Former Katuba UPND member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa says President Edgar Lungu should chill because forcing himself on the people would invite a revolution.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled that the period which President Edgar Lungu served after Michael Sata’s death, from January 2015 to September 2016, could not be considered a full term, thereby implying that the incumbent was therefore eligible to contest the 2021 elections.

But in statement shared on his Facebook wall, Saturday, Shakafuswa laughed at those who defined the Constitutional Court’s ruling as giving President Lungu a third term, adding that the ruling party had taken advantage of the lacunas in the Constitution.

He stated that President Lungu didn’t change the Constitution to enable him run for a third term, but it was politicians and other groups who found it fit to define a term of office, generally.

“I laugh when some quarters are defining the ConCourt ruling as giving Edgar a third term and want to capitalize on that to gain political mileage. This is very cheap thinking which can’t sell. Edgar hasn’t changed the Constitution to enable him run for a third term. The Constitution was changed by politicians and groups, who found it fit to define a term of office. This was not defined for Edgar, but generally,” he stated.

Shakafuswa urged people to swallow their pride, saying they had an opportunity to pass a Constitution which could stand the test of time.

He charged that Civil Society Organisations to him, ruined the whole Constitutional process because they wanted it ‘adopted as was’.

“People have to learn to swallow their pride. We had an opportunity to pass a Constitution which could stand the test of time. But opportunists wanted to ride on the perceived support of the Civil Society, who, to me ruined the whole Constitutional process. They wanted the Constitution ‘adopted as is’. Did they study it. Did they notice the implications of adopting the ‘Constitution as is’. Most of these so called Civil Society are just noise makers who don’t possess the expertise to have detailed analysis of serious issue but want to work as media experts. Here we are, wanting the Courts to give judgement for political expedience. Looking for a storm from a tea cup. Not in Zambia,” he stated.

And Shakafuswa stated that Zambia had experienced revolutions to bring about change.

He stated late Michael Sata was a revolutionist, but unfortunately did not have the required people to maintain the revolution, as a result, the ‘less tax, more money in the pockets’, had become a far fetched dream.

“We have experienced revolutions in this country brought by Gallant men, the likes of Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, Derrick Mbita Chitala Arthur Wina and them. They did not advocate blood shed, but held the bull by the horns to bring about change. Michael Sata was a revolutionist, but unfortunately did not have the required people to maintain the revolution. As a result, the less tax, more money in the pockets, has become a far fetched dream. So to ask for peoples power needs an agenda. Not cosmetic events which you know are of window dressing in nature. Yes things in the country are bad, but we don’t need cheap opportunism to make it worse. We need consolidated efforts to first lay a foundation to make things right. The problem we have is we have these angels who think they know it all. Tekanyani (chill),” he stated.

Meanwhile, Shakafuswa urged President Lungu to “chill”, saying forcing himself on people would invite revolution.

“As for Edgar, Chill. This country belongs to all Zambians. The resistance you are facing is because you have given it to PF. You have stripped so called opposition the rights to have jobs in government. The rights to do business with government.The rights to be heard. The rights to association. The right to expression.The rights to be Zambians and to enjoy the Zambian fruit. People are still waiting for lower tax, more money in their pockets,” stated Shakafuswa.

“Do you know what brings about revolutions? Suppression, Repression. And leadership which thinks they are on first name basis with God. Become a servant of the people. Not a servant of PF, and especially your corrupt helpers at State House, who have turned State House into a procurement centre for the country.”