UPND MP Says It’s Dream Come True To Be Appointed Deputy Minister

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Sinjembela member of Parliament Poniso Njeulu has described his appointment as deputy minister in the Patriotic Front (PF) government as a dream come true.
And President Sata says his administration is striving to have a government in which all patriotic Zambians can participate in governance and development regardless of their political and any other affiliation.
Mr Njeulu is deputy minister of Information and Broadcasting Services.
A veterinary officer by profession, Mr Njeulu said in an interview on Sunday that he has dreamt of becoming a minister.
“If UPND won the general elections, I was looking forward to be considered for that job [ministerial position]. In short, my dream has come. I had dreamt about becoming a minister or deputy minister,” he said.
He said any person who joins politics and participates in elections dreams of becoming a minister.
Mr Njeulu said it is important for opposition MPs to work with Government when they are given an opportunity to serve the people.
He said the appointment will make it easier for him to foster development in his constituency.
“I have accepted this olive branch that has come….it is an opportunity for me to work directly with Government. I am now with the implementing team because the executive carries out government programmes,” he said.
Mr Njeulu is happy that the UPND has produced four deputy ministers in Government.
“This is actually an achievement because the four constituencies will receive more attention from Government in terms of development,” he said.
He said all district officials and party structures have welcomed his appointment and are looking forward to seeing development.
“I am from a very poor district, the poorest in Zambia, so when people see this [appointment] happening, they are hopeful of development,” he said.
On the appointment of more opposition MPs as ministers, President Sata wonders why some opposition leaders are against the initiative when the MPs are Zambians.
This is contained in a statement released yesterday by the President’s special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.
“Why shouldn’t we appoint them to government positions when this government is also theirs? It is a government of all Zambians. The Patriotic Front (PF) is not an ordinary political party and it is not by accident that we called it a front and not a party.
“The rationale was that we wanted to create a front in which all Zambian patriots can participate in governance and development,” President Sata said.
He said it does not matter which organisation one belongs to serve in government for the benefit of the people.
He said there are several people in government who did not support the PF but are serving because of their patriotism.
“So why should we prevent these MPs from coming to serve their country and their people? If the MPs are patriots who want to serve their country by joining government, why should somebody have a problem with that? If you are not a patriot, you won’t understand what they are doing,” President Sata said.
He said those criticising the concept of inclusiveness in governance lack understanding of government operations.
“They must know that government is the instrument by which people cooperate together to achieve the common good. And an authority is needed to guide the energies of all towards the common good,” Mr Sata said.
He said those “holding their members captive” by stopping them from serving their country are failures at leadership and do not have the interests of Zambians at heart.
And President Sata has dismissed claims that the PF government is obliterating the opposition.
“We find such claims misplaced and deceitful. For example, when MMD decided to join forces with more than 15 ‘rebel’ PF MPs, did the opposition in Zambia die? The opposition in general and PF in particular never died on account of the MMD’s decision to collaborate with a large number of our MPs,” President Sata said.
He said opposition parties must learn from the PF’s time in the opposition to organise themselves.
President Sata thanked all political stakeholders who have chosen to serve the interests of the Zambian people over what he termed as meaningless partisanship.