Maravi

‘Diplomats complained about Kambwili'

‘Diplomats complained about Kambwili'
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone and Enerst Chanda in Lusaka
Sat 14 Jan. 2012, 14:30 CAT

DIPLOMATS complained over Chishimba Kambwili's behaviour hence his removal as Minister of Foreign Affairs, sources have revealed.

But Kambwili yesterday said he never used vulgar language against any diplomats.
Sources disclosed on Wednesday before the announcement of reshuffles was made yesterday that diplomats complained that Kambwili was too harsh and lacked etiquette.

"The diplomats complained that Kambwili lacked diplomatic etiquette, not only to them but to fellow leaders. They said they were finding it difficult to work with Kambwili because he was militant and confrontational even where just simple discourse was required. The diplomats said Kambwili's language was vulgar too," said one source.

"The President may in a few days replace Kambwili with Given Lubinda while the labour minister Fackson Shamenda may go to tourism; it is not immediately known what will become of Kambwili."

According to sources, there were fears too in government that Kambwili might face pockets of resistance in other ministries where he would be deployed because of his behaviour.

"As for Lubinda, many workers at the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism are not happy with this Cabinet re-shuffle," the source said.

But Kambwili said he was going to sort out issues at labour.
He said he was not bitter with the reshuffle because it was a normal thing for any appointing authority to do.

"I've never used any vulgar language to the diplomats. I'm going to labour to sort out the issue at labour. No, it has nothing to do with using vulgar language, and I've never used any vulgar language. Which diplomats have I used any bad language against? Tell me, which diplomat? I think I've scored a lot of success everywhere I've gone," said Kambwili.

President Michael Sata made a reshuffle in Cabinet, swapping three ministers.
In the reshuffle, Lubinda moves to foreign affairs while Kambwili moves to labour.

And labour minister Fackson Shamenda takes over from Lubinda.
President Sata announced this at State House after swearing in Mutembo Nchito as Director of Public Prosecutions.

President Sata said the move was aimed at improving on the performance of his government.

And Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) chairperson Kingsley Lilamono said Lubinda was a smart minister who was not dumb and would have made the tourism sector flourish.

"We knew that the tourism sector could go very far with this man. We have a lot of potential in Lubinda," Lilamono said.

Last week Lubinda told the LTA that he would request President Sata to first request whoever he would want to replace him with to get into Livingstone and embark on an expedition of gorge swinging, jet extreme, gorge slide and bungee jumping.

Labels: CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI, DIPLOMACY, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

posted by MrK @ 7:38 PM