HH NOT SERIOUS TURNING THE COUNTRY INTO A LAUGHING STOCK SAYS DR SIMUTANYI.
Political analyst Dr Neo Simutanyi has launched a scathing attack on President Hakainde Hichilema, accusing him of concentrating power in his own hands while failing to appoint Cabinet ministers to effectively run the country.
Dr Simutanyi says Zambia risks becoming a laughing stock over what he describes as the President’s failure to constitute a fully functioning Cabinet months after the general elections.
He has questioned how President Hichilema expects government ministries to operate effectively without substantive ministers, arguing that the delay raises serious concerns about his leadership priorities.
“Zambia is today a laughing stock because of a President who is not serious with national affairs. Only four ministers four months after elections? That is why the international community is laughing at us now,” Dr Simutanyi is quoted as saying.
The political analyst further accused President Hichilema of displaying an excessive appetite for power, questioning whether he intends to personally control government ministries instead of delegating responsibilities.
“You can tell that he loves power too much. How do you expect other ministries to run properly without ministers? So he controls those other ministries? One person to run the country and ministries? That is strange. But UPND must hold him accountable,” he said.
Dr Simutanyi also took aim at UPND officials who have defended the President’s delay in making appointments, arguing that their loyalty should not come at the expense of national governance.
Some ruling party officials have defended the delay on constitutional grounds, arguing that the law does not prescribe a specific deadline for appointing Cabinet ministers.
However, Dr Simutanyi maintains that the absence of a constitutional deadline should not become an excuse for delaying critical government appointments.
He insists that President Hichilema has had sufficient time to identify qualified individuals capable of managing the country’s ministries
The analyst has since challenged UPND officials to stop defending the President at every turn and instead demand accountability in the management of national affairs.
Zambian Watch.