Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has issued a stern warning to ministers caught dozing off during cabinet meetings, attributing their lack of attentiveness to “indulgence” and a failure of self-control. Speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for a new minister, he expressed frustration over officials sleeping during crucial discussions, calling it a “serious crime.”
Without elaborating on what he meant by “indulgence,” local media have speculated that he was referring to excessive alcohol consumption and late-night socializing. Hichilema emphasized that such behavior not only delays government service delivery but also poses a risk to national security by exposing state secrets.
Since taking office in 2021 after a landslide victory, the president has been focused on economic reforms and has not hesitated to dismiss senior officials, including ministers, over performance concerns. During his speech, he revealed that he had privately cautioned his cabinet multiple times about their conduct but decided to make his concerns public after seeing no improvement.
He also criticized ministers who leak confidential state information on social media, particularly during social gatherings. Urging his colleagues to exercise self-discipline, he reminded them of their responsibility to the Zambian people and cited the Bible to warn that a lack of self-control could lead to self-destruction.
As he prepares to seek re-election next year, Hichilema may face strong competition from his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, who is attempting a political comeback despite currently being barred from running.
Leave a comment