President Edgar Lungu today told Ndola residents that his tolerance of attacks does not mean that he doesn’t know how to throw punches.

And President Lungu has warned that once he declares war against one particular individual, Zambians will not like it.

Speaking on arrival at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola today, the Head of State warned those who were frustrating the national process or prayer, forgiveness and reconciliation, that he was also capable of punching back when pushed too far.

He said it was not true that he was asking for forgiveness from those he had offended in past, because he wanted to fulfil the October 18 National Day of Prayer and Fasting.

“Let me appeal to those of you who believe like I do, that [we should] do some introspection. Look into your heart and say ‘if I have offended my friend let me go and see him and say ‘I’m sorry’.’ Don’t be too proud. I know there are some people who want to politicise the process and want to play drama and politics and say I have come to seek forgiveness because its October. No, forgiveness, reconciliation and repentance should be ongoing all the time,” President Lungu said.

“…But what I want to make very clear is that when i say nshilefwaya ulubulu (I don’t want fighting), it doesn’t mean I can’t fight. Akanyelele ngawakapimpila kalasuma (even an ant can bite if you provoke it). I want to make this clear, when I say my heart is big enough it can accommodate all sorts of trouble including nonsense, it doesn’t mean i can not fight back… Me as President tekweba ati ngandesulafye amakofi teti mpose, kuti naposa It doesn’t mean that when I am ducking punches, I cannot punch back. I also know how to punch.”

Take a listen:

The President warned the “individual” who was attacking him that he would declare war if pushed too far.

“If I declare war against one individual you will not like it and it will not help this country. I’m saying that as we go towards the Day of National Prayer and Forgiveness, let us open our hearts so that God can see how to work with us, how he can work with us. One person or two people are nothing,” he said.

“Twalelanda kubwaiche ati umuntu umo kamuti ka matches (during our childhood, we used to say ‘one person is like a matchstick’) he can’t do anything. But together fino tuli ebuntu (the way we are here is unity). So bane mukwate ubwililo ukweba ati amaka yaba muli ifwe bonse twabombela chapamo (So colleague, have forgiveness so that with our combined energy, we can work together). Umuntu ngalikutukile kumwelela nokumubika mupepi. Nao nga alikutukile afwile abwela mupepi ati unjeleleko nalikolwa nakantu kapwa (If someone insulted you, forgive and bring them close. And the person who insulted you should also say sorry I was drunk, and the case will be closed).”

And President Lungu said it was not true that the PF had lost its appeal to the people.

“I’m humbled by the fact that you have come in numbers to welcome me. This is contrary to what some people are saying that ‘this party has lost its appeal, this party is no longer together’ because of one or two things going wrong. Let me tell you that were people are together, there will always be differences and difficulties but you have to believe in yourselves to move forward. I want to say this because I know this is the week of reconciliation, repentance, prayer and forgiveness. And I will be coming back here on the 18th so that we can worship together,” said President Lungu.

“Let’s do some soul searching. Non of us is perfect all of us have fallen short with God. But please be praying for us tuleiluka (we should remember) that we are nothing but servants of the Almighty.”