NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili says it is unfortunate that President Edgar Lungu can insult the people he is ruling.

During the commissioning of the Arcades flyover bridge last week, President Lungu said “ifwe tulebomba, utupuba tuletalika (we are working while some little fools are doubting us).

But commenting on this in an interview, Kambwili asked President Lungu to apologize to the people of Zambia.

“It is unfortunate that President Lungu can be insulting the people that he rules. When you are a leader, a President, there is no fool, no idiot, no mad person, all the people are important citizens who must be respected. And when such kind of unpalatable language starts coming from the Head of State, then you worry. But by and large, I think you must know that certain statements are issued out of excitement and in a split of a moment but what is important is that we should always watch our emotions and control our language,” Kambwili said.

When reminded that President Lungu repeated the sentiments three times, Kambwili said it was predetermined.

“If he said it three times then it was predetermined and it is unfortunate. What is needed is an apology. What the Head of State said is not something we can cry about, what is important is for him to say ‘it was a slip of a tongue, forgive me Zambians I am sorry.’ You don’t lose anything by saying sorry. For those in the opposition, our job is to criticize and offer alternatives so there is no way if we are called utupuba (fools) that we should stop criticizing the government, then the opposition is dead,” said Kambwili.