Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa on Monday announced a Cabinet reshuffle and sacked a confidant as well as parliament’s chief whip in the Southern African country, saying it will broaden their experience.
Minister of Works and Supply Ludwig Sondashi, a close friend of Mwanawasa, was shown the door and replaced by Minister of Community and Social Welfare Malina Nsingo.
The president also dismissed Chief Whip Eric Silwamba and replaced him with veteran politician Vernon Mwaaga, himself sacked from Mwanawasa’s government two years ago.
”These changes are meant to expose my colleagues to different responsibilities so as to sharpen and widen their experience,” said Mwanawasa.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kalombo Mwansa has swopped portfolios with Minister of Home Affairs Ronnie Shikapwasha, while Minister of Transport Bates Namuyamba has been moved to the ministry of science.
The Zambian president said the main failure of his government in the past three years has been a lack of capacity to unite the country and to reduce poverty.
Nearly two-thirds of Zambia’s 10-million people live on less than $1 a day and about 1,8-million Zambians, or 16,5% of the population, are living with HIV/Aids.
”Poverty continues to grip our nation. I want to work hard this year so that poverty levels are reduced,” Mwanawasa said.
In addition, political squabbling in the country has prevented the adoption of a home-grown Constitution to replace the basic charter inherited from British colonial rulers. — Sapa-AFP