Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday fired his Minister of Works and Supply Felix Mutati, who is an opposition leader, and replaced him with a lawmaker from the ruling party.

Lungu did not gave any reason for his decision, and said there was no need for speculation because he has the discretion to appoint and remove ministers, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation said in a report.

The move was necessary, the president said.

Mutati is the second government minister fired from Lungu's administration this year.

He was appointed finance minister when Lungu won elections in 2016 and transferred to the Ministry of Works and Supply in February this year.