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US embassy refutes Post Newspapers’ story on President Lungu attributed to its Ambassador

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U.S. Ambassador Eric Schultz meeting Edgar Lungu

THE United Sates Embassy in Zambia has refuted a story published in yesterday’s Post newspaper that suggested that the Ambassador said President Edgar Lungu appears to have a health problem.

The statement on the Embassy facebook page read; “Did you see Ambassador Schultz’s statements in The Post yesterday (March 12)?  Ambassador Schultz wished President Lungu a speedy recovery, praised Zambia’s recent peaceful election, and encouraged the Government of the Republic of Zambia to dialogue with mining companies to come to a win-win resolution over mining taxation issues. But we disagree with The Post’s article title, “Lungu Appears to Have a Health Problem” because that was not the point of the Ambassador’s statements.”

Here is the story that appeared in the Post newspaper on 12 March 2015

Lungu appears to have a health problem – Schultz

By Joan Chirwa-Ngoma

United States Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz says it is unfortunate that President Edgar Lungu appears to have a health problem, and has wished him a speedy recovery. And Ambassador Schultz says it is encouraging to see Zambia peacefully come out of the transition period despite a closely contested election.

President Lungu collapsed on Sunday during International Women’s Day celebrations at Heroes Stadium, but State House issued a number of contradictory statements on what led to the incident. The Head of State was on Tuesday flown to South Africa, where he is expected to undergo surgery at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. Commenting on the President’s illness, Ambassador Schultz said President Lungu’s health problem was unfortunate as he appeared keen to make the country better.

“For President Lungu, I have met him. It is unfortunate that he appears to have a health problem because I think he is a President who wants to make his country better,” he said.

Ambassador Schultz said he hoped President Lungu would recover quickly to fulfil the promises he made to Zambians during campaigns in the run-up to the January 20 election. “Hopefully, he will be healthy again soon and be in a position to fulfil the promises that he made during the campaign,” said Ambassador Schultz, who assumed his duties in October last year. And Ambassador Schultz said very few countries in the world manage to peacefully handle closely contested elections in a democracy.

“I came to Zambia at an incredibly hectic time. It was one thing after another; the unfortunate passing of president Sata, followed by a hotly contested election. The most interesting aspect of what has happened politically in Zambia since I arrived, is that you had this incredibly close election, only twenty-seven thousand votes separated the two main candidates, and yet the aftermath of that election was completely peaceful,” he said.

“I don’t think there are very many countries in the world where things would be as calm and as peaceful following such a hotly contested election as it was the case here in Zambia.” Ambassador Schultz said Zambia was a successful democracy owing to the peaceful elections held so far.

“My main take is that Zambia is a pretty successful democracy and that’s a good thing,” he said, adding that the opposition has the chance to win the 2016 general elections, provided they presented themselves as credible alternatives to the current party in office.

“I guess I would step back and say that in any functional democracy, an opposition party has the opportunity to win or should have an opportunity to win. I think that in any democracy, what an opposition party has to do is to present itself as a credible alternative to the party currently in office. So in this case, to win, they need to present a set of policies that make sense to the Zambian people and to present themselves to the people as a better alternative.”

Meanwhile, Ambassador Schultz said there should be open dialogue between the mines and government regarding the new mining tax regime which has raised royalties from six per cent to 20 per cent and from six to eight per cent for open cast and underground mines respectively, as final tax. “Both sides have to respect each other and be transparent with each other.

They have to work together to find a mutually acceptable solution which I think is what President Lungu was talking about when he said the country needs to find a ‘win-win’ [situation] – a win for the mines and a win for the country. The key thing is that for it to be a win, the mining companies must see a reason to operate in Zambia and contribute to Zambia’s economic growth and the government must feel that it is getting adequate revenue out of [mining],” advised Ambassador Schultz.

“One of the things that the international community as a whole is trying to do is provide assistance that can help bridge the gap between the two sides.”

43 COMMENTS

  1. The Post Newspaper is no longer a credible source of news but just a piece of gutter journalism. Read it and believe it at your own peril because if you end up retelling its stories you turn out to be a liar!

    • ITS CREDIBLE .THE WORST IS DAILY NATION OWNED BY RICHARD SAKALA PRO RB AND LUNGU MBEBA EMPIRE AND ONLINE IS ZAMBIA REPORTS OWNED BY DICKSON JERE .

      BREAKAWAY PARTY FROM THE CURRENT GOVT

    • Only an idi0t and probably a blackman would think that the Post are not doing a credible job

      Without the Post you will be receiving one sided drivel news on how well a ship is sailing , when infact it is subtly sinking.

      If the characters refute they should seek legal action. until then, the Post is correct and is a benchmark and is a paradigm of measure that has seen off many persons and provided us with news worthy of reading.

      Do not condemn them. You would prove to be a nincompoop in doing so.

      Thank you Fred

      Thanks
      BB2014

    • The latest and correct medical bulletin from Edgar Lungu’s treatment and testing room indicate that South African Doctors have recommended that he either proceeds to Pakistan or India or just be brought back home as nothing much can be done for him in that country.

      Highly placed sources from Pretoria say the medical team cannot conduct the recommended advanced throat cancer surgery on Lungu as they also have limited facilities for such a delicate operation and the patient (Lungu) is also diabetic and old age meaning the wound would not heal.

      “Without discriminating with people living with HIV/AIDS, Lungu has also been plainly told that his CD4 count is very low and his viral load is too high because he seems to have neglected daily HIV/AIDS treatment. South African doctors and…

    • Chief,
      Are these facts or fabrications? Anyway, the truth has a way of coming out. Sooner or later she will show herself.

    • Lusaka Times, the US embassy did not refute the story but merely the title:

      ”But we disagree with The Post’s article title, “Lungu Appears to Have a Health Problem” because that was not the point of the Ambassador’s statements.”

      So essentially what the Embassy is saying is that their Ambassador was correctly quoted. That The Post published his words as he had uttered them: that ‘Lungu appears to have a health problem’. What they refute is the title of the story, the headline. But newspaper titles or headlines are not for the American ambassador or indeed the interviewee to decide; they are a prerogative of newspaper editors, not anybody else. The American ambassador should simply accept that his comments on Lungu’s health were reckless and unexpected from a foreign diplomat.

    • POST NEWSPAPER CEASED TO BE CREDIBLE WHEN IT BECAME A POLITICAL PARTY CALLED “CARTEL” NOW REBORN IN “RAINBOW”. LEARN FROM BILL GATES–BUSINESS AND POLITICS DON’T MIX..

  2. AMBASSADOR YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ,ITS THE TRUTH US ZAMBIANS WE KNOW THAT THE MAN IS SICK .
    HES A DRUNKARD EVEN DOGS, CATS, MONKEYS AND RATS FROM HIS PROVINCE EASTERN PROVINCE KNOW THE PROBLEM OF THIS MAN.

    HES SO CARELESS WITH HIS LIFE ,WHEN HES DRUNK HE PICKS WOMEN ANY HOW HENCE THE KA HIV IN THE SYSTEM.
    MAN STOLE THE VOTES AND RB RULING CALLING SHOTS .
    HE STOLE MONEY FROM A WIDOW
    HE HAS SOLD THE PARTY TO RB THE MOST HATED MAN IN ZAMBIA .RB IS FOOLISH.
    NO NEED TO APOLOGISE ITS THE TRUTH

    • Let us accepts that his excellency is dealing with too many complicated ailments.

      1) Throat Cancer
      2) Diabetes
      3) Kidney problem
      4) HIV
      5) Alcoholism

    • FACT
      Even if kwacha reaches ZMK100 to 1USD, EL will win, HH will lose
      Even if they find him with cancer, EL will win, HH will lose
      Even if he keeps falling or fainting whatever, EL will win, HH will lose
      Re brand HH or Kabimba. EL will win
      Make so much noise on DPP, EL will win
      We shall always rule, govern, eat and enjoy while you cry mabisi.
      kwacha is not performing well not because of EL but international economic fundamentals which HH has no clue of. HH will lose
      WHY
      Halibelela Hukulusa. Hakesa Hakalusa. Hachimbwi Hippo, Hamafi Hanunka. Hatonga Hanunka. Forever

    • @2, Do not bring you useless and dirty tribal talk to us the Easterners. You just lost the elections because you stood on tribal line. It is your own making. Eastern province is an open province where anyone, regardless of tribe is free to live. You who are so familiar with tribalism are trying to export it. Please live with it until it eats you. We do not need it in Eastern province.

      Everyone, as long as he/she is human is bound to get sick. Even you richman gets sick. There is no superman. Just say that you are furious because Lungu beat you in the election, we will understand. But it was a lesson you should learn that Zambia is bigger than one tribe. Do not force us, Zambians to feel sorry for you. You created you own problem. Come 2016 you will lose again. Lungu is President…

    • @2.3 Yes Lungu is president but that will not save him. He is dying. The PFools are you who voted for a dying man so that Zambia can go through another shameful death ritual of a third sitting president dying in office. The shameful tribal PFools voted for a another deadman walking just because he is their tribesman.

  3. Whether or not the Post misrepresented the American embassy seems irrelevant from a Zambian perspective. Point is, if this Lungu health problem story grows wings and flies away, it could have a direct negative impact on Zambia’s economy. A sick leader signifies instability and investors usually stay clear of unstable locales.

  4. It does not matter whether true or false because the truth is that ECL have health problems full stop.

  5. The gov’t should shut that disgusting paper.

    It is at the centre of corruption in Zambia.

    It’s noted though that embassy missions from Europe and USA do go beyond acceptable interference in Zambian politics. This is because the Zambian gov’t prostrated itself for overseas aid. They inadvertently give these missions the idea that they can decide who runs the country.

  6. It’s very unfortunate that this site is now being infiltrated by id!ots/blogers from the ZWD!

    • coz they know no one is reading their malicious comments anymore, they defile even the few remaining blog sites….eish….bambi ati ba ku Scotland….iyeee tata! eko baya mukupipa utukote…..

    • By your definition, the fact that you know the bloggers from ZWD indicates that you are one of the *****s from there !

  7. News circulating now is that Lungu’s viral load is higher than his CD4 count. This is due to the stress of the job and him abusing alcohol to drain his worries. His liver is also damaged and his only one kidney is not functioning properly. That is why the doctors in South Africa have refused to treat him for fear that it might bring it might dent the health sector in the country, hence there recommendations that he go to Pakistan.
    Silvia Masebo warned the nation and she was called all sorts of names. Who will take the blame for this? Inonge Wina and Nkandu Luo are the most likely people to blame.

  8. Even if kwacha reaches ZMK100 to 1USD, EL will win, HH will lose
    Even if they find him with cancer, EL will win, HH will lose
    Even if he keeps falling or fainting whatever, EL will win, HH will lose
    Re brand HH or Kabimba. EL will win
    Make so much noise on DPP, EL will win
    We shall always rule, govern, eat and enjoy while you cry mabisi.
    kwacha is not performing well not because of EL but international economic fundamentals which HH has no clue of. HH will lose
    WHY
    Halibelela Hukulusa. Hakesa Hakalusa. Hachimbwi Hippo, Hamafi Hanunka. Hatonga Hanunka. Forever

  9. Membe is now becoming desperate! He has resorted to fabrications all in an effort to paint Lungu black! What a waste of human sperm!

  10. we know why the paper is always reporting in that particular manner. They know that their days are counted. Slowly the cartel within the government is being deflated. it is DPP time to go.

  11. Pls let us pray to God to have mercy on EL so that he may continue leading this nation up to 2016.Holding presidential elections twice in 2015 and then in 2016 will be terrible.

  12. It’s actually a plus for a country to embrace HIV/AIDS persons.Just as it is the same to to embrace our disabled brothers and sisters.
    It is for this reason that if indeed what HH’s ZWD is saying about Edgar is true.I will vote for EL come 2016 as I believe HIV or disabled persons deserve equal opportunity in society?

  13. i m surprised to see this haters and tribal pipo on this site migrating fr their watch mbwa to mess up lusaka times which is flexible to everyone and they want to extend the hatred even to easterners who a very gud pipo cabafumya ku babemba if hh wont b careful his tribal party will enemies of every other tribe

  14. the us official should sue the Past or else he will be sent back,its too much of this freedom of expression.

  15. pipo who still ve regards for mmembe and his useles past newspaper must ve their brains examined at vipatala muma hospitals. Mmeembe is a principleles guy who twists issues to suit his agenda, if he likes the DPP, that DPP has constitutional powers. If he hates him like he hated chalwe muchenga, then that dpp has no constitutional backing and should not be respected. Mmeembe thinks everything starts and ends with him.

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