24 December 2011
PARLIAMENT yesterday ratified the appointment of prominent banker Michael Gondwe to serve as Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Governor.
Until his appointment, Dr Gondwe was president of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development (PaTA Bank) since March 2001.
In moving the motion that the House ratifies Dr Gondwe’s appointment, chairperson of the select committee appointed to scrutinise the appointment Lubansenhsi Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Mucheleka (Ind) noted that the nominee possessed vast experience and was well qualified for the job.
Mr Mucheleka told the House that Dr Gondwe was being appointed in line with the BoZ Act No 43 of 1996 Laws of Zambia and that he possessed recognised qualifications and experience in financial matters an advantage that would enable him excel in his new role as central bank governor.
Dr Gondwe, who takes over from Dr Caleb Fundanga who served for nine years until three months ago when he was retired, holds among other qualifications, a Master’s in Business Administration from Moi University as well as a diploma in Finance from the Kenya College of Accountancy.
“Mr Speaker all witnesses called supported the appointment of Dr Gondwe. The Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) and the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) affirmed that Dr Gondwe has sufficient qualifications to work as Governor and he has wide experience,” Mr Mucheleka said.
He said there was no doubt that Dr Gondwe would use his vast experience gained from PTA Bank and as BoZ governor to achieve the mandate of the central bank in as far as implementing monitory policies as well as ensuring that there was currency stability were concerned.
“Dr Gondwe is a man of integrity, well-qualified with a wealth of experience in banking and so my committee seeks the support of this House to ratify him,” Mr Mucheleka said.
In seconding the motion, Mpika Central MP Mwansa Kapeya (PF) hailed Government for appointing Dr Gondwe to the position of BoZ Governor as he possessed the qualifications and experience required for that position.
Others that supported the ratification of Dr Gondwe were Mafinga MP Catherine Namugala and her Lunte counterpart Felix Mutati both MMD.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has cautioned United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and the public from making comments that ridiculed the name of the Speaker and the House at large.
Dr Matibini said comments attributed to Mr Hichilema in a Zambia Daily Mail story of December 9, 2011 that the Speaker acted in a biased manner towards the PF Government had the potential to mislead the public and tarnish unjustifiably the image of the office of the Speaker and the House in general.
The Speaker was making a ruling on a point of order that Kawambwa MP Nickson Chilangwa (PF) raised on December 9, 2011 attributed to Mr Hichilema in an article entitled “Arrest Me, HH dares Sata.”
In the point of order, Mr Chilangwa wondered whether people should be allowed to insult the integrity and decorum of the Speaker who is the head of Parliament like Mr Hichilema had stated by accusing the Speaker of being biased against the opposition in the House.
He said that the office of the Speaker was dignified and commanded utmost esteem nationally and internationally and as such it was inappropriate for any member of society especially those aspiring to occupy the highest office in the land to cast aspersions on the office of the Speaker.
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