LUSAKA, Zambia – President Michael Sata has sacked Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo for allegedly defaming the presidency.
“President Sata has, with immediate effect, relieved Masebo of her duties as minister of tourism and arts,” George Chellah, the president’s special assistant for press and public relations, said in aThursday statement.
The statement gave no reason for the decision.
But the move is thought to be linked to recent court testimony by Masebo in which she said Sata had ordered her to dissolve the board of the Zambia Wildlife Authority and dismiss all its directors – without following standard procedure.
Sata, for his part, had distanced himself from the allegations.Executive officials and members of the ruling Patriotic Front party have reportedly accused Masebo of showing contempt for the president.
“I have nothing to say now,” the sacked minister said when contacted by Anadolu Agency for comment.
“The only reasonable thing for me to do is thank the president for according me an opportunity to serve in his cabinet,” Masebo added.
“Anything beyond this, no comment,” she said.
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