- Zambian President Rupiah Banda has sacked Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Jonas Shakafuswa and the Energy and Water Development Minister Lameck Chibombamilimo for failing show loyalty to the country and party last night.
Mr Banda who had called the cabinet and Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) officials to discuss bad publicity of his government by a local newspaper, The Post, announced his intentions to dismiss all party cadres and members of parliament who are not loyal to the party.
“There were some bad eggs in the party and government whom The Post referred to as good people and I am going to get rid of them,” he reportedly said.
Mr Banda vowed to follow right procedures and involve the MMD national executive committee to properly dismiss Mr Shakafuswa and Mr Chibombamilimo from the party.
“I have kept quiet for a long time because I was not president of the MMD. If you are a member of the party, we will follow you to the constituency and we will sack you from there,” he emphasised.
Mr Banda has also accused the former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Ng’andu Magande for protecting Zambian Airways to get away with the debt the firm owed government, saying he can prove the allegation which cost Mr Magande his cabinet position.
He said as the new head of state, he will chase the airline firm to pay its debts to the government, appealing for support from the government and all stakeholders to ensure the debt to the government is serviced.
He said his government was legitimately elected and recognised by the international community saying he will not impose stringent media laws to silence it as it plays a critical role in development.
MMD Lusaka province acting chairperson, Cleophas Chimembe, said his members would not sit idle while the President was being insulted and belittled by local media.
Mr Chimembe said personal attacks on President Banda would not derail the MMD's commitment to fulfilling promises made during the last electioneering campaign to root out corruption.
Mr Banda was elected on 30 October following the death of President Levi Mwanawasa in August. Mr Banda will serve until 2011 when Mr Mwanawasa's term would have ended.
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