PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said the Government must move faster in fostering national economic development to speed up the on-going growth for the benefit of the Zambian people.

The president told newly appointed Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Anthony Undi that he was in a hurry to develop the country and urged him to work closely with Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane.

Mr Banda said this when he swore in Mr Undi, who has served for 12 years for the Harare-based Micro Economic Financial Management Institute for Eastern and Southern Africa where he was finance manager until his appointment.

Mr Undi would be Permanent Secretary in charge of Financial Management system.

The president said Mr Undi's position was key to economic growth the country yearns for and urged him to realise that the country was preparing for elections next year but development must remain steady.

Mr Banda said the Government was already bankrolling the national Budget and that his role was to ensure that the resources were spent in line with the budget.

"I have no doubt that you will assist the minister and myself in making sure that we develop this country. We do not have time and you are aware that we are having elections next year," President Banda said.

The president also swore in Kangwa Chato as Commissioner of prisons and urged him to continue looking after prisoners for them to appreciate the role the institution plays.

Mr Banda said having been in prison before, he appreciated the works the prisons service continued to discharge on behalf of the nation and hoped Mr Chato would use his vast experience at the prisons.

Mr Chato takes over from the late commissioner of Prisons Gibby Nawa.

Agriculture and co-operatives Minister Peter Daka and Mr Musokotwane attended the swearing in ceremony that follows the changes announced by State House special assistant for Press and public relations, Dickson Jere.

President Banda on Thursday made changes to his Government and transferred Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe to the Office of the Vice-President as deputy minister to take over from Gaston Sichilima who was moved to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the same capacity.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa awaits redeployment and hasd been replaced by Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) programmes manager Samson Phiri.

Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Elijah Muchima has been transferred to Southern Province while Zambian High Commissioner to India Keli Walubita is the new chairperson for Police and Prisons Service Commission.