ZANIS COPY-Sata warns Zambian envoys abroad against corruption

Sata warns Zambian envoys abroad against corruption

Lusaka, February 7, ZANIS—President Michael Sata has told Zambian diplomats serving abroad to fulfill government demands in their work and to desist from engaging themselves in corrupt practices.

President Sata said corrupt diplomats would be noticed because government would institute a monitoring mechanism.

He was speaking at State House today when he swore in Barbara Chilangwa and Ibrahim Mumba as Zambia’s Ambassadors to Angola and Saudi Arabia respectively.

“Angola and Saudi Arabia have similarities in wealthy. Angola is rich in diamonds while Saudi Arabia is endowed with oil. Diamonds and oil are very tempting and remember that you are going there on oath. We shall know your activities and government here at home and where you are going will monitor you,” President Sata said.

The President congratulated the duo on their new appointments and advised them to diligently discharge their duties correctly.

Mr. Sata urged Mrs. Chilangwa and Mr. Mumba to ensure that Zambia benefits from Angola and Saudi Arabia through enhanced trade ties and strengthened bilateral relationship.

And speaking in a separate interview with ZANIS, Mrs. Chilangwa welcomed President Sata’s warning against corruption saying she was not worried to be probed because she was a person of integrity.

Mrs. Chilangwa, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education during the late President Levy Mwanawasa regime, pledged to work hard and link Zambia to Angola in economic, political and social sectors.

“I have worked in government before and my new role is to work hard with integrity and diligence and l have no worries about corruption,” she said.

Before her new appointment, Mrs. Chilangwa, an Educationist, was Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) Executive Director, a local nongovernment organisation that advocates for the girl child rights and education.

And newly appointed Zambia’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Mumba, also pledged to work hard and negotiate for the reduction of the price of crude oil from that country to Zambia.

Mr. Mumba said his first assignment in the rich Middle East country is to woo Saudi Arabia investors to invest in Zambia’s key sectors of the economy.

“It is a triple effect for Zambia and my going there as Ambassador is to ensure that crude oil pump price goes down,” Mr. Mumba said.

The swearing in ceremony at State House was witnessed by Cabinet ministers, Permanent Secretaries and senior government officials.