South Africa’s finance minister, Tito Mboweni has been reprimanded by the president, Cyril Ramaphosa for challenging Zambian leader, Edgar Lungu.
Mboweni was displeased over the recent sack of Denny Kalyalya, Zambia’s Central bank governor and demanded an explanation.
Kalyalya was on Saturday relieved of his responsibilities and no reason was given for his removal.
In his tweets on Saturday, Mboweni said “presidents in Africa must stop this nonsense of waking up in the morning and fire a Central Bank Governor! You cannot do that. This is some fiefdoms of yours! Your personal property?! No!
“That Governor was a good fella. Why do we do these things as Africans. The President of Zambia must give us the reasons why he dismissed the Governor-or else hell is on its way. I will mobilize!”
However, on Sunday he made it clear that his previous tweet might have put him in trouble.
“Looks like I am in trouble about my statement on the dismissal of the Bank of Zambia Governor! I stand by my statement. Central Bank independence is key. Not negotiable. Let all central bankers speak out!”
His tweet has since been deleted.
Meanwhile South African presidency in a statement assured Zambian government that the minister’s “unfortunate remarks do not reflect the views of South African government.”
It said the “issue is being addressed to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.”
