Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu terminates Chanda Kasolo’s contract as MIBS PS
Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu terminates MIBS PS Chanda Kasolo’s contract
President Edgar Lungu (right) talks to Minister of Finance Felix Mutati (centre) and Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo Seminar for Ministers and Controlling Officers at MICC in Lusaka on Wednesday, February 7,2018 PICTURE BY SALIM HENRY STATE HOUSE
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……I do not know why I lost this job, protests Kasolo
Monday,30th December, 2019 -Lusaka Zambia
His Excellency, Dr Edgar Chagwa
Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia has terminated the contract of Mr Chanda Kasolo as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services.
“Pursuant to Articles 92 (l), 92(2) (e) and 270 of the Constitution of Zambia, I have decided to terminate your contract as Permanent Secretary with immediate effect, ” the President said.
“The President thanked Mr Kasolo for the service he has rendered to the Government of the Republic of Zambia, and also wished him well in his future endeavours,” read a Press Statement issued by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Mr. Isaac Chipampe.Chanda Kasolo does not regret, explaining President Lungu’s cascaded salary directive
When reached for a comment, Former Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo says he does not regret issuing a Press Statement that the salary reduction announced by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu ranging from 15 to 20 percent is not a mandatory measure but a voluntary scheme.
When reached for a comment, an hour after being fired, Mr. Kasolo insisted that he was only trying help people understand the situation, following the presidential directive.
The former Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services suspected that the only plausible reason he was removed from his position was that particular Press Statement as Dr. Lungu’s letter does not state the actual ommision committed.
Mr. Kasolo has since apologized to President Lungu and the Zambian people who might have been hurt by the Press Statement explaining the presidential directive.
Mr. Kasolo has since wished the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary well.
According to precedence, any pronouncement by any sitting President is deemed policy, with political commentators arguing that perhaps Kasolo should have waited for instructions from the Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr. Simon Miti.
Early morning, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Mr. Issac Chipampe circulated a letter terminating Kasolo’s appointment as Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Pursuant to Articles 92 (l), 92(2) (e) and 270 of the Constitution of Zambia.
On his part, Political Scientist at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East Road Campus, Dr Alex Ngoma has described the dismissal of Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo as an unfortunate development.President Lungu fired Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Mr. Kasolo after the dismissed PS had issued a Press Statement that Dr. Lungu’s call for salary cuts in the civil service was voluntary and not mandatory.
When reached for a comment, Dr. Ngo’ma defended Mr. Kasolo on account that the PS had used his mind as a technocrat to advise government on this matter.
Dr. Ngoma explained in an interview in Lusaka that the move has to greater exposed Government that it does not listen to technocrats who apparently understand better how things must be done.
Dr. Ngo’ma is encouraging Mr. Kasolo to go out of the public service job with his head high because he has done nothing wrong for him to be fired.
According to precedence, any pronouncement by any sitting President is deemed policy, with political commentators arguing that perhaps Kasolo should have waited for instructions from the Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr. Simon Miti.
Early morning, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Mr. Issac Chipampe circulated a letter terminating Kasolo’s appointment as Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Pursuant to Articles 92 (l), 92(2) (e) and 270 of the Constitution of Zambia.
Still on the sacking of Minstry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Governance Elections Advocacy and Research Services (GEARS,) Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi argued that Mr. Kasolo deserved being sacked over an overzealous act.
“The PS behaved like a deputy government spokesperson and deputy presidential aide yet not making him comment even on things not his job description” says Chipenzi.The Governance Elections Advocacy and Research Services Executive Director says this will stop overlapping fullbacks in management of government and public affairs.
“Though he was media user-friendly, he crossed his official lane of duty, Chipenzi says.
A journalist by profession, Chipenzi hopes Kasolo’s dropping will not affect the self-regulation media efforts.
Dr. Lungu terminated Kasolo’ contract after he appeared on a Private Television station to explain the recent decision by the Head of State to slash his salary by 20 percent and 15; and 10 percent for ministers and senior government officials respectively.
