Ignore detractors, Lungu advised
By SIMON MUNTEMBA PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu should not be swayed by power hungry opposition political party leaders in the habit of disparaging with illmotives of taking advantage of a crisis like cholera, PF Southern Province Information and Publicity Secretary Trymore Mwenda has said.
And Mr Mwenda has commended President Lungu’s leadership for effectively addressing the cholera outbreak.
Mr Mwenda said the PF and many people in Southern Province were happy with the leadership of President Lungu in guiding the affairs of Zambia since assuming office in 2015.
He noted that a good leader is identified during times of crisis by the manner they respond to a crisis through provision of solutions and being firm because in a crisis difficult and painful decisions have to be made.
“President Edgar Lungu did just that by making the painful decision of ordering the removal of street vendors and deployment of security personnel to embark on massive cleaning exercise to curb the cholera outbreak and save many people's lives which were in danger,” Mr Mwenda said.
Mr Mwenda in a statement reiterated that the outbreak of cholera was a case in point in which President Lungu has provided unmatched leadership to ensure lives were preserved by directing relevant government Ministries, Departments and Security wings to tackle the disease head-on thus now “we can talk of the fight against the disease is being contained.”
He further commended the Head of state for having taken it upon himself to visit patients admitted at cholera treatment centres and having conducted on the spot check in town to see the extent of work that needed to be done in terms of cleaning.
Mr Mwenda said the PF leadership in Southern province supported the President’s decision because it knew that in the long run the benefits of living in clean cities and operating in conducive markets will outweigh the narrow political appeasement being pushed by some political leaders in a bid to be relevant in their pursuit to lead this country.
He further urged President Lungu not get distracted by power hungry opposition party leaders who will stop at nothing but jump at any unfortunate development like cholera in a bid to acquire cheap and narrow political relevance.