A MESSAGE WAS DIRECTED TO SOME CIVIL SERVANTS SEEN PUBLICLY JUBILATING OVER OPPOSITION’S SELF – DECLARED VICTORY IN THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS- Hon.Obvious Mwaliteta

A MESSAGE WAS DIRECTED TO SOME CIVIL SERVANTS SEEN PUBLICLY JUBILATING OVER OPPOSITION’S SELF – DECLARED VICTORY IN THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS. Once you choose to serve in the Civil Service, your personal political preferences must never override your professional duty. You must serve the Government of the day. Let me be clear from the […]

A MESSAGE WAS DIRECTED TO SOME CIVIL SERVANTS SEEN PUBLICLY JUBILATING OVER OPPOSITION’S SELF – DECLARED VICTORY IN THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Once you choose to serve in the Civil Service, your personal political preferences must never override your professional duty. You must serve the Government of the day.

Let me be clear from the outset the message in the video was clearly directed at some civil servants who were seen jubilating and celebrating what appeared to be a premature victory declaration in favour of opposition in public.

This was not a general attack on the public service. The concern is about the conduct of public servants and the responsibility that comes with holding public office and supporting the Government of the day.

UPND, as a political party, developed its manifesto and presented it to the Zambian people as the vision and programme it intends to implement once entrusted with Government. But how can that vision be effectively implemented if individuals responsible to do so, within the public service deliberately frustrate the good policies and programmes of the Government of the day due to political loyalty.

Civil servants are the implementers of Government policy. They are the people entrusted with translating the President’s vision, Government policies and national programmes into actual results for the Zambian people. If individuals within the public service are unwilling to implement Government policies because of their political loyalties, then how do we expect this Government to successfully deliver on the mandate given to it by the people?

We should not be afraid to call out conduct that undermines national interest.

President Hakainde Hichilema has, in my view, demonstrated considerable tolerance and has given some of these people an opportunity to change and continue serving the country for the good interest of the country. That tolerance should not, however, be mistaken for weakness or taken for granted.

As a Provincial Chairman of the party, I have a responsibility to express my views on matters that affect my Party including the implementation of the Party’s vision and manifesto. We cannot simply sit back and ignore the conduct by some public servants.

Let us also be honest. When previous Governments of Former President Sata and ECL MTSRIP  took action against civil servants they believed were working against their agenda, including the recent threats from an opposition leader during the campaigns threatened to fire civil servants who’s support was with the UPND, where were some of these voices?

Today, we cannot selectively demand accountability only when it best suits us.

My position is simple: public service must be about serving the Government of the day and above all, serving the Zambian people. We can’t have civil servants that are always on the opposite of the current Government. How do we progress as a nation?

Political affiliation and loyalty should never be a licence to deliberately frustrate the good policies or development programmes of  the Government of day.  What matters is the country’s best interest.

When civil servants are seen openly celebrating partisan political outcomes of the opposition it is legitimate to ask them questions about their commitment to carrying out their responsibilities and their ability to support the UPND Government’s vision and agenda.

The people voted for the UPND Government with a particular vision and manifesto. Civil servants are the machinery through which that mandate is implemented. They therefore have a responsibility to implement these Government policies professionally in good faith but how can they do that when clearly some have shown that their loyalty is with the opposition.

If anyone believes they cannot perform that responsibility because of their political loyalties, then they must honestly reflect on whether they are able to continue serving effectively in that particular role. They should consider leaving room  for others that are qualified and willing to work with the Government of day to deliver for the country.

We cannot build a stronger Zambia if we are afraid to speak honestly about the challenges before us.

To conclude the Government of the day deserves all civil servants full support and the Zambian people deserve nothing less.

Do not undermine the current Government. Perform your duties diligently and align your work with the development agenda of the UPND Government.

Let us grow the Zambia Agenda together.🤝

Hon.Obvious Summerton Mwaliteta
UPND Lusaka Provincial Chairman