Lungu praised on retirement house stance
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu should be supported on his call to repeal the law to build houses for former republican Presidents, says the Bishops Council of Zambia (BCZ).
BCZ secretary general Able Kaela applauded President Edgar Lungu on his stance for government not to build him a retirement house even though it was his constitutional right.
In an interview yesterday, reverend Kaela said President Lungu had shown a true mark of selfless leadership which was worth emulating by everyone irrespective of one’s position in society.
He said repealing this law could be one of the austerity measures that could help ease Zambia’s debt portfolio.
The Head of State said First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Fourth Republican President Mr Rupiah Banda had deputies but wondered where they were the picture of retirement.
President Lungu said this when he officially handed over the retirement house to fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda in Lusaka’s Makeni area.
“Further I wish to reiterate my earlier pronouncement that government will not build me a retirement house even though it’s a constitutional requirement,” President Lungu said.
He thanked the former President for accepting the official handover of the house and apologised for the delay which he attributed to circumstances beyond the control of Government.
Meanwhile, National Revolution Party (NRP) president Cosmo Mumba has defended the construction of a house for former President Rupiah Banda and urged Zambians not to politicize as it is his constitutional right.
Dr. Mumba said it was sad that all former republican Presidents once they leave office become subjects of ridicule and suspicion of corruption instead of honoring them for their contribution to the welfare of the nation.
He said it was abnormal for National Democratic Congress (NDC) consultant Chishimba Kambwili to compare the cost of President Banda’s house to the Michael Chilufya Sata tollgate saying the two infrastructures had different features in terms of technology and their functions.
In an interview yesterday, the opposition leader said the presidential houses would have a historical connotation and would serve as national heritage sites for tourists and Zambia’s future generations just like the Oliver Tambo national heritage site in Lusaka.
Dr. Mumba said there was need to honor and respect former Heads of State if Zambia was to remain a blessed nation.
He however said those who were not for the idea to build former republican Presidents should advocate for the repealing of such a law.