Friday, March 29, 2024

President Lungu extends ‘olive branch’ to all parliamentarians

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President Lungu
President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu has called on all Members of Parliament irrespective of their political affiliation to feel free to engage him on matters of national development.

Speaking when he addressed a rally in Kantanshi Constituency in Mufulira district today, President Lungu said politics of campaign are long gone adding that it is now time for politicians to work together for the development of the country.

He said the only way development in the country would be achieved was through unity among politicians hence the need for unity.

” If I say I cannot work with opposition MPs, how will those MPs access resources to bring development to their ( respective ) constituencies? So all MPs, whether they are UPND, MMD, or any other party, they are free to access me,” he said.

Mr. Lungu urged the PF in Kantanshi constituency to work hand in hand with the area’s independent Member of Parliament, Anthony Mumba in order to bring development to the area.

“I don’t want to find this disunity next time I come. You keep saying, ‘we can’t work with him ,he’s independent. An MP can’t be independent of the people. I want you to work closely with him so that you bring development to this constituency,” he said.

Mr. Lungu urged the PF to be quick to forgive those who had wronged the party and wanted to come back saying this was the only way the party’s strength would be retained.

The President meanwhile urged miners not to listen to people who wanted to mislead them with false claims that they could negotiate for better conditions of service for them from their employers.

He stated that it is only the unions and government who had the power to speak for them as no mining company would listen to someone not in government.

And Kantanshi MP, Mumba praised President Lungu for bringing development to the country.

Mr. Mumba said his constituency was anticipating a bumper harvest as farmers had received their farming inputs on time.

The Member of Parliament pledged to work with the President and the ruling PF in order to develop Kantanshi.

And Government says it is determined to improve the working conditions of civil servants across the country.

President Edgar Lungu says civil servants can only be motivated and work harder if their working environment and conditions are more conducive and habitable.

President Lungu says his administration will for this reason ensure it fulfils its promise of improving the working conditions of civil servants such as the constructing 12,000 houses for police officers in different police stations throughout the country.

The Republican President said this after inspecting police staff houses under construction at Mukambo border post in Mufulira District , today.

Mr. Lungu , who also took time to address wives of police officers at the new camp, assured that together with families, they will dwell inhabitable structures because they are also important players in national development.

He said the purpose of the visit is to fulfil his promise of ensuring that all development projects countrywide are visited.

During the visit to the border post, the President took time and interacted with the local residents and walked from the police station to the border point much to the ululation of residents who followed behind and chanting praises to him.

President Lungu also inspected ZRA, Police and other government offices at the border post.

President Lungu is on a three day visit of developmental projects on the Copperbelt where he is also expected to inspect the Mufulira-Ndola road and later officiate at a PF fundraising dinner dance, this evening.

Accompanying the President includes, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, State House Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Party Secretary General Davis Mwila, Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo, among other government officials.

47 COMMENTS

    • Just give him a week, he will say or do something contrary to this. I am curious if this time he withstands it.
      Its all campaign speech….who doesn’t know that?

    • That is the problem with some parties that will never form government. Nefyamano fyonse fibi. What the President is saying is that let’s work together as a country but ba Upnd fyonse fibi. Trust me your hh will never go state house unless the whole country turns into southern province. Learn to appreciate the good. Lungu you’re a great leader

    • The plunderer has now seen the ernonomity of his deeds and the consequences are dawning. He’s thenceforth trying to woe support. Lungu you’ll go to jail.

    • Does it mean all the ministries have been transferred to state house like RDA? if as MP i need a bridge in my area why not see the specific ministry, why should i go to state house?

    • Anthony Mumba has no credibility he’s a sell out hypocritical and lacka principles not even bad ones. He’s a thief and he’s corrupt. He representa only himself and his big belly

    • Edgar Lungu please tell us why you became President of Zambia? Why you dumb ****I can tell you why I chose my career but why are you in State house you pinhead? Why are you on the podium? Why are…………………….

    • THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID HIS OWN – SOLIDARITY IN UNITY
      =======================
      What more do the humble and hardworking people of Zambia anticipate? You have NAILED it once again. Good call; with prudent implementation of your policies, 2021 is yours again. Whosoever has issues with your pronouncements is delusional and has no trace of credibility in him/her. That’s why you became president, to sow UNITY in face of diversity. Watch my son, walk the talk and quash all forms of corrupt elements in your way, Zambia will remember you well. Keep your eyes on the ball any everything will fall in place.

  1. If you are really serious about this do teo things :
    1. Stop the nonsense chifubu MP is trying to bring to parliament.
    2. Instruct people to allow opposition to hold rallies.
    Otherwise just shut up wena!

    • What is this Lazy Bum Edgar going to do next…he will go to Lusaka and direct ZNS to construct drainage for free because he and his Chine friends have shared all the loans by using substandard products and cutting corners!!

    • Campaigning is not a problem, it’s the misbehaving and lies that attracts the authorities. That 1.d.i.o.tic tonga failure went to tell farmers in central province that ECL is the causer of the dry spell and that they must rise up and fight. Can such s.t.u.p!.di.t.y be ignored?????

  2. We are appreciating your hard work Mr President!please keep it up!since 2011,PF has brought massive developmental projects across Zambia and only blind followers in upnd cant see them because they are die hard tribalists!!!
    Bring closer all well meaning MPs to develop Zambia.plus soon when Hon Ng’ambi brings a NEW BILL in parliament to limit the number a politician can appear on a ballot,MAJORITY MPS WILL BE NEEDED TO VOTE “YES”!!!we dont need to see faces of losers such as HH,Nawakwi,Miyanda and Tilyenzi Kaunda on a presidential ballot in 2021 because we are tires of them!!Kainde could behave like Raila Odinga in 2021 has losing a 6th election could be so painful to him and his tonga supporters!!
    MAMMOTH RALLIES ARE ORDER OF THE DAY WHEREVER ECL IS GOING IN COPPERBELT!!WELL DONE BA…

  3. “President Lungu said politics of campaign are long gone and now is time for work” but what I see is that he is busy campaigning(my opinion), PF will argue he is inspecting projection

    • @Kab
      After inspecting the developmental projects, it’s only common sense that address the people who can’t stop following him on his trail. I don’t see that as campaign!
      It’s only those that are about to be barred by the impending law (limit number one appears on ballot paper) are having sleepless nights. With changing times our laws need to be evaluated and improved. Bring on that bill next week please!

  4. Where are tonga cadres such as SPAKA LIKE LILO,JAY JAY,ROBMWALE,ETC?
    Am sure they are too worried about the impending bill to ban losers from appearing on a presidential ballot paper in 2021!!Your party upnd is damn finished badaala since even LAZ,NGOCC,SACCORD,Young African,etc are in support of this SPLENDID BILL!!!Believe you me,many Zambians are tired of seeing same faces of losers on a ballot papers!!THE WAY WE PREVENTED Grade 7S AND Grade 9S FROM STANDING IN 2016,SHOULD BE THE SAME HERE.Democracy is about setting up limits.WE DONT NEED DICTATORS SUCH AS ODINGA,MUSEVENI,KABILA IN ZAMBIA!!If a politician cannot be allowing conventions while in opposition,what would happen if he became a republican president?SUCH A PERSON WOULD REFUSE TO VACATE STATE HOUSE UNTIL DEATH OR ONLY THE…

    • Immediately they dominated UNIP. That was the end of the one party state which came to pass in 1991 and only their province voted for UNIP. Again in 2008 took over MMD and 2 years on the party was history. Not to end there, PF too under their helms has become a vessel for looting taxes, lawlessness and brutality.

  5. What type of Head of State is this who extends olive leave branch to Parliamentarians at a Party Rally when its not even campaign time…what olive branch? Olive Branch is a symbol of peace…are we at war.
    Lusaka is in floods because you have eaten all the money…are you waiting for the US to hand you some more of their tax dollars!!

  6. six elections upnd has been saying the same ati kuyabebele ,were and who is coming imwe ba day dreamer insoni ebuntu hh he will never become president just like oginga stop , thougt was after last elections upnd first thing will be to call for a convn to asher new office bearers but no now how can you think so low that pipo like me can vote for you

  7. Look at that sh1thole 3rd world stage Lungu’s on. The only olive branches we care for are cheaper foods,more income/jobs and better living standards.

    Anything else about you politicians of the belly is amafi .

  8. Now, you are talking,Mr President.
    Glad to note that President Lungu has realized that he is not only a PF Party Leader but a National President and as such, he supposed to provide Leadership to all Parliamentarians for anything to be achieved.
    President Lungu should replace the – seleniko tubombeko (move away so that I can work) to- inseni bane tubombele pamo tutwale ichalo pantanshi (come let us work together in taking our country forward).
    Leadership is influencing human behavior and working with and through people.
    Instead of using the”long Stick”, it is better to use powers of persuasion and Galvanizing people than using threats.
    Instead of waiting for Parliamentarians coming to the President, the President should go to the Parliamentarians and , if need be, one on one,…

  9. ” If I say I cannot work with opposition MPs, how will those MPs access resources to bring development to their ( respective ) constituencies? So all MPs, whether they are UPND, MMD, or any other party, they are free to access me,” he said.
    Lazy Lungu get this through your thick head MPs don’t need to come to you to access resources to bring development to their areas …please stop cheating people you lazy nincompoop…you and your SG seem to think GRZ and PF are the same thing!!

  10. Gosh Mr president. Feeling the heat now are we?? You have come out with enough statements in one weekend, I’m sensing a feeling of guilt. Anyway, we are watching and will pass judgement in 2021 but what we are seeing so far is not encouraging to say the least.

  11. Like it or not, he’s president and his calls for unity must be taken seriously. Of course politics will always be turbulent. I remember how many left the MMD after adoption of candidates for parliamentary elections. ..then those who got ministerial positions they didn’t want left, lastly those who didn’t agree with the direction the party was taking. But MMD remained to rule for 20 years only to lose because Mwanawasa brought in a Unipist as his successor.

  12. ONLY A TONGA MUST LEAD UPND says Sejani. The impending motion to limit the number of times one must appear on the ballot paper is very progressive and long overdue. UPND are nurturing, developing, glooming and training a would be dictator in HH. Surely this man has already acquired dictatorial tendencies that is why he cant call for a convention to be challenged. Such kind of leaders are always a very serious risk to the peace and security of any nation. If he can be a dictator at party level what can stop him from becoming a dictator if at all he is voted into power(GOD FORBID). Look at how Odinga is posing a serious risk to the peace of millions of Kenyans, Kenya today is on the verge of civil war because of this man odinga. This is how HH will behave in 2021. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN…

    • These upnd enjoy to see disunity because anything that looks like a key to state house is welcome regardless of the consequences.

  13. This is strange thinking. Why should MPs work with the State President? MPs represent their Constituencies and Party in Parliament. To provide checks and balances MPs should hold the Executive Arm of govt accountable. It seems the President doesn’t know the Role of Parliament in a Constitutional Democracy and neither does he know his Role as a President. When u have no Vision people perish. With this Koswe Mumpoto President Zambia is doomed.

  14. ONLY A TONGA MUST LEAD UPND says Sejani. Worse still HH is blocking many upcoming and young talented politicians who by now could have delivered UPND to the state house. HH feels he is the only better and intelligent person to lead UPND than anybody else. This syndrome is what has blinded all UPND followers that they cant see beyond HH. What if this man dies, will that mark the demise of UPND? The party is actually facing a very serious leadership crisis because UPND has no replacement; in short they have not put in place any succession plan in case this man is barred legally to contest in 2021. Mark my words when this bill is signed into law (which is most likely) and HH is barred to contest that will be the end of this tribal grouping UPND

  15. ONLY A TONGA MUST LEAD UPND says Sejani. HH’s time is long gone. This man should have been the president by now had he humbled himself to be deputized by Sata. When Sata died this man without doubt could have been president and not Lungu. This was a missed golden opportunity by HH which I know he regrets. An opportunity like this one does not come twice in life, once missed it goes away for good. To me HH because of pride and arrogance missed a divine chance to rule this nation. God only gives once, HH rejected his chance so it is over for him. God will give us somebody else. HH does not want to retire from active politics but the new law will force him to do so soon and very soon. GOD LOVES ZAMBIA.

  16. I believe leadership is about taking criticism and I think in the past the president was strongly criticised for flying out of the country, and now he says no more flying out and he wants to work locally, we call it campaign, remember that positive criticism built our late gallant son of this land, Levy Mwanawasa MHSRP today we are proud of his achievements, but don’t forget he was once called “cabbage ” and years later he became our favorite. Let us criticise our current president correctly without insult and we shall one day call him gallant. Insulting won’t help us remember it’s our Zambia and only we have, we know our problems so let us criticise to build. Remember that which ever political party you support, your president has potential to be in state house, what will happen…

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