I’M READY TO BE ARRESTED - ECL
There was nothing treasonous about what I said because I know exactly what constitutes treason,” former President Lungu said. He said if President Hichilema had failed to govern and was causing restlessness in the country, Zambians had the right to call for his removal, resignation or indeed early elections, such calls should never amount to treason. “If they (State) want to pick me for treason for advising that Zambians are getting agitated and could rise, I dare them to come and arrest me now and I will explain what I meant if they do not understand basic English.
But I know that they have started psyching citizens so that they can justify my arrest. But let them know that I am ready to be arrested for guiding government that what they are doing is wrong and can run the country into trouble.
When trouble comes, it will not only affect the Patriotic Front (PF) but all Zambians,” former President Lungu said.
He explained that President Hichilema had the responsibility to protect all Zambians, including those he did not like as well as his family and ordinary citizens.
Mr Lungu said he could not see a country getting destroyed because President Hichilema’s insensitivity and that he was therefore not going to abdicate his duty to advise Government when things were going wrong and threatening the political stability of the country.
“I have spoken once and that is enough. So, if they want to take me to the courts of law to explain what I said, let them start the process. I am prepared to explain what I meant if they do not understand basic English. In Bemba, they says; uukwebele infwa yaba noko, muntanshi (to be forewarned is to be forarmed). Those who care for you will remind you… tell you to stop. A stitch in time saves nine and all this is goodwill,” Mr Lungu said.
He emphasised that his advice to Government to do something about the police brutality could not amount to treason, recalling that President Hichilema while in opposition on countless times demanded for his resignation apart from calling for early elections.
“President Hichilema while in opposition called for early elections on countless times.
He also called for my resignation but we were not simple brains to create treason against him because we understood the complexity of the office. We allowed people to criticise us and so, there is nothing sinister about what I said. They (State) have been planning to stop me…stop me from being a Zambian. They cannot stop me from being Zambian. So, let them call us for treason, our English can only be understood in the courtrooms, then the courts are the right forum,” former President Lungu said.