The MMD NEC member says the party supports President Edgar Lungu and that he has sent a message to people intending on challenging him to ‘merely’ brace themselves.
Kafumukache says all, President Edgar Lungu, has done is clarify the debate on his eligibility to stand in the 2021 elections adding that, the head of state is entitled to a third term.
President Edgar Lungu ascended to office in 2015, following the demise of PF founder and President Michael Chilufya Sata in 2014. President Lungu, served 1 year and 8 months from 2015 to 2016 when Zambia went to the polls.
“Of course in the first place, there was debate in some sections of society where they were insinuating that President Edgar Lungu was not eligible to stand. And also, there were some people that said he couldn’t stand. But under the amended constitution, it’s clear that one can only be considered to have served a term after completing three years but the current President didn’t complete three years. He actually completed a year and 8 months. So that means that, that term, can not be counted. So he is entitled to a third term, through two terms of presidency,” Kafumukache says.
Kafumukache says the MMD will either support it’s own candidate in 2021, the PF’s candidate or another party’s candidate only after going for a convention in 2020.
“So now, his reaction today, he just responded to the debates that have been going round in these circles to prepare grounds and also to prepare his opponents that are trying to undermine his legitimacy to contest. But for us in the Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) we are not so much concerned with the issues of the president whether he wants to stand in 2021. The way we sat down in the 2016 election. We agreed on terms on what we were to do during elections, is the same way we shall sit down to agree when that time comes,” says Kafumukache.
Kafumukache who recently contested in as MMD parliamentary candidate in Kasempa in the past year’s elections, says that the party is so far happy with the way it’s ‘alliance’ partner is managing affairs in the country.
He says the MMD reign was characterized with a booming economy, and that he sees that happening the current government as they are sharing ideas.
“We have an input in the 2017 budget. And so far, we are working well as a team. And we as MMD are bringing to the table some precious experience. They are learning from us as you know we had been in power for 20 years ,and we are learning a lot from them. We see the economy booming in the next few years because of the unity the two parties are enjoying,” he says.
He says people should allow President Edgar Lungu to work and stop cheap politicking.
“And for the 2016 one, what we decided was to support the presidency of Edgar Lungu. So until that time comes in 2020 that’s when the party will speak again. When time for the convention comes, we shall decide whether to feature a candidate or to support the candidature of another person in another political party. But for now, people must allow President Edgar Lungu to work. Cheap politics will not take us anywhere,” he says.
Kafumukache adds that, ” The President I don’t think he has made a declaration, the president has just made a clarification. What the President has done is a clarification on his eligibility and that clarification is to state that he is eligible to stand. That he is still qualifying to stand in the 2021 election. He has just clarified that is if he so wishes, he can stand. So am in support of the clarification of the president because it was sending a message to those who want to challenge him, and just for them to equip themselves to challenge him if they can. It also clears the platform and perimeters upon how people will view the current presidency of the republic of Zambia. It grants citizens and political players perimeters on how they will engage the presidency of Edgar Lungu.”
Who told you Kafumukache that the President is entitled to a third term. if at all he is entitled, why is he challenging people to go to court? In any case in 2021 Mealie meal might be K300 a bag, so who will vote for him. Assess the situation before commenting
The Third Term bid is dynamite. Must be resisted at all cost. Devolution of power to the Provinces is the bottom-line that was the choice of the people. This must be re-introduced into the constitution. Any ruling Party at the Centre in Lusaka will always want to dominate the passive Zambians especially the traditional leaders. How did they allow land to be vested in the Presidency?
What is this man talking about? Doesn’t he know that Lungu’s re-election is being petitioned in Court? Does Kafumukache know that MMD is reaping most the rewards of Electoral Theft thru RB and his first Cousin, Essau Chulu at ECZ? Does he know that Lungu is an illegitimate President?. Does he know that Lungu is blocking the Petition becoz he knows that the Petitioners have overwhelming evidence to prove how Lungu & RB master minded and stole the Election Victory from HH? Does Kafumukache know that Lungu’s Comrade in arms Yahya Jammeh of Gambia has been dethroned from power and has been banished in exile? Does he know that without Hearing and determining the Petition Lungu will remain illegitimate? Good luck Mr Kafumukache!
@3 Moya
Your thinking is very mayopic! ECL won in 6 and 1/2 provinces while your HH just won in 3 and 1/2, surely how can he be declared winner?Please move on.
A Moya, the one behaving like Jammeh is your HH. After losing, he wants to be declared winner. Lungu was declared winner. You’d party had 2 weeks to present their case but failed. The country needed to move on.
Yes farmers get better money from maize than during MMD era. Consequently prices of maize meal cannot remain the same.