Don’t be cheated, no polls until 2021-BIGOCA

ZAMBIANS should not be cheated that there will be Presidential elections before 2021, says Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) Presiding Bishop Peter Ndhlovu.

In an interview in Lusaka, Bishop Ndhlovu said according to the new Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act number 2 of 2016, the Vice President must immediately take over in case of any vacancy in the office of the President.

Article 106 (5) (a) provides that “When a vacancy occurs in the office of President, except under Article 81— (a), the Vice-President shall immediately assume the office of President.”

A prominent opposition leader has of late repeatedly said Zambia would soon have Presidential elections without specifying how the elections would be occasioned and last week an opposition inclined tabloid claimed that President Lungu’s health had deteriorated.

But on Thursday this week Mr. Lungu assured the nation that he was fine, contrary to claims on various media platforms that he was critically ill.

Bishop Ndhlovu said it was evil for anyone to wish somebody ill because everyone’s destiny was in God’s hands.

“Those people wishing President Lungu to die are wasting their time. Death is in the hands of the Lord, life is in the hands of the Lord and the Lord determines our future. May I counsel the politicians that we are in a new dispensation and according to the new Constitution, there will never be a Presidential by-election because there is a running mate.

“At the moment we have a Head of State who is in office and he is performing very well. I believe that all those who are wishing him ill will not see anything bad happen to him. The Bible is very clear that God determines our future,” Bishop Ndhlovu said.

He said politicians sowing seeds of hatred would reap hatred.

“Let them wait for their right time and when 2021 is closer that is when people can start doing politics. Let’s concentrate on development, let’s appreciate the road network, and let’s appreciate the infrastructure development which the government has embarked on.

“This country has potential to grow to higher heights if we all agree to work with the government of the day. I know there is work for the opposition to oppose but even as you criticize you have to appreciate.

“Therefore, I urge Zambians to be above partisan politics. Let’s be above ourselves and wishing the Head of State to die is an evil thing, unbiblical, and Satanic. We condemn it in strongest terms.”