I deserve respect - Levy
I deserve respect - LevyBy Brighton Phiri
Saturday October 27, 2007 [04:00]
I DESERVE respect, President Levy Mwanawasa said yesterday. Speaking at State House during the swearing-in ceremony for deputy ministers and Permanent Secretaries, President Mwanawasa said he should be respected and obeyed but not feared by law-abiding citizens.
"I am very pleased to receive you and take oath in your various positions. Now you have taken oath... I heard you say I swear to the President. You did not say I swear to President Mwanawasa. So your loyalty, sincerity and goodwill is going to the President of Zambia as an institution," he said.
President Mwanawasa said citizens and civil servants had no choice but to respect the institution of the presidency because it was enshrined in the Constitution.
"It does not matter what your feelings are about the person who holds that position, but what matters is that this is an institution which exists according to the constitution and therefore you must respect it," President Mwanawasa said.
"When somebody is elected to that office, he is clothed with trumpets of the President of Zambia and therefore he deserves respect and obedience."
He asked Zambians to read the Bible scripture Roman 13:1-7 that underscored that leaders were agents of the Lord.
"They administer discipline and punishments on behalf of our Lord. You do not need to fear a leader if you are law abiding. Yes that scripture is important because I always say that I should be respected and not feared," President Mwanawasa said.
"If you are very quick at touching public property for your personal good, then you should fear me because of my anti-corruption crusade."
He urged the newly appointed public officers to do their part towards implementation of government programmes.
Those that took oath were home affairs deputy minister Misheck Bonshe, education deputy minister Clement Sinyinda, tourism deputy minister Toddy Chilembo, works and supply deputy minister Mundia Ndalamei, Central Province minister Ackimson Banda, Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary (PS) Medson Lisati, Lusaka Province PS Elijah Chisanga, Ministry of Gender and Development PS Caroline Yeta, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives PS Dr Isaac Phiri and North-Western Province PS Jeston Mulando.
Labels: MWANAWASA
posted by MrK @ 10:46 AM
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