Good evening countrymen and women,
Tomorrow, 24th october, 2016 marks the 52nd anniversary of our hard-won Independence. This is another important milestone in our nation-building journey.
This day is important for every Zambian. It calls upon each one of us to reflect on our national identity, achievements and the task ahead of us.
Our focus, as we build our future, should therefore be on galvanising ourselves to turn our challenges into opportunities, and utilise these to improve the lives of our people.
Let us take cognisance of the fact that our Independence day also falls on the united nations day. A day when we celebrate our common humanity and re-dedicate ourselves to the greater challenge of achieving a world at peace with itself .
Countrymen and Women,
The spirit of our founding fathers and mothers was not only to seek political freedom. They also sought a better life for every man, woman and child of our motherland.
They envisaged a country of equity, an inclusive and fair society where poverty is absent. They fought and shed blood so that we should be independent and build for ourselves a great country, a prosperous country, offering the certainty of social justice and well-being for all.
Tomorrow, 24th october, is the day that we celebrate and honour their heroism because of their sacrifices and love for this country.
We are the heirs to the heritage of their patriotism.
We say thank you to that generation of men, women and youth, both living and departed.
Tomorrow, we should, therefore, come together in our great numbers and diversity, to celebrate our Independence day in their honour. Let us emulate their extraordinary spirit of patriotism. They showed us a good example!
Countrymen and Women,
This year, we celebrate our Independence under the theme: “consolidating our Independence and national unity for a smart Zambia.”
This theme is not only appropriate, but also a timely reminder that we are a country on the move to prosperity.
In this journey, we will face challenges from time to time. Therefore, we must work together to overcome these challenges by building a Zambia of creativity, innovation and clean surroundings.
Countrymen and Women,
With hard work and unity, we have achieved alot. The durable peace and stability, democracy and agricultural development, are some of the great achievements we all must be proud of.
Zambia has had a proud record of unbroken peace and stability since its Independence in 1964. Our country continues to be a shining example of democracy on the continent as seen in the smooth hand-over of power from one administration to another.
Every year, our hard working farmers continue to produce enough to feed the nation, sometimes under very difficult climatic conditions. We are transforming our country into a bread basket for the region.
Our economy has continued to perform strongly and has been among the fastest growing in sub-saharan africa over the past decade.
While economic performance is important and must be sustained, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that the benefits from our progress and prosperity spread to all sectors and segments of our society.
Our task now is to ensure that our economic achievements translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of our people from chama to chavuma; kalomo to kasama; and mansa to mongu.
Countrymen and Women,
We can only achieve greater prosperity if we work hard, remain united and embrace a transformational culture rooted in innovation, entrepreneurship and smart technologies.
We are living in a fast-changing and competitive world. Innovation is a major factor that will differentiate between those individuals and nations that will lead in development and those that will lag behind.
Let us be innovative in order for us to be competitive and achieve lasting prosperity.
Countrymen and Women,
I urge all the families, companies and organisations in Zambia, regardless of their size and standing, to make deliberate efforts to cultivate, nurture and reward hard work.
The achievement of our vision depends on all of us being patriotic to our motherland, complemented with concrete contributions to the development of Zambia by all of us.
I, therefore, call upon each and everyone of us, fellow citizens, to be proud of being Zambian and embrace initiatives for building and rebranding our country. These include the “Build Zambia, Buy Zambian” and the “Keep Zambia Clean” campaigns.
Countrymen and Women,
Let us make our country, Zambia, a great nation by preaching and practising patriotism, and remaining true to our national values and principles. These are morality and ethics; national unity; social justice, human dignity and sustainable development, among others.
I note with great concern that a number of our nationals are lacking in greater sense of patriotism. Some use their positions for personal advancement while others work with foreign nationals to rob the country of its wealth.
Together we must, therefore, always uphold the spirit of nationhood and patriotism. In this way, we will be providing a peaceful, secure and stable political, socio-economic and cultural environment to achieve prosperity for all.
The peace and unity we have enjoyed for the last 52 years under our national motto of one Zambia, one nation, is as a result of the respect and application of our values as a people.
Country men and women,
As we embark on our journey to transform our country into a prosperous nation, we must rise above political, tribal, racial and gender inclinations.
We must collectively resolve to achieve our aspirations for the Zambia we want as articulated in our national vision to become a prosperous middle-income country by 2030.
Countrymen and Women,
Ours is a nation founded on christian principles underpinned by the love of god, who is love. God loves us unconditionally.
We must, therefore, be tolerant towards each other, regardless of our political, ideological, religious and cultural inclinations.
Let me conclude by re-affirming that Zambia today still stands as a shining example of a peaceful, united and stable nation. This is an enviable position by any standard, a position which should never be sacrificed for anything.
As we celebrate our Independence anniversary, I call upon every Zambian to stand tall and true to the words in our national anthem, “stand and sing of Zambia, proud and free”.
I wish you all a happy 52nd Independence annivesary!
May god richly bless you all!
God bless our great nation!
Lungu is a joker. What independence is he talking about when pf have taken us back to colonial times. How can we be free when opposition is being persecuted. How can we be free when private media is closed down because they don’t sing praises for pf . How can we be free when imf are dictating to us what we should do with our economy with stringent structural adjustment which will lead to suffering of our people. Please Lungu sometimes it is better to close that ugly mouth of yours. Don’t insult Zambians
Great speech indeed.
A focus on unit and acknowledgement and recognition if the effort and sacrifice made by our forefathers to liberate our great nation.
There is nothing better than unit. Mr President, it can not be put better that what you have done.
Regarding critics, some are resolved to always criticise you.
If you present your, view they will take an opposite view. If you take their view, they will take your view so that you are always at variance.
They are easily predictable, so listen to them but do not be bothered because they do not even mean what they say. It is only for but to serve the purpose of argument.
Just like someone who say if I win the elections are free and fair, if I lose the elections are not free and fair. Where is the seriousness in such an…
Just like someone who say if I win the elections are free and fair, if I lose the elections are not free and fair.
Where is the seriousness in such an approach? What can you do with such an individual other than ignore?
Summary: there will always be destructors, ignore them; do what is right for the people of Zambia because they ready and willing to support you.
We love you!!
No content, Empty words , obvious receited many a times. No confidence in him and quiet frankly he is not my president
HH would have been a better option.
Facts not fiction
Thanks
BB2014
We do not expect any of you cowtherner clowns to give accolades to ECL as long as your bantustan king hh remains bitter. Anyway none of our damn business. Great speech ba Kateka. Twalumba
One other but critically important matter you have raised – hardwork.
Regarding this, your critics will deliberately support laziness, just to argue.
But everyone knows that no one in their normal mind will upport laziness
Zambia today is neither united nor peaceful. Zambia is a failed state where Bembas are the rules and everybody else is a slave to PF. Zambians are cowed and threatened, harassed and brutalised. There’s nothing to be proud of being Zambian today.
FACT- Zambia is better under ECL than it would have been under HH
FACT- Great speech
FACT- Expect people to hate you with the same measure of your hate. only ECL has forgiven you
FACT- Alalila uyo, chikonko mwikate
FACT- Tuledununa again today.
Mr. President, the Zambia you are talking about is no more and you contributed in destroying it. We now fight for a new independence day, independence from tribal slavery.
HH already had a speech written. Uluse!
Ba Buck Teeth – The President of Zambia is Nsenga and the Vice President is Lozi — none of the two has any Bemba blood.
just empty words…literally a s.t.u.pid speech!!!
Meanwhile he’s busy getting Zambians “ENSLAVED” to the creditors.
Right now he’s priority this year is to get Zambia “SHACKLED” to the IMF.
It’s a laughable independence, only makes sense to a few.
What a Joker, thanking Museveni for helping Rig the election?? Lungu is crazy?? its a shame..
The Zambian Lincoln ~ every time this guys addresses the nation his messages are always both inspirational as well as aspirational!! Really Lincolnistic!!!
The smart people of the Zambian Enteprise have a very good reason to pat themselves on the back for choosing a wise leader in ECL. Life is a serious enterprise and like John Maxwell says, everything rises and falls on leadership.
No Single Zambian Is Qualified For Stupidity … A Smart People, We Are! So Help Us God ~ B R Mumba, Sr.
Many thanks Mr President Sir! God bless all of us and continue to guide and impart more wisdm on you. God bless you Sir!
Zambia has sunk so low under PF. Lungu mouthes stuff he does not believe in. The only consolidation he means is of his personal wealth which is expected to reach K1,000m by 2021.
Congratulations! Indeed Zambia looks like a 52 year old grown person
Just give us proper independence by stepping down iwe Chakolwa we don’t need your hollow statement.
NEZ = Negative Evil Zambian. Even if things were perfect with regards to the economy etc chaps like yourself would still be busy with your insults!
You and your fellow UPND/ZWD empty tins have no other purpose in life but to wish your thieving uncle HH to become President, do you really think God above will allow HH a person that was involved in stealing state assets and GBV a vulgar mouthed lumpene with a very shady past to rule this land! Only in your evil minded wet dreams badaala! Happy Independence!
Your reasoning is flawed. Improve the economy and wait for NEZ. Why are you judging him before the fact
Zambia was better off under colonialists.
@6 Wantanshi, I can see you have not read your history well. That is why some of you think everything foreign is better including leaders that are propped by colonialists and western capitalist interests that have no hearts for blacks. The greater majority of Zambians have rejected such leaders as they are bound to deliver us even in deeper trouble as they are bound to auction the country to imperialist interests!!
@bwafyaa! – leaders who have hearts for blacks don’t shut media that don’t sing their praises – which media is supposed to inform and educate the very blacks you claim to love! Please @bwafyaa – this is a day to try and think beyond your shallow selfish interests. The majority of Zambians have not rejected any leader. This is why some of us don’t waste time celebrating this independence nonsense. Seriously what is there to celebrate when 52 years after independence we still have people like @bwafyaa?
I may just agree with you. Being forced to speak in English by the colonialists was infinitely better than being forced to speak in Bemba by PF. In Zambia now we are slaves to Bembas. We will very soon have to fight another independence war, not just struggle, so that we can have a fair share of resources and speak in our languages without being harassed by these black colonialists.
@bwafyaa!
After more than 5 decades of so-called independence Zambia, under unbelievable misrule by an assortment of cluelesss leadership, still ranks at the bottom of the most impoverished countries in the world. Even war torn Afghanistan and Somali are far better off, is that the independence you are celebrating? Don’t you think there’s something very wrong in your leaders heads?
@6.2,6.3 & 6.4, shutting a media house which is preaching disharmony and half truths is totally in the interest of preserving peace and security. The media houses in questions were closed under legal means using that were set to govern ourselves!Some have in fact admitted to wrong doing,got their operating licences back and are now operating professionally. I have not seen any one harassing another person to speak in Bemba! It is a language that has spread through various means;commerce,labour migration through urbanization,just like Nyanja. If you don’t like it please don’t speak it, close your ears when one is using it,tell them to use English our official language! To know cherish Zambia,please speak to people who have worked in or are fleeing Afghanistan and Somalia,
This is why Lumumba, Sankara and Samora Moshel of Mozambique excluded religion in their messages as kids who are growing up today have no identity they look to the colonists,oppressor to save them.
They do not study about self and are clueless!!
Happy Independence to mother Zambia congratulations for your 52nd independence, long Live ECL.
Comment:Useless NEZ. Move on bwana. all u wish is that u could be in state house after 2016. Just live with it that ECL out smarted you. Even after assuring your supporters that you were ahead but you still come and cry. Shame on you.
What sort of democracy requires one candidate to outsmart another? Only democracy for thieves.
To theives stealing is out smarting…..
Today marks another milestone in our young nation. This is not a time for an educated person with young children and an imaginary grandma who brews illicit alcohol for sale to utter nonsense. This is a time for reflection and to be grateful for those who laid their lives down to ensure Zambia got her independence. That warm October evening none of those freedom fighters thought we would be were we are today. They dreamt of a great Zambia, a great people a proud people and a rich nation. Alas today we are a broken people whose official past time is to insult each other or think of the next evil thing to say. In 2021 we shall heal your tears we will change this nation for the better but not with HH as UPND is not personal to holder. Zambia Forward
What an Ar.sewhore you are!! Mother fuc.ker!
You are right, very wise. The change we need is not UPND, PF nor HH though. The change we need is non tribal leaders, non corrupt, ….. I can go on. Chilyata on the other hand keep your insults if you have nothing to say, its people of this caliber that keeps pulling the nation backwards with their inept thinking.
Ba Chilyata – Everyone is either an Ar.sewhore or a Mother fuc.ker except bena.
Jehovah is the best president,Zambia can have,not human beings,happy 52independence mother Zambia
Congratulation of 52 years dependance.
LUNGU HAS NO WORDS TO OFFER THE ZAMBIANS. UBUNGA IS K114, FUEL IS K14/L, TRANSPORT INCREASED AT 25%, POLITICAL PRISONERS IN CELLS OR REMAINED AND ARE STILL IN PRISON. INSALA (HUNGER) HAS HIT MANY ZAMBIANS EXCEPT THE FEW WHO ARE EATING WITH PF LEADERS, TEACHERS AND MANY OTHER CIVIL SERVANTS NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR SALARIES, POOR PEASANT FARMER NOT GIVEN THEIR MONEY FROM FRA AND RAINS HAVE STARTED.
WHAT A SHAMELESS PRESIDENT OF THE STOLEN ZAMBIA- DUNUNA HUNGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile he is getting richer yet his former ministers are refusing to pay us what they owe us….the man is an utter disgrace!!
It’s such a shame and an insult to our founding fathers. After having meat being handed to us via a small hole and others fighting and laying down their lives. We now have the looting in broad daylight and we celebrate independence for what! To be oppressed by the same people who share the same skin colour.
Mr Lungu your image as a violent dictatorial president will not go away from Zambian history.You should have said some of what you have said before Mapenzi’s death. You and PF are the ones who have brought in tribalism, political violence and murders. Hope your cadres and your PF police will treat the opposition as fellow Zambians. Cage your home affairs minister and Mutati who want to arrest Nervas for no reason
MR. LUNGU TALKED ABOUT UNITY IN DIVERSIDY. HE ALSO TALKED ABOUTY EQUITY. I WISHED WORDS WERE REALITY. WHAT UNITY CAN ZAMBIA HAS WHEN SOME TRIBES ARE TREATED AS BEING MORE SUPERIOR THAN OTHERS. WHEN DID ZNBC EVER CAPTURE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN MONZE? ALL WE HERE ABOUT MONZE IS POLICE AND TEARGAS ON ZAMBIANS. ONLY BEMBAS AND NYANJAS ARE BOSSES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OFFICES, AS THOUGH THERE ARE NO OTHER EDUCATED ZAMBIANS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THERE IS SIMPLY NO EQUITY IN OUR COUNTRY. HOW CAN THERE BE UNITY IN ZAMBIA WHEN OTHER TRIBES ARE BEING BLOCKED FROM TAKING THE LEAD IN RUNNING THIS COUNTRY? NO NO NO NO MR. PRESIDENT. ZAMBIA STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE IT CAN ATTAIN REAL UNITY AND REAL EQUITY.
Amos wrote this whilst the Lazy Bum Edgar was downing his 3rd bottle of Jameson!!
Really laughable that this clueless lazy empty tin vegitating in State House who is eagerly waiting for a loan from IMF after recklessly sending all the country’s reserves on overpriced $1million per kilometre roads is talking to us about hardwork.
Lazy Lungu what is your achievement in the last 15 months? Absolutely nothing apart from doubling his networth.
jay jay my boy your bitterness will take your to an early grave sober up!
UNZA Radio management on Wednesday surrendered recordings of a live political programme to the government controlled Independent Broadcasting Authority.
Sources interviewed said the ‘Lusaka Star’ programme which discussed increased fuel prices aired on October 17, attracted a lot of comments from callers, the majority of whom expressed unhappiness with the government’s decision.
“We were shocked to receive a call from IBA minutes after the programme ended informing us that they were coming to collect recordings of the programme, which was not even being analysed by a politician but just a radio presenter, Golden Lungu. They told us to prepare the recording, which they were going to pick on Tuesday but they did not show up because Tuesday was a public holiday,” the sources said…
At least he should have mentioned something on fuel and give hope to the poor Zambians. Where is that Ugandan found in ecz computer room but not are at arrested by zp and Zambian govt? So Zambians being arrested are less Zambian than the Ugandan?
Sengelet
That only Bembas and Chewas are Bosses in Private and public companies is a blue lie.
I can give you empirical evidence where Southern are Bosses in Parastatal Instituitions and the Private.
Your comment lacks merit in all angles.
I would not mention companies but be neutral.So stop your commentariea
Comment:Thnx my presido let haters go hang
NO ONE IS READING THIS BACK HOME….. most people on this blog are outside Zambia and do not know what is going on; and it is all hearsay from the bloggers. Twisted information – misleading information.! If local Zambians hate the situation they should leave. If you have an education, LEAVE
ZAMBIANS, AND ONLY ZAMBIANS VOTED FOR LUNGU SO LIVE WITH IT
“….We must, therefore, be tolerant towards each other, regardless of our political, ideological, religious and cultural inclinations…..”
This man does not understand what his speech writers write.
How is it tolerance banning HH and GBM from greeting more than 2 people at a time ?? And banning UPND from visiting their jailed members ?
Comment:
whether you like it or not LUNGU is yo president. Give him time to rule us Zambians
Comment:If you hate the president pls keep it to your self coz as who voted for him are here at Home in Zambia and working hard to improve our country and not you chaps in diaspora running away from true patriotism of developing this Nation Zambia, instead you are busy cleaning toilets and looking after old pipe instead of using you energy to develop Zambia any keep insulting as the bazungus appreciate your art of cleaning toilets.
@Enos your flag shows the US. This is the problem with Zed politics. Criticism is seen as hating the President. That is a wasted emotion in my view. Govt will be held to account albeit to whomever is in power be it PF or anyone else.
So lets be clear at present Zambia today :
1. Our staple food which we grow in our own country now costs K87 25Kg
2. Most Zambians who are deemed ‘working class’ cannot afford 3 meals per day
3. If you walk into any government run institution i.e. UTH, Ndola Central patients have no bed, no blankets and no food, no sanitation
4. We are saying we have developed the country by building Road infrastructure, Shopping malls. Now with the current fuel hike we can expect our food to go up, transport too, and so we should celebrate.
5. Finally our civil…
52 yrs of mismanagement and corruption through greed by many parties and presidents, looking after their families and friends .
Comment:continue commenting your useless ideology while others are busy improving on what they are doing the time you realise it to let.
it reminds me of the day we lost dad, little did i know my mother would talk like that. this is part of what she said ” …… how do you kill my husband like that, mwe mbwa, these witches have finished me. oh my God, may whoever has done this know no peace, not even a bit, sataana wamuntu…..” i almost went to stop her till someone said to me ” never mind what a mourner says, its part of the healing process”. Imagine if she had continued saying such todate, we would have all taken it as madness. Let those that have ears hear!
I just finished watching Zambian news about scrumble for food at State house today by kaponyas ” caders” if front of foreign dignitaries. What a shame! Njala 🙂
Wonderful speech highlighting our goals. I’ve picked out parts of the speech to make Posters. Today we stand tall.
My President may the God of Isaacs Abraham and Jacob grant you more years and prosperity and may he protect you always. Let no weapon forged against you prosper ? decree long life upon you and pray God gives ýou everlasting peace.To all those who disrespect you with insults I say back to sender7times may the holy ghost fire consume their evilness in Jesus’s name l pray.