Chaos in the Eastern Province Administration as UPND Cadres Attempt to Control Civil Service
The peaceful transition of power after the 2021 elections has taken a troubling turn in Eastern Province, as UPND cadres, calling themselves the “Implementors Team,” have launched a campaign to purge civil servants perceived to be loyal to the former ruling party.
In a lengthy statement, the self-styled “Implementors Team” has accused the Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Mr. Paul Thole, of being “captured” by a “dangerous cartel” of senior civil servants aligned with the Patriotic Front (PF). They allege that this cartel, comprising the Director of Finance, Chief Human Resource, Deputy Chief Human Resource, Human Resource Development Officer, and Administrative Officer, are frustrating UPND efforts and unfairly promoting their PF allies.
However, Mr. Thole has strongly refuted these allegations, calling them “innuendos and malice aforethought” that are “NOT admissible anywhere.” In a fiery response, the Permanent Secretary challenged the cadres to provide evidence for their claims, offering a K100,000 reward to anyone who can prove he has awarded a council contract to his spouse or that he receives regular payments from a provincial administration cartel.
“Maligning senior civil servants without impeccable proven evidence does not help the party,” Mr. Thole said, accusing the “Implementors Team” of being “paid like Judas to trumpet premeditated falsehoods” for “30 pieces of silver.”
The Permanent Secretary’s robust defense has only served to inflame the UPND cadres, who have doubled down on their allegations. In their statement, the “Implementors Team” alleges that Mr. Thole has “no time to interact with Party Officials” and is “becoming rich” under the new administration, while also claiming that UPND-aligned civil servants are being sidelined and denied promotions.
This power struggle within the Eastern Province administration has left many civil servants caught in the crossfire, fearing for their jobs and futures. Some have expressed concern that the UPND’s zeal to root out perceived PF loyalists has created an environment of fear and mistrust, undermining the government’s efforts to build a professional, impartial civil service.
As the battle lines are drawn, President Hakainde Hichilema and his administration will be closely watched to see how they navigate this. Failure to restore order and impartiality in the civil service could jeopardize the UPND’s reform agenda and undermine the public’s trust in the new dawn government.
InfinityMediaHub
15th July, 2024