IF we see what is going on, we are worried, says former president Edgar Lungu.
And Lungu, who is PF president, says there are people calling on government and President Hichilema to relook his belief in the One Zambia, One Nation motto because certain regions already feel ostracised.
On Friday, Parliament elected Nelly Mutti, Attractor Chisangano and Steve Moyo as Speaker, First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker respectively.
But Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Brian Mundubile has accused the UPND of attempting to destroy the country’s democracy by obliterating the opposition. He argued that the ruling party was advancing a “One Zambia, One Region” agenda.
And speaking to journalists shortly after attending mass at Chainda Catholic Church, Sunday, Lungu said “they should do more about the One Zambia, One Nation motto”.
“It is for you to judge who means well. Because I heard remarks in Parliament like One Zambia, One Region and that is worrying. It is a political statement, One Zambia, One Region or One Zambia, One Nation. If we see what is going on, we are worried. Seriously speaking, I think they should do more about the One Zambia, One Nation motto to ensure that it is seen in the practical implementation of policy making decisions and also positioning of people. Right now I can tell you that there are people who are calling upon the government and the President to look again into his belief in the One Zambia, One Nation motto because certain regions feel already ostracised. And I agree with the sentiments which were raised by [Raphael] Nakacinda that they can do better. And again I do not want to talk politics, I am on my way to retirement please leave me alone,” Lungu said.
Lungu, however, congratulated Speaker Mutti on her appointment.
“Every Zambian who believes in gender parity is delighted about this decision. I like the statement she made that it is not about gender, it is efficiency, service delivery and so on. So I would like to believe that all those women with quality should not hide behind. Let them come to the fore so that they are recognised and given places where they would be able to participate in the development of this country. Congratulations to madam Nelly Mutti and let her be a model for others so that they can also come out of their hiding so to say, and participate in the development of this country. We have a lot of women with great potential but for some reason they do not want to come out so let her be the encouragement so that others can also come to the fore and contribute,” Lungu said.
Meanwhile, Lungu said the church should not be a seasonal partner to politicians.
“The church should not be a seasonal partner to politicians. The church should always be there for politicians. Long after the elections, the church should be there and long before the elections, the church should be there. In the day to day lives of politicians, the church should want to interfere by interceding and counselling the politicians. Those gentlemen and ladies who have the privilege to be in the position of leadership now should be strengthened by praying for them and also counselling,” said Lungu.
13 Responses
I really don’t that Edgar Lungu should comment on some of these issues. He is the least qualified. He openly practiced the On Zambia One Region politics with impunity! He fired civil servants ‘in national interest’, his interest, and all these are from the same region, what a coincidence! He established for himself Christians for Lungu and ensured that the true church was excluded from participating in national politics. Silence is golden
Mr. Lungu cannot be concerned about one Zambia one Nation. He was promoting one Zambia two Regions in his appointments and retirements in “national interest?” The few appointments so far show one Zambia one Nation being implemented. In any case Mr. Lungu rarely performed the functions of a republican president, he was always performing as a party president. There are no regions that feel already ostracised, it is PF which is still in shock. If PF have nothing sensible to say let them keep quiet as the country returns from their lunacy.
ls Lungu a normal person ? He has just forgotten how he discriminated tribes from other regions apart from Northern, Muchinga and Eastern. This comment is not fair for those who were persecuted by his regime. Let him not take the Nation for granted. And has he retired from active Politics ?
This is laughable indeed ! Even before chickens sleep – look who is commenting on this subject. Ok, let us be practical and respect facts. How many Parastatals do we have and who are the CEOs today ? How many PS do we have and which regions do they come from ? Please please Lungu do not take us for idiots…?
No..no..no..not Lungu or anyone from PF. We are still crying of the PF genocide against other tribes and this is what he can comment on. Ba libe nsoni ba muuna aba.
What does Lungu really take us for ? Your tribalism was so plain, stinking and cruel . May God reward you for the persecution we suffered under your rule.
Mr ECL should be the last person to open his mouth over this. He should first look at the log in his eye before he can see the speck in another’s.
The PF retired qualified and experienced civil servants in national interest simllhnbecause the were Tonga, Lozi or Luvale, Kaonde and Lunda. Was that one Zambia, One Nation under president Edgar Lungu?
It is very annoying for RCL to say this, actually. He is better off being silent. The damage he did to the nation’s fabric is still fresh and deep.
Lungu use to appoint bemba’s and easterners only, this man should be ashamed that he can talk about others being left out now that his no longer president!! This man was fine with the hate speach against the Tonga’s by CK, today he want to play holy while his the worst at it!!! We saw our own people being retired in the interest of the pf not national interest, we saw how only two regions would be considered for jobs like police, teachers, prison officer, arm, zns and zaf, is it not true that 98 percent of PS are either bemba’s or easterners, if it’s cabinet we saw them hold on to the same percentage.
“Not what we are hearing that one Zambia one region”, Lungu said after church yesterday
Lungu should be the last person to say that. He’s the greatest tribalist this country has ever had. His appointments in PF government and his own statements speak for themselves, spiced by his sponsorship of Chishimba Kambwili and GBM to launch a most unfortunate tribal attack on innocent Tongas. Let’s not talk about Nkandu Luo, Yaluma, Siliya, Mutale, Mwanza, Tutwa,and many more too numerous to mention
He abused the retirement in national interest (RNI) powers by getting rid of citizens from Southern, Western and Northwestern Provinces
What we should not forget is that despite our country being declared one Zambia one nation (OZON) by KK, it has been ruled for the past 60 years by people from Eastern, Northern and Luapula Provinces or bemba, ngoni and quasi bemba/ngoni speaking tribes. Of course, Copperbelt Province ruled briefly through Mwanawasa (Lambas/bembas)
Naturally, whenever a bemba president has been elected we bembas felt happy and our tribal cousins felt the same, and vice versa. People from Southern, Western and Northwestern Provinces have supported those presidents but deep down they’ve also yearned for their own too
KK was from Northern, Chiluba Luapula, Mwanawasa Copperbelt, Banda Eastern, Sata Northern and Lungu Eastern Provinces
So even if we are OZON, leadership has not been evenly distributed across the whole country until now
I can now safely say that the election of HH has made our country reach maximum or highest levels of peace and stability because all regions of Zambia are now going to enjoy participation in its leadership
As a result, I can also safely say that sentiments of breaking away are most likely going to be subdued
Now that our friends are in leadership, please let’s give them breathing space to do what we did to them in the past 60 years, and made worse by Lungu’s RNI. We have been appointing ourselves in various positions in the past, so it’s their turn now to do the same, and it shouldn’t raise any eyebrows. Ciwamina galu kuluma mbuzi
The most important thing for now is that we are free from Lungu’s and PF dictatorship and criminality, and we should not lower our guard in ensuring that our freedoms and liberties are never taken away from us by any leader or political party
This is so annoying when this man did exactly the opposite. Or may be he thinks we are second class citizens in this Country. Can someone give us the list of Lungu’s recent past Cabinet please.. What about the list of Defence chiefs ? What about the current list of PS ? list of Parastatal Chiefs ? List of District Administrators ? Police Commissioners …etc
Lungu and PF hated tribes from North Western, Western and Southern Provinces so much in this so called Christian Country. Only the Catholics condemned that ugly tribalism.
What a bigot, really..
I wished he just kept quite on this one because the scars are very fresh and blood is still oozing out. Lungu and his minions divided this Country into two regions. It will take sometime to heal the wounds of discrimination. He is a very evil person and so shameful that he even has the audacity to comment on a subject where he got it so wrong.
We will forgive but never forget the mistreatment of other tribes by PF.