Mary Chirwa leaves DEC, heads to Maputo

By NATION REPORTER

MARY Chirwa has finally left the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) as she heads to Maputo, Mozambique following her appointment by President Hakainde Hichilema as High Commission to that country.

Yesterday, Ms Chirwa was sown in as Zambia’s High Commissioner to Mozambique and her position has been taken over by Nason Banda, who becomes the new Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) director general.

Recently, Ms Chirwa refuted social media reports that she had been removed from DEC and appointed into the Foreign Service, declaring that she was still DEC boss as no one had communicated to her about her appointment.

President Hichilema has also appointed Andrew Banda, the son to Zambia’s fourth President, late Rupiah Bwezani Banda as ambassador to South Korea.

Moka Mumba has been appointed as High Commissioner to Namibia while Evin Zyuulu is heading to Beijing as Ambassador to China.

Pamela Chisanga, the former Action Aid and Water Aid executive director has been appointed as High Commissioner to Botswana while Mazuba Moonze is High Commissioner to South Africa.

Speaking at the swearing in ceremony, President Hichilema said the new appointees including all the leaders in the UPND should accept and withstand criticism because it was healthy for a flourishing democracy.

He said he receives criticisms and attacks even on matters that he knows nothing about but restrains himself from reacting and focuses on the work because not everybody would like them.

“Just yesterday I was surprised that some people who were being investigated by Police over an alleged offence he knows nothing about decided to insult and verbally abuse him,” President Hichilema said.

Mr Hichilema said diplomats were a subset of Zambia and they must make sure they deliver for the people.

He said the diplomats must join his marketing team to market Zambia to the outside world and always have a duty to rebuild the country’s economy at heart.