Allegations of employing purported “thieves and carders” at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services
As a concerned Zambian, allow me to react to a social media story suggesting that the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has returned the services of “soiled” individuals to run the World Bank supported Social Cash Trasfer programme.
Mr Stephen Chiwele, Ms Tachila Zulu, Mr Francis Lukunga and Dr Mukefuwe have been labeled as thieves and political carders unfit to run the social cash transfer programme.
First of all, the World Bank who have been supporting Zambia’s social protection agenda have been magnanimous enough to entrust such a huge programme in the hands of those who have been competently running it.
For avoidance of doubt, this program has,is and will never be attached to politics because it’s a noble responsibility for those entrusted to implement it to do so with utmost respect and for those who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
I believe that the mudslinging is coming from a jealousy point of view from those that are eying those positions.
However,this highly technical social cash programme shouldn’t be gambled with at the expense of the poor whose expectations are very high.
The quartet that have been leballed to have been stealing and mismanaging the program are Zambians who in the first place wouldn’t have been employed if they didn’t have the relevant expertise and qualifications to run it.
Additionally, those that are aggrieved should use the right channels to air the views as opposed to peddling falsehoods.
That’s why Zambia is a country of rules and laws. Those who have evidence of financial irregularities as purported in the online story should report to the police so that the “carders and thieves” can account for their deeds.
The president of the republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema who has clearly stated that ” you are on your own” to the corrupt, is busy with his development agenda and his attention shouldn’t be drawn to influence who should or shouldn’t be employed at the Ministry.
So let the social cash trasfer continue to make positive strides as it has done and not be derailed by those who feel more entitled to hold those positions than the ones who will be employed once the due process is complete.
James Mumba
Chinsali District
