Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday said Africa was glad that the electoral stalemate in the country had ended and asked Kenya to go back to work.
He said that the recent elections had taken too long and made the African continent worried.
“We are very happy that this process has come to an end. We can only urge you to go back to work,” President Lungu said.
Speaking at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, at President Uhuru Kenyatta’s inauguration for his second and final term following a protracted political process, he added:
“We were worried as your friends because this process took too long. And we hope you will think about it in future.”
SUPREME COURT
Presidential Kenyatta surmounted two sets of petitions at the Supreme Court, a nullified August 8 victory and a disputed October 26 repeat poll boycotted by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to be sworn in.
President Lungu had earlier spoken about the historic September 1 Supreme Court ruling against President Kenyatta’s election — the first in Africa and only the fourth in the world — asking Zambian judges not to copy their Kenyan counterparts.
“People are saying Zambian courts should emulate Kenyan courts,” President Lungu was quoted as saying just after Mr Odinga’s withdrawal from the repeat election.
“People are saying Zambian courts should be brave and make decisions that are in the interest of the people, but look at what’s happening in Kenya now.
“I am saying the courts of law in Zambia should also see what’s happening.
“They should not behave like they are not part of our African continent. The most important thing I can say now is, 2021, I am available to stand if my party chooses me.”
CRISIS
President Lungu’s eligibility for the 2021 poll is being challenged by critics, who argue that he is serving his second and final term.
However, other African heads of state congratulated Kenya for withstanding the pressure and the political overtones.
“I am very pleased to be an African today. You people of Kenya have made us proud. And I want to bring you a message of peace, love and solidarity,” President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon said.
Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni uncharacteristically avoided Kenyan politics in his brief speech.
PEACE
Said President Museveni, donning his signature hat: “Congratulations for a well-run election and for keeping the peace.
“Now, remember four things: Peace, prosperity, development and politics. Do not think of politics alone and forget about the three other things.”
At the 2013 ceremony, President Museveni, often referred to as Mzee (elder) by the Jubilee government, hit out at the West for what he said was an attempt to block President Kenyatta’s presidency over his then-pending case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
DIGNITARIES
And as he spoke on Tuesday, many in the crowd, it appears, wanted him to put his mind on the Kenyan context.
Heads of state and government at the event also included Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, President Ian Khama of Botswana, Djibouti’s Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, Namibia’s Hage Geingob, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and Swaziland Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini and former presidents Rupiah Banda (Zambia) and Thabo Mbeki (South Africa).
DAILY NATION
what Somali has a president that is a failed state
Now this is beyond anything normal, lungu has a mental problem problem caused by excessive drinking and excessive aimless flying!
How makes such a speech???really??! This is shocking beyond beyond!,,,, criminals are around him must be fired and jailed
Work done in a corrupt regime is equal to zero, fire wheelbarrow tenders, overpriced roadworks, overpriced ambulances, poorly run clinics and hospitals.
Munkombwe can attest to that, uth failed to resuscitate him, it took South African clinics. Imagine what that money for wheelbarrows would have done if it was invested in uth. That’s why work done in corrupt regimes equals to zero. Have civil servants been paid for the work done this month?
Great advice your honour
Thanks
BB2014,2016
I wonder when he will go to work since he is always away!!
Provide them with jobs, Lungu doesn’t even know the unemployment rate of Kenya.
When are you going to go back to work ever since you have taken every opportunity to jump on the plane attending every event in Africa all in the name of allowances .Now Inonge has copied you and she is also in Ivory coast . You guys are sh!t at your job and we have had enough of you. Pack up and go !
I think Ba Boring Lungu mixed up speech, sounds like a letter to himself, that he has to go back to Zambia to work.
How does a guy who does not work but just travels ask other to go to work! Lungu shut up!
The same and only president known to have urged Robert Mugabe not to resign. Kenya a volcano about to erupt.
Hey Mr Lungu, go back to practicing Law.
President Lungu can make a good President for a united Africa.
He is humble but very skilled.
Unlike the Petition Privatisation thief (HH) from Paradise who is a certified failure.
My fellow Kenyans listen well to President Lungu. Thank you for hosting us at the inauguration yesterday
Wabetole
Noko Ichiyooooo
Bozo your type of Cadre is the reason Zambians reject your supreme ‘god’ from Namwala.
African don’t want humble theives…..
Ala iwe Chi Kudos atase
Spaka Africans don’t want rich Privatization thieves
We say let all theives be investigated , no ??
Same goes to you 2.2 even if you insult us 3 times or 10 times your small ‘god’ from Paradise will still be rejected by 50% + 1 Zambians
Wiso akakulu ubunono.
3.1, your insults won’t change anything:
(HH) will be rejected by more than 50% of the Zambian population.
He is a pathetic non leader with no strategy and acumen.
(HH) is a certified loser.
Zambians don’t like him Period.
An Zambian and i don’t remember hiring a spokesperson.
Spaka I’m Zambian and I’m speaking for the 50% + 1 who won the previous elections.
I’m not speaking for you UPND ogs who number less than 49%
Watching PF cadres makes me wonder if they even need opponents.When you bring in HH in anything do you realise that you just remind us how big his popularity has grown?Believe me some of us have even forgotten about Nawakwi and the others because they are not covered in the news.So when you bring HH in a news item like this one it is like reminding us of the only reasonable alternative.I hope people like Kudos,Terrible and the others are not paid for this pathetic and misconceived propaganda.Even just campaigning for the great leader you have failed and you keep on propping up the opposition leader.Anyway one needs a certain minimum intelligence to make it in politics,not this Kennedy Kamba level of reasoning.
3.4 kudos
50+1 %of stolen votes , if not stolen let lungu allow the petition..
Spaka think about the future. If another Presidential election is petitioned and thrown out, the complainant will reopen a closed and shut case. This is what you are trying to do. What we do today can be applied in future because precedent will habe been set.
The UPND petition was thrown out for lack of evidence.
Dull Kudos, how could it be thrown out due to lack of evidence when the court did not give a chance for the evidence to be presented? Are you being serious?
Lazy Lungu has no shame at all so he left on Monday for Kenya to a ceremony that was on Tuesday..I mean Nairobi is less than 2 hours away by Jet. He should have just been a Foreign Minister!!
Yes all kenyas can go back to work knowing their grivences were heard at the concourt but this theif refuses to let the UPND petition be heard…….presiding over a corrupt government where he is called a theif every day does not bother him as long as he gets to use the presidential jet every week…
Why not be an example Lungu stop your frequent flying around the region and get back to work.
Everything he says is the antithesis of his actions.
And when are you gonna ask Zambians to go back to the work of being an orderly society? Firetruck tenders done wrongly,hawking allowed central Lusaka and nasty public fights with Chishimba Kambwili.
(HH) can only dream of being invited to an inauguration aboard our Presidential Challenger.
Maybe he can address Odinga at his inauguration in December.
So prophetic, yes it is our presidential jet, so it won’t be a surprise when you see him in it.
Kudos express your opinion than mentioning one name everytime u express yourself,that shows how bitter u ar against him.Why ar u underating a person who has graduated from third position in 2006,2008 and 2011 to a second position in 2015 and 2016?lead political situation in the country don’t jst express your bitterness to an individual to tell u the fact the top 2 politicians in Zambia as at now is ECL and HH.
(HH) is the bitter one not me.
do not deceive yourself he only performed better because of a disorganized MMD.
Haters will Hate! Period
Has Lungu created any jobs for the Kenyans? Why does this man not bridle his tongue?
Kudos my friend live these Imbecile entities who have never crowed on earth the under5 free M. Bali tosa boyi. Lungu 2021 nafuti nafuti Hater will Hate
This is laughable!
1. He did not know what to say. He was not prepared.
2. He spoke on behalf of “his excellences and everyone there”. Who told him to speak on their behalf? Because those excellences were given a chance to say a few words.
3. Who told him that the process took too long?? The rerun and everything has been concluded within the constitutional 90 days. so what part took long???
4. He is the ONLY president who did not wear a suit at such an event. He looked awkward in that Jacket with lines.
President Lungu is a very wise guy.
The Presidency is job on training and Lungu seems to be going to the right places at the right time.
The modern world is so interconnected that being an island is suicidal.
The UPND have the most unattractive FOREIGN POLICY that is driven by IMPERIALISTS who want to colonize us again.
The UPND is wrong on Zim,wrong on Kenya,wrong on SA,wrong on China and childish on regional matters as regards SADC and AU.
NOT even VJ the old man can save them on foreign policy and diplomacy.
Zimbabwe had only known one president in 37 years. meaning those that were 50 had known only one president in their adult life. it is possible that some opposition Zambians may turn 45 yrs by 2031, having known only one leader of their choice if their party leader wins in 2021 and is re-elected in 2026. They may know and accept only one leader till they are 50 if they loose in 2021. Too many mugabes in Africa.
HAKAINDE HICHILEMA MUGABE is well described as; under five politician, white color thief, beneficiary of the privatization of mines, a bitter man, a tribalist, anti-lungu and his government, anti- Zambia (denting Zambia’s international image), puppet of the foreign forces, dictator (wamuyayaya), tax avoider, selfish businessman, Mr. pride, ARMMEGEDDON preacher, arrogant creature, power hungry creature, indiscipline human being and copperbelt poverty creator. All these vices in one person surely!!!!!!!! can this person make a good president? A BIG NO. Period.
Ba njimbu you are so du.ll.l even if you try to change your name your du.ll mess shines through….
Come 2020,,, people will still be crying over 2016 elections… my God..!!! We have moved and are making money for our families.. do something else people..
Is this the same du.ll kaponya rat njimbu ?
Mr lungu avoid joners and let R.B rest or else introduce him as a politician
Do not waste our time HH. We need development promulgated by ECL and Lungu. We are forming another party that will unsettle your UPND and relegate it to a distant position. Don’t be excited about the second position that was occasioned by MMDs poor and disorganized performance. Next is a huge surprise for you all in the Bantustan sect.
Well look who’s talking, Has he any clue about work? other than endless travelling!
Well said Mafikizolo.
Comments by full time armchair critics, also known as up.nDonkis.
I wonder when they shall do some meaningful work or contribute some useful mature and workable ideas for the development of their own country.
Wise council! Wina Hazafa na Hajelousy and HaJayJay never sees the president working hard because he has Hachimoto lenses in which he sees the world through!
Paradise papers can confuse people! Ha UNPDs!
International Statesmanship sought after.
My party agenda:
-village concept…town concept. All provincial centres to be transformed into big cities to absorb villagers. Aim…to let villagers leave the bush and forests alone! Except well planned farmland!
-Educationist policy:…universities to be well supported in every province. Obviously to educate the masses to a higher level and improve analytical skills
-Agriculture + Health: priority nutrition and value addition… trade and forex and healthy population
-Business and Entrepreneurship skills. Encourage local business minds to march on and invest in business ventures like tourism. Northern circuit needs facilities and exposure
-Infrastructure:..better water and sanitation in all cities. Intra and intercity-city Railway…
When HH took over the leadership of UPND from the late “GREAT A MAZOKA” the word used for him to be the leader? A fellow “TONGA” should takeover and not any other “TRIBE”. This is a reflection for the day.