I’ve nothing against President Lungu - Mulongoti

I HAVE nothing against President Lungu and people should not forget that I even campaigned for him in the 2015 elections, but there is need for us to ascertain his nationality as per constitution, says Peoples Party president, Mike Mulongoti.

Mr Mulongoti told the Daily Nation in an interview that he had no personal grudge against President Lungu, adding that his desire to determine the background of Mr Lungu was driven by the fact that all past Presidents had been subjected to similar scrutiny due to constitutional concerns.

He said there was nothing sinister about probing the nationality of the President as the constitution required that an individual to qualify for the Presidency needed to be Zambian by birth.

Mr Mulongoti said people should not misunderstand his intentions but look at it as a matter that bordered on national interests.

He said President Lungu and Rainbow Party general secretary, Wynter Kabimba similarly participated in the determination of late former President Frederick Chiluba’s nationality.

“People must not misunderstand my intentions, I mean well when I ask for the determination of President Lungu’s nationality and most Presidents have gone through this.

“I have nothing against the President, in fact he is a colleague, but we need to have the facts, even President Lungu and Rainbow Party leader Wynter Kabimba took part in President Chiluba’s determination case as lawyers. Even if I became President, I would not worry about people trying to find out where I come from,” Mr Mulongoti said.

He said the exercise was not meant to cause any divisions in the country but some people had just decided to politicize it.