I MEAN WELL - ECL
Former President Lungu says Government and the ruling party should resist the temptation of making him the prime subject of discussions when there are positive developments such as the reduction of fuel prices and the improved exchange rate which should have a positive impact on the lives of citizens.
The former head of State is deeply concerned that often, positive developments being scored by the UPND administration had been overshadowed by the government’s propensity to make him a daily subject of discussions, slander and malice, ignoring the economic challenges and cries of citizens.
Former President Lungu said in an interview that it was his prayer that the spirit of peace and tranquility should rein in the country so that the UPND could govern the country undistracted. He said the tension that had gripped the country was as if Zambia had been engulfed with the spirit of anarchy, which was distracting government from paying attention to things that truly mattered to the people.
“I hope Government and the UPND will calm down and begin to focus on the real challenges affecting our people such as poverty, high cost of living, and drought among other challenges. I should not be the prime subject every other day and I should not overshadow the positives the UPND is achieving such as the reduction of fuel prices by K3. This reduction is not small…it is big and let us focus on how it is going to impact the lives of the people. We have been seeing the exchange rate reducing…what is going to be the impact or is it the promise of the arrival to the land of milk and honey or just a hoax?” former President Lungu said.
He said Government should avoid making him (Former President
Lungu) or the extermination of the opposition its agenda but should concentrate on improving the lives of citizens by expanding the country’s economy for the benefit of all.
Former President Lungu recalled that at one time, while at the Magistrate Court escorting his wife, he just sang a song ‘Nilitumpa ine’, he was shocked that it overshadowed an important event in Parliament where the Minister of Finance Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane who had made a serious economic statement.
“I think I should not be the prime subject or the top-most agenda of discussion in a country besieged with serious economic challenges. Every time I appear in public, it is trouble, I open my mouth, it is trouble, I keep quiet, and it is still trouble. I advise, it is also trouble. We are now faced with drought which is a disaster, forget about how they have messed up. When the international community raise important things, they are overshadowed by Lungu…and every day on sponsored radio talk shows, it is Lungu. I even ask myself, what I have done. What is it that is so exciting about Lungu?” former President Lungu wondered.
He advised that government should focus on the suffering of Zambians instead of concentrating on him and his family, stating that he was a Zambian who belonged to the big population of other citizens and a leader of the Patriotic Front (PF). “About my impending arrest, I am anxious. Last night we slept late because we received reports that police were instructed to apprehend me but it turned out that the reports were either untrue or premature. \The idea of police arresting me is welcome but they should come during the day when we are all here. May the spirit of peace rein because it is like we have been engulfed with the spirit of anarchy,” Mr Lungu said.