Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa decided on a major cabinet
reshuffle yesterday, smiling on two deputy ministers who were
promoted to full ministers and changing the portfolios of five
others.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mike Mulongoti saw his star
rise to succeed Vernon Mwaanga as Minister of Information and
Broadcasting, state-owned Zambia News and Information Services
(ZANIS) quoted the president's press secretary John Musukuma as
saying.
Mwaanga recently drew the ire of the government for rogue
comments made during his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC).
Mwaanga, a former government spokesperson, told media during his
trip that the Zambian government had outstanding debts of US$7
million owed to Moses Katumbi, the governor of the DRC's Katanga
Province, a claim rejected by the Zambian government.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth and Child
Development Patricia Mulasikwanda saw herself named the new
Minister of Gender and Women in Development with her predecessors
Sarah Sayifwanda taking over at the Ministry of Communications and
Transport.
The firing of Angela Cifire, the former Minister of Health, has
triggered another shift with Brian Chituwo moving to take up this
new post, leaving Peter Daka to take over from him as Minister of
Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training.
Two ministers also performed a job switch, with Kenneth Konga
moving from the Commerce, Trade and Industry Ministry to become
Minister for Energy and Water Development Minister with Felix
Mutati moving in the opposite direction.
Mwanawasa stressed the newly-appointed members of the tremendous
responsibility they now bear.
New Communications and Transport Minister Sayifwanda, who took
over from Peter Daka, is under strict orders to speed up the
creation of the national airline and to buck up the flagging
national railway system.
The president further directed Health Minister Chituwo to
analyze challenges facing embattled hospitals and clinics and come
up with a solution package.
On Mutati's new appointment as Commerce, Trade and Industries
Minister, Mwanawasa brought the issues of internal trade and public
empowerment to his immediate attention.
"This is not to say that issues of foreign trade are not
important but domestic affairs must take precedence if we are to
make meaningful process and create new jobs and wealth," the
president said in the statement.
(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2007)
