DRC status worries UN, Lungu

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu and the United Nations fear that confusion will erupt after the upcoming Presidential elections this December in the Democratic Republic of Congo if issues surrounding the electoral process are not resolved. Both President Lungu and visiting UN secretary general Antonio Gutterez's special envoy, Said Djinnit said when the later paid a courtesy call on him yesterday that the situation in Congo was a time bomb unless heads are put together to control the situation. President Lungu, who is chairperson for the SADC organ on peace and security called for collective efforts in ensuring that there was no post-election violence in neighbouring DRC. And Mr Djinnit, who hailed Zambia for remaining a beacon of peace and stability in Africa, thanked the country for being part of the solutions for the region. He assured the President that UN looked forward to working with him as the chair of peace and security in the region. Later, special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda told journalists that President Lungu was worried about the increase of refugees from Congo in past few weeks. President Lungu also met Bank of Zambia governor Denny Kalyalya at State House yesterday. Mr Chanda said that the President wanted to inquire how the economy was faring and the measures to be put in place to ensure stability of the Kwacha against major currencies. Mr Chanda also said that government had continued disbursing its 75 percent obligations towards the social cash transfer as it waits a report from the ongoing investigations into the alleged financial irregularities in the administration of the fund.