells ministers

13th February 2017 By: News24Wire

 I won't hesitate to fire you, Zambian leader Lungu tells ministers

Zambian President Edgar Lungu
Photo by: Reuters

Zambian President Edgar Lungu has threatened to fire ministers who do not regularly visit their constituencies, Lusaka times has reported.

Lungu made the remarks while speaking during a public rally at Samfya District In Luapula.

He said that members of his Cabinet should not fail to "juggle their ministerial jobs and duty to their constituencies", adding that he "would not hesitate to fire them".

Lungu said that there had to be concerted efforts between government employees and his ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party in order to bring services to the people.

He also warned that if government workers were not doing their job, he would not hesitate to wield the axe.

"If you are not capable of being both a minister and an MP, choose one job. I am warning those ministers that are MPs but not visiting their constituencies soon I will soon let you go," Lungu was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, at another public rally, Lungu pledged to reduce poverty levels in the Luapula Province through embarking on deliberate programmes that would address scourge.

According to Lungu, the human index report showed Luapula to be the most impoverished province throughout the land locked African country.

He said this had compelled him to ensure that development should come to Luapula first so that the province could "also start looking up".