PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he will not go against the will of Zambians in next year’s general election.

In a statement, Thursday, President Lungu pledged to respect Zambians’ collective following the outcome of the 2021 general election.

According to his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe, the Head of State found it disturbing that some sections of the media had quoted him out of context when he held rallies in Kasama District where he was reported to have said: “Whether Zambians like it or not, he will remain President of the Republic of Zambia” following the just-ended by-elections in Lukashya and Mwansabombwe constituencies.

“His Excellency, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, will not go against the Zambian people in next year’s presidential elections. President Lungu has, therefore, found it disturbing that some sections of the media decided to misquote him when he held public rallies in Kasama. The President did not say, ‘I’ll remain President… Whether Zambians like it or not’ as one tabloid newspaper has imputed in their edition today. The President instead stated that he is President whether his opponents like it or not, and that if anything happened to him, his constitutional successor is Her Honour, the Vice-President Inonge Wina,” stated Chipampe.

“President Lungu is a democrat who respects the will of the people. The President, therefore, urges all journalists to strictly adhere to their professional ethics because not doing so could plunge the country into chaos. Journalists should report factually and not misinterpret or misinform the public to suit their agenda. Such reporting will not differentiate them from social media communicators.”

In the News Diggers! Thursday, September 17, 2020 edition, President Edgar Lungu was quoted as saying that: “Whether Zambians like it or not, he will remain President of the Republic of Zambia”.

It was, however, brought to the editors’ attention that the Head of State, who was speaking in Bemba, was addressing UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, and stated that: “Nangu chibe shani, namailo litali, na 2021 litali, lelo kufika next election mu August pa 12 mu 2021, president ninebo! Nangu ulefwaya olo taulefwaya, president ninebo!”

Therefore, President Lungu did not say: “I will remain President, whether Zambians like it or not.”