President Edgar Lungu has left Windhoek, Namibia, back home.
President Lungu’s Presidential Challenger Jet plane left Hosea Kutaku International Airport at about 09:50 hours, this morning .
Zambian High Commissioner to Namibia, Sylvia Chalikosa among other Zambian and Namibian officials saw off the Republican President .
And speaking to journalists shortly before departure, the President said he learnt many lessons by attending the functions.
The President was attending Namibia’s 25th Namibian independence anniversary and inauguration of President Elect, Hage Geingob, yesterday.
Mr Lungu, , who attended the function alongside First Republican President, Kenneth Kaunda and Fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda, said he was in the right path of leadership by always associating himself with the past heads of state.
He said there was nothing special about him travelling with former Presidents because other African Heads of State government did the same.
He cited President Ian Khama Serese Khama Botswana who came with Ketumire Masire and Festus Moghae and former President Benjamin Mukapa who accompanied President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.
Mr Lungu said it was important for African leaders to giver respect and honour former presidents who are s source of wisdom.
He also expressed happiness that Namibia has adopted the motto One Zambia one Nation and domesticated it as One Namibia One Nation.
Namibia held her general elections on November 25, 2014, and delayed the inauguration for March 21, the date the country attained its political independence.
President Lungu has been here since Friday attending and was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda and his political advisor, Keiza Zulu among others.
Pliz Lungu sort out kwacha pliz b4 it’s too late, bring it to the normal rate of 5.000 then maybe i can vote for u other wise things we be bad in Zambia….
I hope Rupiah’s love for flying around is not being passed onto you EL. Sata (MHSRIEP) stayed home and supervised projects.
Under Sata we saw things moving, infrastracture development across the whole country, the economy was growing at 7%, one of the highest in the world. One of the best acts under Sata was the rebasing of the kwacha, not only did it make the cost of doing business low, it also infused confidence in the currecy. Today the kwacha is a respected currency.
Sata layed the foundation stone for improving and expansion of KK international airport, today the contractor has withdrawn fron site. why?
So Mr President cut down on your international travels and stay home. if you want to travel, please do so witin Zed checking on projects
Lungu naena, everything is to COPY from others.
– I learned a lot from
– Look other countries did this and that
– bla bla
When will anybody say “hooo that is a good idea that Edgar did this and that…”.
Zambia is getting backwards, maybe you should have gone with one of the paramount chief to Namibia.
@Gen, well meaning Zambians stated right from the beginning when Sata started borrowing massively that these projects will stall when time comes for repayment and accountability. Where is the Zambia Railways money, Zesco money and all those other projects? We borrowed recklessly , diverted most of the money and all that is left is huge debts. This is the worst performance by any president in Africa. I once talked about the Kabwata township roads that were all tarred when Micheal was MP there. They lasted for only a few months before they developed ditches. Let’s borrow and invest wisely, not haphazardly and with ulterior motives. Cry, the beloved country. The rebasing of the kwacha was simply an act of striking out the zeros. The kwacha was more stable at 3000 to a dollar than it is now.
There is no abracadabra on the exchange rate. Let no quack economist(s) cheat you….You may not like it or appreciate the realities of a resurgent US economy and dollar and the pressures it has exerted on many global currencies. Lets take the Chinese Yuan for instance because China is one of your biggest copper buyers. The Chinese now need more Yuan to buy the dollar to purchase your copper, and to get round that problem they have cut their demand for copper like other copper buying countries. This means a massive drop in copper prices that translates in a drop of dollars flowing to Zambia. With less dollars coming in and many competing demands for it in Zambia such as fuel imports, your currency has nowhere to go but down. There is no magic to perform by anyone in government.
Ndeke ni ndeke. . . And the downward spiral in the economy has taken the backseat.
“He said there was nothing special about him travelling with former Presidents because other African Heads of State government did the same.
He cited President Ian Khama Serese Khama Botswana who came with Ketumire Masire ….”
Above is the type of mindset we have in Lungu who hasn’t got a clue about costs or prudent spending, can you compare Zambia to Botswana; so if Tanzania has 50 deputy minister should we follow suit…this lazy empty tin Lungu will do anything to party and run away from his office as he has absolutely no vision whatsoever, no work ethic for the country.
I take it there will be a big welcome party of the whole government waiting for them at KK Airport to waste more tax payer’s money.
Jay Jay, who told you that Zambia has no capacity to send the President to international events. You are so mentally bankrupt that you fail to look at things without the glasses of hatred for EL. Even if HH had won, nothing was going to stop him (HH) from travelling. It is part of work for the President. If he has to enjoy travelling, it is his benefits of office. EL does not report to you Jay Jay. HH should report to you why he continues to lose and live you so bitter and heart broken.
How you wish it was HH but unfortunately you lost and are very bitter about. Jay Jay, there is nothing we can do to help you feel better. Not even pain killers can help. We can only pray for you. May God deliver you from evil.
@nKosi,
Yours is one of the most ridiculous responses I have ever encountered in blog punch-ups. Does the word reason have any meaning to you?
I will not wast my time explaining anything to you. Just go back and read Jay Jay’s message and see how disjointed your knee-jerk response is. Totally bereft of normal human sense of reasoning.
Sieze Banda, I do not have re-read Jay Jay’s post because I understood it the first time and responded accordingly. Since when did you become Jay Jay spokesperson?
Jay Jay and yourself read the President’s statement between the lines. It is either you have very limited understanding of public policy analysis or use no knowledge at all. It is important for our country for a President to travel for such events. If HH had won the elections, he too would be travelling. That is how things are.
About paying the Presidents salary, you just have to do that whether you like him or not. It your obligation as a Zambian or tax payer. There many others who like him. Even you, you people who like you and those who hate you no matter what good you do for them. You ignore the haters and move on.
Because Lungu won the elections with your support, does not immediately give you exclusive rights to the presidency.
Make I remind you, however one gets elected to the presidency, upon inauguration he or she becomes “icipuba cesu” bonse.
I contribute to EL’s pay not because I supported him in the past election, but because I am bound by the enterprise called Zambia to accept your mistake – electing an admittedly incompetent person. That’s the price I have to pay for democracy.
So, don’t come around and start behaving like Lungu is some special being. Because he is not and we should be at liberty to criticize him without some nitwit jumping up and throwing tantrums.
With the same token @Sieze Banda, don’t you think other people, such as Yebo Nkhosi, “…should be at liberty to [defend] him without some nitwit (such as yourself @Sieze Banda) jumping up and throwing tantrums?!
And just “because Lungu won the elections with[out] your support, does not immediately give you exclusive rights to…” criticize him without expecting any response from those who voted for him. And there are definitely plenty of Zambians who do not agree with you that they elected “an admittedly incompetent person.” These are simply your opinions and you absolutely have the right to them. But so are people who voted for Edgar Lungu—their opinions can’t just be dismissed as tantrums. Let us just learn to be civil towards one another even in our criticisms!
@Jay Jay I agree with you.This mindset of saying because my neighbour did it I can also do it just shows how useless our leaders are. Botswana is a rich and a stable economy country while Zambia is still both politically and economically unstable. Lungu needs to establish some personal work ethics and begin to resolve some of the pressing issues at home.
When Namibia was struggling for their freedom KK was in power. Most recently they honored him with his residence in Windhoek. RB I am not sure but having been in the foreign service he was instrumental to the goings-on during the liberation struggle of these countries including Namibia. If we look at it historically you see there is relevance to their attendance. ECL didn’t even do justice to the explanation after all. They deserved to be there.
@Kasusula. Well said! The problem is we have a couple of kids on this blog who have no idea of what they are talking about. To them as long as it’s ECL then they will make all sorts of comments. Maybe if it was their little god HH we might get a bit of objectivity.
What you say is right….why didn’t the Namibians invite the old man themselves then instead of him hitching a ride with this lot?
@4.2 Jay Jay – KK and RB were specifically invited by the Namibian government. They did not gate-crash the party as you’re insinuating.
Kasusula, Actually RB was “President” of Namibai under the auspices of the United Nations. RB handed over independent Namibia to the freedom fighters.
@Jay Jay, uleke ubufi!
Who told you KK and RB were not invited? Do they have to parade their invitation letters in public just so disgruntled people and faultfinders such as yourself do not make up lies?
Please people, it is about time you found worthwhile issues to worry and complain about—even while you wait for your chance as opposition parties!
By the way, LT, what does your heading mean? You have not indicated to us where next President Lungu is leaving for?? What is wrong with you guys!?
People who are everyday ignorantly talking about the kwacha should research about the meaning of US DOLLAR. This DOLLAR is not an ordinary currency. When I send money to Zambia in AuD say 1000, it is converted to 5500 Zink not 7400. If it was those days before us dollar appreciated the same transfer could be being 8000zmk. The meaning for this is that zmk has depreciated by a fraction of percentage and us dollar has gone up by more than 15% to many currencies. USA dollar is the trend settler don’t just yap. Zmk will soon catch uup though it ‘ll be better than many currencies
What are you talking about, Sponge Bob? So, that’s how currencies float, huh?
Twasanswa!
LT, please make every effort to spell people’s names correctly.
It’s Seretse, Ketumile, Mogae, not the stuff in your report. Kwalang maina a batho mo tseleng e isiameng eseng ka diphosophoso.
@London Eye
Fa o bua le nna ka puo e ke e tlhaloganyang, e tla ya kwa tlhogong. Fa o bua le nna puo ya leleme la ga mme, e tla ya kwa pelong ya me. Ke itumtese!
@BIZ and @ London eye, what are you two arguing about in a ‘foreign’ dialect? We are all lost at your ‘war of words’.
@Biz,
Ke a leboga mogaetsho, ke ne kesaitse gore ke tla kopana le Motswana online. Mme ke Motswana.
Ke go solofelela go re o tshele sentle mo lefatsheng la Canada. Sala sentle lekolwane!
@The Kimbanguist
We’re not arguing, my brother. I was just being nostalgic. Lol.
@The Kimbanguist,
On the contrary, Biz and I have just discovered each other, both our mothers are Batswana and we are excited about it, that’s all. Ke a leboga.
@Biz & London Eye, you are so excited to find your own cousin Xi Lungu in “The Gods must be Crazy”.
@7.6 Nostradamus,
How I wished you had consulted ‘ndobo’ before you commeted. Lungu will never ever be a cousin to a Motswana. Lungu has connections with Malawians or possibly Congolese.
@7.7 London Eye – Don’t be so sure. I’m Zambian with Batswana and Malawian first cousins. It can happen.
@London Eye
O amogetswe. Ke kopa tshwarelo for late reply. Ke itumelela go goitsi ……indeed, ke a leboga mogaetsho. Mme ke Motswana le gone. Ke tla go bona!
Zambians, do you want to confine your president within the borders of your country because the kwacha is depreciating? You want to monitor every move he makes to judge him. Leave him alone or ammend the constitution limiting his International participation ‘at your own peril’. Most african presidents including ours attended and kenyans were glad. Let us not be judges but use facts to substantiate your argument.
It does not seem logical to attend some feast in the neighbourhood when you have no food in your home.If you are living in Zambia right now,you will be able to see the high levels of poverty and desperation.The fuel shortage prevailing is ridiculous when oil prices worldwide are on the decline.The late MCS would have delegated Guy Scot to attend that event and stayed behind to deal with important matters.EL has to set his priorities right.
@Man Kenya
The bloggers here could careless what the Kenyan president does. so please stop telling us how to debate our national issues especially if you’re truly a Kenyan.
@Kenya man
Should the use of common sense be enshrined in the constitution? Really?
Is that how you hold your presidents’ feet to the fire in Kenya?
Well, in Zambia we expect our presidents to THINK.
Ba Independent naimwe – try to think independently. What delegation yaba Sata – you mean he would have delegated Scott to go and start pump oil from a borehole? Besides, you guys exaggerated the gas shortage so much. Most people outside Zambia for example did not know that diesel was not in shortage during this time. ECL had already done what he could do before he left. There lies a smart leader, not the circus you are talking about.
I was listening to Edgar Lungu in SABC on Guy Scott. The question was on his relationship with Guy Scott and his answer was ‘ I don’t drink with him’. I thought he lacks statemanship.
Looking at his photo Edgar Lungu looks like a member of the Khoisan tribe ( no disrespect to the khoisan), i just thought if they are missing one of their own, they should go to Zambia and collect him!
Ba Independent naimwe – try to think independently. What delegation yaba Sata – you mean he would have delegated Scott to go and start pump oil from a borehole? Besides, you guys exaggerated the gas shortage so much. Most people outside Zambia for example did not know that diesel was not in shortage during this time. ECL had already done what he could do before he left. There lies a smart leader, not the circus you are talking about.
Dear Mr President,
I personally have seen that you have a guilty conscious, WHY is it that every time you are seen with RB then you compare other nations with the wrongs which are happening in your administration.
Please sort out the dollar,fuel and maybe dstv to say the least.
Leason one deal with the mineral royalties as P1. And let your spokesman do his home work before he can embrass your administration.
God bless ZZambia
@ syfic your problem is that you always blog with a political mindset. Elections are over but you remain attached. You are not your political figure’s mouthpiece. The emotional push and pull instead of finding solution will take you nowhere. Your ‘heroes’ are comfortably enjoying as you pass your emotions to one another in what you are calling ‘debating national affairs’
@Man Kenya
Let me tell you something for nothing – lets agree to disagree. I love my country but I hate the way politicians take Zambians for a ride. Disgust and cynicism towards our government is at an all-time high. There are serious issues that need to be resolved, and frighteningly there’s little or no progress from all political fronts.
Our country is embroiled in a self-destructive politics of tribalism, greed, self-interest and a lack of perspective. So, am I that wrong to express my dissenting view of our political landscape? I don’t think so. Just debate the way you see it fit and I will also do my part because I’m not one of those indoctrinated leader worshiping cadres.
Kaminamisa my imbuya is always a man who has no vision of his own. He is always coping from others. For sure there trips are not adding value or addressing what common man and woman in shangombo or Kashikishi is looking for. Lungu must spend much of his energy to help the poor and the voiceless to lead and live a normal life just like his financiers and close to him are enjoying. They may look simple and lost but they are the most powerful and a force not to under rate. Their humbleness and lack of being heard is a source of power
No matter wat u say,e.l is still the best president zambia has ever had
Based on what standard?
@Chile ECL Best president? How?
Chile 1 – Kaminamisa is the worst pres Zambia has ever produced. The problem with Lungu is that he is still an infancy in politics and this is why he can’t see or understand the political wind. His closeness to Ruphia will cost him. Anyway Chile 1, Kaminamisa has never been a political heavy weight and ascending to this position is by mere chance no wander he has no vision of his own. It does not worry him to lose the Elections in 2016 because he does not understand the pain and hard work Sata put in transforming PF and how he was a the man of the poor and the voiceless. Sata ‘s vision and ideology of developing Zambia from the remotest to urban was how he cared for the least able to do . Now we have the man who travels when his house is on fire to drink and dinner. Lungu will never be…
He is best President because he beat HH when he was very optimistic. The best won, EL won. No matter what you say. You lost, you are bitter, jealousy and confused because you still cannot believe it. It is real HH lost and EL is President Of the Republic of Zambia.
It does not matter what you call him. He beat you favourite. The one you call weak, beat the one you consider strong. In reality, the humble was uplifted the haughty one ignored.
Well, you have to manage you own pain and anger, and we to enjoy our VICTORY. VIVA LUNGU! ABASH HH!! Fly as much as you can Lungu. You the President!!!
HH lost the election he can mis speak but not mislead the world. When EL SPEAKS it matters a lot whether you voted for him or not. He is in state house he won the election. The citizenry have every right to commend and criticize him. People of little and simple minds will waste their time and energy on a loser!
ba @Pafwenamwine
upuwa uzamipayani poni cabe baba. anso ndimwe apuba ngako. simuziba ati mulungu amalenga anthu kusebenzela anzao. Sata worked that hard for Lungu. olo HH wamene he is working hard for somebody else. Lungu for your information is on course. God knows what he is doing. He gave us Lungu for a reason. Look at the acrimony Sata brought. unnecessary. what working for the people when at the end of the day they begin fighting. Look at Lungu’s intentions for this country from his public appointments
As Zambians, what can we say about ourselves? Can we say we are a realistic society or not. Some one tells you that he did not have an agenda for you you a a country , you go ahead and vote for him. Have you all seen the incompentence in the gentleman LUNGU. To make things worse, in the process of thinking for an agenda for the country, the man finds himself getting sick. Of all the things, why associate yourself with old leaders like RB, one of the write offs for the majority Zambians. It was the more reason he was rejected under 3 years of his rule and you start associating yourself with such- what a shame on the part of LUNGU a man who had appeared intelligent. He has abandoned all the beliefs of the late SATA and started his own useless journey. It is because of selfishness that will c
President Lungu flies back home leaves.
hmm. LT ni bwanji so?