Zambian presidency receives foreign minister resignation letter

LUSAKA,  Zambian President Edgar Lungu's office on Wednesday confirmed that it had received a letter of resignation from Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba. 
Presidential Spokesperson Amos Chanda said the registry at State House has notified the office that the letter was delivered on Tuesday around 7 p.m. 
Earlier, the presidential spokesperson told local media that State House was not in receipt of the official resignation letter and that the minister remains the office holder. 
Meanwhile, the minister who had announced his resignation on his Facebook page has reiterated that he has resigned from his position. 
In a video posted on his Facebook page, he said he tendered his resignation on Tuesday through his office. 
He further thanked the Zambian leader for giving him an opportunity to serve in his government. 
He however said he will not relinquish his position as a member of parliament of the ruling party and pledged to remain a member of the party. 
Kalaba's resignation has received mixed feelings from a cross section of society, with the ruling party dismissing him as not a factor in the party. 
He becomes the third minister to leave Lungu's government after the firing of two other ministers. 
Last week, Lungu fired Minister of National Development Planning Lucky Mulusa. Former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Corporation Chishimba Kambwili was fired in November 2016. 
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