The President of Zambia Michael Sata on Wednesday “constructively dismissed” his Foreign Affairs minister Given Lubinda.
This is the second dismissal of a senior Cabinet member after President Sata sacked his Justice minister Sebastian Zulu months ago.
Mr Lubinda, also facing treachery charges by his ruling party, the Patriotic Front, was replaced by his deputy Effron Lungu.
“President Sata today swore in Mr Effron Lungu as Foreign Affairs minister, Rowland Msiska as secretary to the Cabinet and UPND Member of Parliament Ritchwell Siamunene as Commerce Deputy minister,” state radio reported.
Mr Lubinda had from Thursday last week taken up the back bench in the National Assembly, a move that symbolised he had fallen from grace.
Mr Lubinda is due to face a disciplinary ruling from his party over allegations of “treachery and collaboration with the opposition” set for March 3.
But his supporters say the charges were trumped-up as a way to dismantle his “ambitions to one day succeed President Sata”.
Mr Lubinda is Kabwata MP in the Capital Lusaka.
NMG
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