The Office of the President and Cabinet has transferred three principal secretaries (PSs) in a move Minister of Information Gospel Kazako said aims to have required levels of administrative and operational response to drive strategies.
The changes have seen Ministry of Justice PS and Solicitor General Reyneck Matemba, who previously served as Anti-Corruption Bureau director general, moved to Ministry of Lands as PS.
Ministry of Lands PS Bernard Sande has moved to Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same capacity to replace Luckie Sikwese who has been transferred to the Office of the Vice-President (OVP) as PS.
In an interview on Sundayy, Kazako, who is also the official government spokesperson, said more changes will take place in due course. He said government will be issuing official statements on the changes.
He said: “We are fielding specific human resource that will create interface with our strategic plans and objectives. We are doing this to get the required levels of administrative and operational response and speed.
“Wherever one has been posted to, it is part of achieving the best results from their experience, knowledge and capabilities.”
Sande and Sikwese are going back to familiar territories as Sande previously served as a diplomat and PS for Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the other hand, Sikwese, apart from serving as PS for Ministry of Information, also served as PS in the OVP.
Other recent changes in the civil service include the appointment of Dr. MacDonald Mafuta Mwale as new Secretary to the Treasury replacing Chauncy Simwaka, who is now PS for Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture.
Ministry of Industry PS Peter Simbani has also moved to the position of Comptroller for Statutory Corporation.
Ministry of Transport and Public Works director of Building Department Hastings Chiudzu has been promoted to PS for the same ministry replacing Patrick Zimpita, who has been transferred to Ministry of Economic Planning and Development.
Meanwhile, President Lazarus Chakwera has confirmed journalist Anthony Kasunda as presidential press secretary replacing Brian Banda.
Kasunda, who was Blantyre City Council public relations manager, was engaged in an acting capacity as presidential press secretary after Banda went to China for a three-month training.
In a written response yesterday, State House director of communications Sean Kampondeni said Banda will play a different role to be communicated later.
He said: “I can confirm that President Chakwera has confirmed Mr. Anthony Kasunda as his press secretary.
“The President has further indicated that he has in mind a different role for Mr. Brian Banda, the nature of which will be conveyed in due course.”
