President Rupiah Banda yesterday made changes to the Government at deputy ministerial and permanent secretary level, which saw Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe transferred to office of the Vice-President as a deputy minister.

Special Assistant to the president for Press and public relations Dickson Jere said in a Press statement last evening that Mr Munkombwe would take over from Guston Sichilima who has been transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the same capacity.

Mr Jere said President Banda has also transferred Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Elijah Muchima to Southern Province as new provincial minister.

All the appointments and transfers are with immediate effect. Meanwhile, the president has appointed Dr Samson Phiri as new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services replacing Mr Ngosa Chisupa, who would be redeployed.

The president has also appointed Anthony Undi as Permanent Secretary (Financial Management and Administration) in the Ministry of Finance.

Mr Jere said Mr Banda had also appointed Mr Keli Walubita as new chairperson of the Police and Prisons Service Commission. Mr Walubita was until his appointment Zambia's High Commissioner to India. Mr Jere said President Banda has further appointed Percy Kangwa Chato as new Commissioner of Prisons.