Maravi

Rupiah happy with appointment of his friend’s daughter

Rupiah happy with appointment of his friend’s daughter
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 07 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT

Mutambo during the swearing-in ceremony at State House in Lusaka yesterday

President Rupiah Banda has said he is happy that newly-appointed Ambassador to Sweden Anne Mutambo accepted the appointment because he had known her since the begining of his friendship with her father.

Swearing in Mutambo at a State House ceremony yesterday, President Banda said he was satisfied that he made a good choice. Before the appointment, Mutambo served as director of development, cooperation and international organisation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Sweden where you are going is a good place for you because of their balance between men and women. So I'm sure you will fit in well and perform to your ability. By the way, I know who you are from the time you were young, since my relationship with your father. So, I'm happy that you are here to take up the appointment," President Banda said.

He said it was not easy nowadays to balance gender issues in the country.

"I know that it has not been easy in our country for all the other Presidents who have been there before me, and now myself, to balance the gender issue. We are all the time looking for first class women. We are looking for women of high standing, high calibre and I can say you've been truly mothers. I'm satisfied that we made a good choice, you are a good lady with a good pedigree," President Banda said.

And earlier swearing in former Lusaka High Court judge-in-charge Esau Chulu as Electoral Commission of Zambia commissioner, President Banda called on opposition leaders to sensitise their members on voter registration rather than talking about him all the time.

"I would like to take this opportunity to call on Zambians to register for elections, that's when your voice will be loudest. I would also like to urge leaders of the opposition that instead of talking about the President, encourage your members and all Zambians to register as voters. As for judge Chulu, I've no doubt that you are a tested worker and I believe you will deliver as you serve the country," said President Banda, who is closely related to judge Chulu.

On November 25 last year, opposition PF and UPND members of parliament opposed the Presidential appointments of judge Chulu and Professor Patrick Mvunga to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Judicial Complaints Authority, respectively, describing the duo as friends of the President.

Debating the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to scrutinise the two appointments, Kantanshi PF member of parliament Yamfwa Mukanga opposed the appointments.

“Those who aspire to be bishops should be above suspicion. The same applies to these nominees. The Electoral Commission of Zambia is a very important commission because it can unite or destroy Zambia. It is for this reason that we need people of great calibre,” Mukanga said. “Professor Mvunga was involved in the Dora (Siliya) Tribunal and failed… what integrity are we talking about? I question as to whether it's prudent to ratify that person. We saw the Professor on the presidential entourage to Swaziland and America.

“What will stop a State Counsel from being compromised? We have seen State Counsels being compromised. We have seen some State Counsel taken to Cuba. The Judicial Complaints Authority can be compromised if we have people of compromised calibre.”

Labels: ANNE MUTAMBO, NEPOTISM, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:07 AM