Purging civil servants from public service because of their tribe!

The purging exercise is run by the Civil Service Commission Vice Chairperson and now Acting Chairperson, Mr. Choolwe Beyani. But does he understand the seed of hatred he’s sowing against his people?

Lusaka, Feb. 1 – There’s a write-up attributed to former Ambassador to Ethiopia, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba, in which he challenged President Hakainde Hichilema to stop the purge of public officers from the public service.

Amb. Mwamba said there are over 300 senior civil servants removed from their positions and are on holding positions at Public Ssrvice Management Service (PSMD). He is right but must actually understand that currently, the actual figure is about 405 senior civil servants.

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The purging exercise is run by the Civil Service Commission Vice Chairperson and now Acting Chairperson, Mr. Choolwe Beyani. But does he understand the seed of hatred he’s sowing against his people?

Beyani is acting as Chairman after President Hichilema appointed Mr. Peter Mumba as Permanent Secretary and taken to Ministry of Energy. Nearly all the victims in this purging exercise are from Northern, Muchinga, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces.

Their replacement are from Southern, Western, and North-Western provinces, the so-called Zambezi region.

I have worked in the civil service since 1998 and have never seen the extent of tribalism as the one being practiced by this administration.

Deputy Secretary to Cabinet (Administration) and State House Permanent Secretary, Dr. Oliver Kalabo is also a key person in this purging exercise as he approves the removal and transfers of senior civil servants from their Ministries.

For example, Kalabo removed Mr. Tobias Chomba as Director of Human Resources from Ministry of Finance. He replaced him with Ms. Lois Mulube. Ms. Mulube is now acting as Permanent Secretary for Planning and Administration, Ministry of Finance, and National Planning.

Strangely enough, Ms. Mulube, who is a long time civil servant like Mr. Kalabo, happens to have a child with him.

Mr. Choolwe Beyani employed Mr. Maurice Hichilema, the young brother to President Hichilema and placed him at PSMD. Now the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) is headed by the Permanent Secretary Ms. Margaret N. B. Miyoba.

The Division is important as it is charged with the overall responsibility of Human Resource Management in the Public Service.

Mr. Maurice Hichilema is the Director of Human Resource and he is in charge of Planning.

Mr. Beyani also removed Ms. Peggy Kaoma Chirwa as PSMD Director of Human Resources in charge of Placement and Recruitment.

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Ms. Chirwa was transferred to the Ministry of Green Economy. However, she didn’t last long as she was removed after she refused to sign irregular authority for the export of Mukula logs.

Mr. Beyani appointed a Mr. Morgan Malambo as the new Director of Human Resources at PSMD, in Charge of Placement and Recruitment.

Mr. Beyani also removed Mr. Geoffrey Kamfwa as Secretary of the Civil Service Commission.

Mr. Beyani has refused the reinstatment of Mr. Musonda Kapulu at the Ministry of Education. He says he is looking for someone “suitable.”

I feel sad that our country has been reduced to a country benefiting only one part of the region. The Government of Edgar Lungu was accused of practicing tribalism and other negative issues.

In August 2021, Zambians went to vote them out, hoping that the country would change for the better. But, like they say, with President Hichilema “twalitoloka imisu twa nyanta pa mafi”

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