Zambian President Michael Sata speaks in Victoria Falls on May 29, 2012. Sata threatened to dissolve parliament and prompt fresh elections, accusing ministers of failing to defend his government from opposition attacks. (AFP/File)
LUSAKA (AFP) – Zambia's President Michael Sata threatened to dissolve parliament and prompt fresh elections Monday, accusing ministers of failing to defend his government from opposition attacks.
Sata's two-year-old administration has come under fire for having too many cabinet ministers, who, critics say, are cronies of the president and not servants of the nation.
"Why are you not talking? Why are you so quiet?" Sata asked cabinet ministers in a meeting broadcast on radio.
"If you are not fit to be what you are let me know so that I can dissolve parliament and we go for a general election."
If the southern African country's parliament is dissolved, the constitution stipulates that fresh polls be held within 90 days.
Sata said many of the attacks came from the United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema.
"We are pounded left, right and centre. Hichilema today is saying that this cabinet is bloated, the other day he said this cabinet is tribal and you people are not replying."
"Who do you think is going to answer for you?" Sata said.
Zambia is currently scheduled to hold its next general election in 2016.
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