HH CAN GIVE JOBS ANYWHERE
…he has power to announce volunteers recruitment – Chishimba
UNITED Progressive People (UPP) leader Saviour Chishimba has defended President Hakainde Hichilema’s announcement that volunteer nurses will be employed and placed on the government payroll from August.
Chishimba said the criticism suggesting that such decisions could not be made at a public rally misunderstood how Zambia’s executive system operated.
“The President of Zambia is not merely a political candidate. He is the head of state, head of government, commander-in-chief and the holder of the republic’s executive authority,” he said in a statement.
Chishimba said the powers vested in the President were exercised through the Executive.
“Executive power is vested in the President and exercised through the Executive. Wherever the President is carrying out official duties, he remains the President of the Republic of Zambia,” he said.
Chishimba said the President and Vice President continue in office and the government did not stop functioning.
“The President continues to discharge executive responsibilities every day until the end of his constitutional term,” he said.
Hichilema could make executive decisions during official working visits, community engagements, inspections or any other official assignment.
“The location does not determine the legality of an executive decision,” Chishimba said.
He said a place from which a decision was made did not matter as long as it fell within the President’s constitutional authority.
The announcement to employ all the volunteers after attending his political campaign rally was not about employing foreigners or creating positions outside the public service.
“It concerns Zambian health workers who have already been serving the nation, with government bringing them onto the payroll through the appropriate public service processes. The President’s announcement communicates the Executive’s policy decision, while the responsible government institutions complete the implementation,” Chishimba said.
He cited situtuations where ministers while addressing the public dismissed, dissolved boards and appointed commissions.
“If ministers can exercise powers delegated to them by law, it should not be surprising that the President can announce executive decisions while conducting official engagements,” he said.
He urged people to debate government priorities.
Chishimba challenged those who were criticising Hichilema to come out in the open, denouncing the recruitment of the health workers.
“As we approach the elections, let us debate policies, ideas, and results. Let us avoid creating constitutional controversies where none exist. Democracy is strengthened when public debate is based on facts and an accurate understanding of how government works,” Chishimba said.
Some stakeholders have criticised the announcement by Hichilema at a rally that all the volunteers nurses present would be given full-time employment. – UPND Media
