Banda sacks minister over tribal comments

LUSAKA, Sunday

President Rupiah Banda has sacked a controversial minister close to the late president Levy Mwanawasa for continually questioning his leadership style.

The relationship between President Banda and his minister of science, technology and vocational training, Mr Gabriel Namulambe became frosty last November when the latter openly denounced the Banda administration saying the Lamba people were frustrated, hurt and injured by constant attacks on Mr Mwanawasa’s legacy.

President Banda’s spokesperson Mr Dickson Jere announced on Sunday that pursuit to powers vested in him by the Zambian Constitution the head of state revoked the appointment of Mr Namulambe as minister. He did not give reasons for the sacking.

Mr Jere said President Banda would soon replace Mr Namulambe. In November last year, Mr Namulambe told a local newspaper that Mr Mwanawasa’s tribe mates were unhappy with senior government officials’ attacks on the late president.

“I want to warn that we who were of the same tribe with the late president, we feel greatly injured because that person was a nationalist who did not know tribal politics or anything.

‘‘He appointed people on merit, some of us for instance. We must be respected as Lambas”, Mr Namulambe had told The Post newspaper last year sparking condemnation, and support, from various interest groups with others calling for his resignation or be sacked.