• PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu

By JAMES KUNDA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has challenged women in the country, not to fight each other but support one another to hold positions of authority in the public and private sectors.
Mr Lungu is worried that women do not support each other to aim for higher positions in either the public or private sector.
The President was speaking at State House in Lusaka yesterday when he swore in Thandiwe Daka Oteng as Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Justice.
“Madam Vice-President (Inonge Wina, who was in attendance), why shouldn’t women support each other in professional careers such as law, accounting and even politics?
“You (women) keep calling for more numbers, but you do not work together and support each other. How can the President support you if, when I want to appoint a woman, a fellow woman comes and says no she is not qualified?” Mr Lungu asked.
The President directed Ministry of Justice staff to ensure that Ms Oteng, who replaced Joseph Akafumba, was fully supported in her new role.
“I have noticed that when we elevate somebody from the ministry to higher levels, including that of controlling officer, he or she does not get much support from their colleagues.
“So may I appeal to the Ministry of Justice to support you because you are one of them. Without the support of the people in the ministry, you will not succeed,” the President said.
Mr Lungu urged Ms Oteng to play her part in ensuring the success of the Referendum on the Bill of Rights.
“We have got constitutional reforms going on and your minister (Ngosa Simbyakula, who was also in attendance, and) myself are on record that we will hold the Bill of Rights together with the elections on August 11.
“Explore that possibility together with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and if we can fit it in (Bill of Rights in the Constitution), let’s get it done,” the President said. (See picture on Page 2)