President Edgar Lungu says headways have not been made in the national dialogue process because opposition political parties have not been forthcoming.
President Lungu said he and the Patriotic Front (PF) have been ready and waiting but have been let down by opposition parties’ unwillingness to come to the table with a workable issue based agenda.
The Head of State has since decreed that he will only attend unconditional talks with opposition parties and other stakeholders because Zambia is not in a crisis.
He stated that it is unfortunate that some people are behaving as though the country is in crisis.
“Zambia is not in a crisis, we have a government in place, and all systems are functioning, I am in charge, voted by the people,” said President Lungu.
President Lungu explained that he expects the national dialogue process to take the route of tackling contentious issues such as the electoral process, Public Order Act and some aspects of the constitution.
President Lungu was speaking to journalists at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport(KKIA) in Lusaka before departure for Namibia to attend the Southern Africa Development Community(SADC) Summit, where he will assume the chairmanship of the SADC Troika Committee on Defense, Peace and Security.
President Lungu said he expects Zambia to put in more effort and contribute positively to the promotion and maintenance of peace in the region.
And President Lungu said there was nothing wrong by government in handing over Zimbabwean opposition politician Tendai Biti who was wanted by the legal regime in place to answer some charges.
The President said Zimbabwe would have viewed Zambia as not a good neighbor for granting asylum to Mr. Biti.
He said government consulted and was assured by the Zimbabwean High Commission that Mr. Biti would be safe if he returned home stating that reports have also confirmed that he is safe.
President Lungu added that people should desist from making political mileage over little issues.
President Lungu was seen off by Acting President Margaret Mwanakatwe, some cabinet ministers, defense chiefs, Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa, senior government and party officials.
And President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Windhoek, Namibia for the 38th Ordinary Southern African Development Community-SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government which opens tomorrow.
President Lungu and his entourage arrived at 15:24 hours local time at the Hosea Kutako International airport.
President Lungu was received upon arrival by Namibian Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah who is also Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Namibia Stella Libongani and other senior government officials.
On arrival at Hilton Hotel where he and other Heads of State and Government will be lodging, the President was welcomed by Minister of Communication and Transport Brian Mushimba, Minister of Sports, Youth and Child Development Moses Mawere and the Permanent Secretaries for Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Home Affairs and Defence.
President Lungu who is accompanied by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda and Special Assistant for Economic and Development Affairs Hibeene Mweene upon arrival are scheduled to attend the official opening of the Organ Trioka summit on the 38th SADC Summit.
Other Heads of State and Government who have already arrived ahead of the Summit include the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Angola’s Joao Lourenco, President of Seychelles Danny Faure and Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane among others.
The theme of the summit which is being held at the Safari conference centre is “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development’’
The theme builds on the focus of the past four SADC summits that looked at how the region can attain industrial development.
Namibian President Hage Geingob will assume the leadership of the regional organisation from his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa during this year’s 38th SADC Summit.
And Zambia will assume chairmanship of the troika for the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security from Angola during the summit.
It is expected that Zambia will use her well documented credentials in addressing some of the political situations in the region as well as elections to ensure a peaceful region.
The summit is expected to also welcome the Union of Comoros as a new member having been formally admitted into SADC at the 37th SADC Summit held in Pretoria, South Africa last year.
Expected to making their debut at this year’s summit are five Presidents namely President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, Joao Lourenco of Angola, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros.
The official opening of the 38th summit tomorrow was proceeded by Council of Ministers meetings which mainly comprises designated Ministers, mostly Ministers responsible for Foreign and External Affairs and the Troika meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the organ meeting.
The main objectives of SADC are to achieve economic development, peace and security, and growth, alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through Regional Integration.
The SADC Summit is responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of the community, ultimately making it the policy-making institution of SADC.
The SADC Summit is made up of all SADC Heads of States or Government and is managed on a Troika system that comprises the current SADC Chairperson, the incoming Chairperson and the immediate previous Chairperson. The ordinary SADC summit usually meets once a year around August or September in a Member State of the incoming SADC Chairperson.
The current SADC troika comprises of President Cyril Ramaphosa, of South Africa as the Chairperson of SADC, President Dr Hage G. Geingob, of Namibia as the incoming Chairperson, and H.M. King Mswati III, of the Kingdom of Eswatini as the outgoing Chairperson.
The troika for the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation comprises of President João Lourenço, of Angola as Chairperson of the Organ, President Edgar Lungu, as the incoming Chairperson of the Organ, and President Dr John Joseph Magufuli of the United Republic of Tanzania as outgoing Chairperson of the Organ.
Namibia last hosted such a SADC event in 1992 during the historic Summit held in Windhoek, Namibia, where leaders from the region signed the SADC Treaty and Declaration that effectively transformed the then Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) into Southern African Development Community (SADC).
According to the last SADC Council of Ministers meeting held in March in South Africa, the summit is expected to deliberate on a wide range of issues, including implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap and the political situation in the region.
That’s what I am talking about
The real crisis is actually that Edgar is president!
He is right about one thing.
He is in complete charge.
In charge of the corruption in Zambia.
In charge of selling Zambia to the Chinese.
Let’s roll! Let them HALLUCINATE!
Great man isn’t he ?
Thanks
BB2014,2016
You arent in charge. Thats why we have gone broke! You cant even repair roads on the copperbelt the heartbeat of the economy.
“Zambia is not in a crisis, we have a government in place, and all systems are functioning, I am in charge, voted by the people,” said President Lazy
Really sad…this lazy bum Edgar is detached from reality, as long as his bank balance is being fattened by the Chinks everything is okay…that’s why they all can leave the country for pointless trips!!
I normally don’t bother people who are on vacation.
Let ba Lungu enjoy the weekend please.
We remain with our crisis woman, Maggie M (M2).
Remember Lungu saying “there’s nothing to fix”.
Today the debt crisis is knocking on our door with no solution in sight.
maloza – we are not in a crisis he says yet he was publicly begging from his Turkish guest last week without shame for assistance to pay off the debt he and his empty tins have piled up. Other Presidents have shortened their visits to countries 24hrs this lazy thing stays abroad for 2 days drinking and smiling like his govt is fully servicing its budget without external support funding.
THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AND THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES MR EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU HAS SAID HIS OWN.
USHUSHA?
Forget these losers.
“There is a problem with learned politicians bearing the surname ‘Banda’, says Katuka”
“Only a Tonga to succeed Mazoka says Sejani “
“President Lungu was seen off by Acting President Margaret Mwanakatwe, some cabinet ministers, defense chiefs, Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa, senior government and party officials.”
People of Lusaka ….surly if you voted for anyone but Sampa do you think they would be wasting their time at the airport escorting this lazy bum??
The real crisis is Hazaluza Hagain!
Lungu, B R Mumba, Sr and Mushota you are a joke!
Clueless Lungu in charge in Zambia? That’s laughable. I would suggest the Chinese are in charge in Zambia now and this guy is just a figurehead. If he is truly in charge in Zambia, then is he the one who allowed the Chinese to put up a building structure right smack in the middle of Aliki Nkata road? Yes there’s a crisis of leadership in Zambia, and if Zambians don’t wake up in time, they will have no country left when clueless Lungu is done with them–as he’s bent on selling this country to the highest bidder.
Yama ba BR Mumba muli chiwelewele. You are not educated but just qualified.
Yes you are in charge but you are not in control.
HH and his Tribal Union is in a CRISIS! Hatribes mean confusion tribalism and are a COALITION OF THE WICKED.
WE ARE NOT YOUR CHILDREN, WE KNOW HOW A BIN LOOKS AND SMELLS LIKE.
HIV H00KER has shown the level of her intellect again
On a post i made yesterday i said if PF are paying this Sharon they should demand a refund.The posts are no different from the calibre of the PF cabinet.
Iwe leave HH out of the country’s misfortunes. Those managing the country have failed in many aspects and you’re busy thinking about an opposition leader! Things are terrible I’m Zambia, muleishiba utuntu. Your relatives will have nowhere to run to when the Chinese and lungu are done with the country.
HH is in Charge of Corruption and is a PRIVATIZATION THIEF. He is also into Three Mansions! He is also in Panama Papers where is is doing MONEY LAUNDERING. He is a Land Thief buying land from his TRIBAL CHIEFS. HH is a MESSY and wants to sell Zambia! HE will NEVER be president in Zambia!
Who is the fraudster
HH cannot sell Zambia any more. Thanks to Endemically Corrupt Leader of the Plunderers Federation, Zambia is now property of Comrade Tan from F*ck Ling Peoples Republic
Yes you were voted by the people to take us out of a crisis, not into one as you have done.
He has sent Jean Kapata to Ankara to give land to the Turks!!
There is actually no point for dialog. U dialog when there is a crisis. To me pf must focus on the people than these opposition leaders. Why not put forward the proposed amendments to the constitution & those acts mentioned, subject them to public comment. Once coments are incorporated bring them before parliament. Then we proceeded with progressive things. Not like you are papataling ka life long opposition bantustan leader, sure
Bantustans can’t learn a thing! It is not about Zambia it is about tribalism! ONLY A TTOONGGA can be president of UPND. Come 2021, wina Hazalira Hagain!
One time, Mr. President!!
You have never been in charge Lazy Lungu …even the acting President you have selected is a former MMD member what does that say…what a clueless moron we have for a president who can not even address the nation via a press briefing
MMD PF ALLIANCE.
Lazy bum insolent haalucinating tribal hooligan and bully son of a tribal polygamist who never toilet trained his son.
HaJealousy HaLousy.
“The President said Zimbabwe would have viewed Zambia as not a good neighbor for granting asylum to Mr. Biti.”
Look at this ..when I say this man is not a leader you think its a joke..he is more interested in being a good neighbour so he can be travelling there, what a foooool he is…its no surprise he wont do anything about DRC because the dumbo is worried about not being a good neigbour!!
You are in charge of unprecedented failure you are disappointed to the people.
You have been showing high levels of arrogance by not even talking to them through press conferences at least quarterly, all you do is command and direct and use the airport to issue hast and rushed briefs to skewed state media.
Sorry a disappointment to the people that rigged for you
Zambia is definitely in debt crisis ,cholera crisis ,corruption is at critical levels plus poverty and joblessness crises.Just ask the IMF for a briefing Mr Lungu .
I have failed to even comment. This guy is a nuisance…
HH is a nuisance and he will NEVER be president in Zambia! He is wasting his time.
Indeed he is in charge of a corrupt failed government. No one is disputing that assertion. Can lungu do as a favour and hold his breath for 2 hours
HH the corrupt thief and inside trader is in charge of a TRIBAL HORGANISATION called UPND.
That’s nice of you Bwana Lungu (wink wink) thanks for finally admitting you’re in charge of the cholera epidemic ,debt crisis and corruption.
See what we have been reduced to, press conferences only on the tarmac. He is like an absentee president with so many things happening and the Chinese doing whatever they want and never a word from him. He thinks his job is to just chill and attend events abroad, l don’t think people knew what they were voting for. They were deceived with that fake humility and God sent message
Chimbwi
The sick joke is that he wants to continue in 2021.He cant face the nation,cant do the job he was elected for but he wants to continue in 2021.
Want to be your jailer you rascal . True yiu are in charge..to swing from the tallest whisky bottle!!
Atase!
Hey
kikikiki cant sum it up any better
The man has little if any understanding of what his job entails.
I can say with confidence that the next time we hear from him will be at the airport again this time off to campaign in 4 PF in a by election!
Sharon You surprise me the talk is about President lungu statement but You talk about HH what is connection even is hunger or sent to destroy others be intelligent your reasonings
She is a victim of arv shortage. Dont mind her
Sharon is an empty vessel rolling down a steep hill at full speed rattling and rolling that is how this empty dunderhead thinks, despite being in a civilized country she or he has taken their Chibolya shanty mentality with.
Journalists, stop following that man ku Airport Tarmac! Demand that he organizes his speeches in Press Conference form rather than him always embarrassing the nation with his usual scatter brain word salad talk – which is defined as a confused or unintelligible mixture of seemingly random ejaculatory words and phrases most often used to describe a symptom of a neurological or mental disorder! Can his handlers spare us this level of embarrassment please! Let them organize his speeches! Twasebana pafula!
Pompwe Republic
He believes he is in charge
Is this chap aware of taxes being thrown on his people? Even the dead can tell you those are signs of a government in crisis….. Lungi open your eye, you will never see how wrong your vision look even from the air
Can someone balance me here: The President says Zambia is not in a crisis but we are running to Turkey to help us repay the Eurobond??…….they say that the first step to finding a solution to a big problem is acceptance. If we don’t accept that we have a problem we will never solve it
KA BWALALA POMPWE , IWE ILLEAL PRESIDENT , U ARE NOT EVEN ASHAMED OF SAYING THAT ZAMBIA IS NOT IN A CRISIS , CANT YOU SEE WHATS GOING ON IN THE COUNRTY , YOU HAVE FAILED TO RULE BWANA , JUST ADMINIT IT AND RESIGHN . CAN YOU SAY THAT YOU WERE RIGHT IN HANDLING BITI BACK TO ZIMBABWE , THAT WAS TOTALY WRONG . ITS ONLY THAT YOU THE SAME AS THE MUDERER ZIM PRESIDENT. WHAT OF IF THE USA WITHDERAW THEIR AID CAUSE OF YOUR USELESS THINKING TOGETHER WITH YOUR USELESS FOREIGHN MINISTER , U GOING TO MAKE THE PEOPLE SUFER
I am in charge, voted by the people,” said President Lungu. Which people?????? not until the partition is head & disposed. You have simply taken advantage of time lapse. With us Zambians myopic we are and gullible. We have taken the bitter medicine and trying to move on despite our suffering. We have let things be. Deep down our hearts of hearts. we remember a lot of the irregularities and violence.
How so embarrassing! He was actually drunk at the airport; the slur in his speech and exaggerated body language like he sauntering at the entrance to the plane are signs of some one inebriated. The least the clown can do is respect those that voted him into office by staying sober on the job – not that it makes a difference! What a waste!
I RARELY find the President’s statements apt enough for occasions but on this one, I agree with him!! Why can’t we talk about IMPROVING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, PUBLIC ORDER ACT, CONSTITUTION SO THAT WE IMPROVE THE OVERALL GOVERNANCE THAT WILL AVOID CONFLICTS,BEFORE,DURING and AFTER ELECTIONS!!These are things the OPPOSITION,NGOs (including NGIs -Non Govt.Individuals),CHURCHES and ORDINARY CITIZENS and INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS have BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT!! YES they are WORTH ADDRESSING BEFORE 2021 which is just around the corner so that NEXT ELECTIONS CAN BE BETTER AND AVOID THE NEAR PRECIPICE WE FACED IN 2016 AFTER VOTING!!
Over half of the cabinet including the veep and president are out of the country. The acting president is a serious alcoholic and goes awol every weekend. The country is sinking is debt, and the bum sees no crisis. Bukuba!
Hatribes Zambia Ltd. Halosers! Galu Watchers in Zambia.
I honestly didn’t know Zambia had a President. All along I thought Zambia was an experiment by China, or is it the Britons to have a country without a President, but trying a drunkard and push hard not to have a leader by putting him on the road and wrecking up debt of untold immense proportions for a struggling young economy. Bad experiment indeed.