PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says Zambia will not hold another Referendum to pass the Bill of Rights because it is too costly.

Speaking during a meeting with Zambians living in Ethopia held at the residence of Zambia’s High Commissioner to Ethopia yesterday, the Head of State said holding an election would only strain the country’s economy.

“We’ve had five elections in ten years; we had elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016. These elections were very costly and another election in the referendum would be another cost to the government,” President Lungu said.

President Lungu said it was better for government to invest in developing health facilities, building more schools and providing agricultural inputs to enhance productivity in the quest to become a middle income country.

And President Lungu said the Ministry of Home Affairs had concluded operationalising the dual citizen clause which would be forwarded to Parliament next month for enactment.

He said Parliament would make necessary amendments to the bill in order to enable those that wanted to become dual citizens to acquire dual citizenship status.

Meanwhile, President Lungu maintained that his foreign trips were meant to seek opportunities that would provide the country with platforms to enhance the social and economic programme.

“So every time we travel, I ask it is worth to travel and I only travel when it is necessary that I do so. There are certain things you can delegate and others you have to take resposibilty and personal charge, so when you see me travel, its not because I like travelling, its not true that I like travelling, I do it at great pains because I would rather be at home,” said President Lungu.

Speaking at the same event, first lady Esther Lungu stressed the need for enhanced efforts to uplift the status of girls and women in Zambia.

She said women played a critical role in the development of the nation saying there was need to promote the rights of the women and girls who appeared to be marginalised.