13/05/2026
• WE GATHER HERE THIS MORNING NOT JUST TO BID FAREWELL, BUT TO REFLECT ON A JOURNEY WE HAVE WALKED TOGETHER FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
• AS YOU ARE AWARE, PARLIAMENT AND CABINET ARE BEING DISSOLVED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA MR. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MEANING MY TIME AS THE PROVINCIAL MINISTER IS COMING TO AN END.
• FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA FOR ACCORDING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS PROVINCIAL MINISTER FOR LUSAKA PROVINCE. THIS IS THE NATURAL CYCLE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. WHEN THE SEASON CHANGES, WE MUST ACCEPT THE TRANSITION WITH GRACE AND UNDERSTANDING.
• I ALSO WISH TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE SUPPORT YOU GAVE ME TO HELP SERVE THE PEOPLE OF LUSAKA PROVINCE BETTER. LOOKING BACK FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN I ASSUMED OFFICE TO DATE, I AM FILLED WITH PRIDE.
• WE SET A VISION FOR THIS PROVINCE TOGETHER.
• WE HAVE FACED CHALLENGES TOGETHER—FLOODS, ECONOMIC HURDLES, AND THE PRESSURES OF RAPID URBANIZATION—BUT WE NEVER LOST FOCUS.
• WE HAVE SEEN TANGIBLE PROGRESS: THE IMPROVED ROAD NETWORKS, THE SANITATION PROJECTS, AND THE STRENGTHENED SOCIAL SERVICES.
• NONE OF THESE WERE ACHIEVED BY ME ALONE. THEY WERE ACHIEVED BECAUSE OF YOUR DEDICATION, YOU ARE THE ENGINE OF THIS PROVINCE.
• I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TECHNICAL ADVICE, YOUR PATIENCE, AND YOUR IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES.
• I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOU STOOD FIRM EVEN WHEN THE PRESSURE WAS IMMENSE.
• I HAVE NOT JUST BEEN YOUR MINISTER; I HAVE BEEN YOUR COLLEAGUE AND YOUR FRIEND.
• AS I LEAVE, I URGE YOU NOT TO LOSE MOMENTUM. GOVERNMENT IS A CONTINUUM. KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK. CONTINUE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF LUSAKA WITH THE SAME INTEGRITY YOU HAVE SHOWN ME.
• I LEAVE WITH MY HEAD HELD HIGH, KNOWING I SERVED WITH A TEAM THAT IS SECOND TO NONE.
• IN GOVERNMENT, WE DON’T SAY GOODBYE FOREVER, BUT RATHER, "SEE YOU SOON IN THE NEXT CHAPTER."
• I WISH YOU ALL GOD’S BLESSINGS IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
This was the farewell message from Hon. Sheal Mulyata, the outgoing Minister of Lusaka Province who has served for the last five years.