President Edgar Lungu has said that the government will listen to citizens’ concerns over the proposed mining activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
President Lungu said that the people’s accounts must be taken into consideration as he leads a people-driven government, adding that the government’s power is derived from the people and their views must be respected.
Speaking to ZNBC News, President Lungu said he has not been hesitant to reversing decisions made in the past and that he will not shy away from doing so if the people’s will prevails.
He said he will not engage in finger-pointing at anyone but will instead act decisively in the interest of the nation.
Various individuals and organizations have petitioned government over a court decision to award mining rights to Zambezi Resources Limited to start mining operations in the Lower Zambezi national park.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has urged citizens to find time and test for cancer and other diseases, adding that he is concerned that cancer cases have continued to be on the rise.
The Head of State said that there was a need for constant medical checkups in the advent of high cases of prostate, breast and other forms of cancers.
The President said t6hat early detection and treatment of the disease can bring about better outcomes.
President Lungu said this after participating in the Price Water House Coopers race to beat Cancer in Lusaka.
After addressing the participants, President Lungu inspected infrastructure at East park mall.
Earlier, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya thanked President Lungu for encouraging Zambians to take part in physical exercises.
And Price water house Coopers Partner Andrew Chibuye said his company will continue supplementing government efforts in the fight against cancer.
KK is 95 years old but he reacted faster to this news than you! Delayed response chiganiza mu rewind
… One is using influence while the other has power to stop this whole episode. Take it easy on the anger and hate.
UNTIL HE REALISES WHY GET FREE ACCOMMODATION, FOOD, TRANSPORT, SECURITY, BEER … HE WILL ALWAYS BE PN HOLIDAY.
Let LZNP remain a Game reserve. No mining there, I thank you.
Thanks ECL.
In which district is that Zambezi national park kanshi?
Please also check that the Lower Zambezi National park is not subdivided to the hyenas like those Lusaka-animals who moved into Forest 29.
A village headman also calling it a saga, and he says he will wait for people to express their views, just the same as they did on 48 houses. The SAGA will die off.
Great man!
How do you talk of decisiveness when the issue needs swift urgent addressing with just one signature?
koswe
(2) lukanga kafusha justice
Just go and scr*w your mother you piece of sh*t. Sometimes its just better to keep quiet.
KOSWE KOSWE KOSWE.
This guy is a little boy. So low.
Ch!puba ichi chi dander head, worst president in the world, he has no brain in there it is just hollow….thieving mother f*cker
PEOPLE DRIVEN IS GOOD BUT AS A LEADER WE EXPECT YOU TO BE IN THE DRIVERS SIT ALWAYS. PEOPLE WILL HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPINIONS BUT LEADER MUST DECIDE ON WHAT’S GOOD. I’M NOT SAYING MINING IN LOWER ZAMBEZI IS GOOD AM SAYING WHEN THE PROPOSAL WAS BROUGHT BEFORE CABINET YOU AS CABINET HAD A DECISION TO MAKE IT SHOULDN’T HAVE WAITED FOR PEOPLE TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS. COME OUT AND DEFEND THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE IF YOU WERE FOR IT. STAND FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE TOMORROW PEOPLE DRIVEN MIGHT MEAN LET’S SALE THE VICTORIA FALLS. WE ELECTED YOU TO DEFEND OUR VALUES EVEN FROM OURSELVES SHOULD NEED BE
@Zambian by blood he wasn’t in cabinet at that time.
@Zambian by Blood. The decision was made in Sata’s government and at the time ECL was Minister in the office of the Vice President and wasnt seating in Cabinet
The backlash from people has pushed you into making the decision. People of Zambia this is the power you possess now do it more and more, speak up or speak out because this is your God given country. Silence only makes the oppressors seem powerful and untouchable. There was no blood shed or violence but your voice be it spoken or written on social media has driven this government into action. Let’s make Zambia great by making any leader accountable for their actions. Now let this Government take back the 80 black lechwes they stole.
Was it an interview or press conference? If not, I am not interested.
A million thanks Your Excellency for listening. The reversal will be in national interest in all aspects.
President Lungu said “he has not been hesitant to reversing decisions made in the past and that he will not shy away from doing so if the people’s will prevails.”
BUT this decision is cemented by the High Court. President reversing the judiciary’s decision is an interesting episode. Hope the President would gladly refer the citizens to appeal to Supreme Court where he would hope for a better outcome. It can be done within a week. He can only give his side. Otherwise, where does it leave the judiciary? Too late! OP shouldn’t just concentrate on sniffing opposition parties. Look now, the President is seemingly fighting the courts because you starved him this salient information for him to act at the right time.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE KCM SAGA TO BE SORTED OUT SOON ! WE ARE TIRED BEING CHEATED BY YOUR GOVERNMENT AS MOST OF YOUR DECISIONS ARE A HARM TO THE ZAMBIANS.
Mr President we need you to be decisive on alot of things I.e size of cabinet and civil service, change of SG because Mwila is a failure etc.
The best is to have another EIA done. All stakeholders to be consulted. Such important decisions should be based on available data.
He was/is hoping for the furor to die down so the mine goes ahead……
Please advise His Excellency that there is no need to dramatize whatever his decision will be, simply make a good decision that’s all. Why does he link everything to publicity and elections?
The decision has nothing to do with people driven or such like boring stuff, just make the correct decision for the good of the nation.
After all, this project did not pass environmental assessment by ZEMA, it is your government which overruled ZEMA, so why dramatise?
Yes, if you can’t think, listen to citizens.
And Kalaba is a huge disappointment regarding the lower Zambezi saga. Aspiring presidential candidate regresses to: awe, nshali neka, na ba Sata eko bali, the cabinet agreed. You were supposed to present your views to cabinet and enlighten your colleagues.
Imagine. Masebo was in cabinet but she strongly opposed the whole thing
Kalaba sold out on this one. His excuse is both baseless and scary. The man is theoretical and most likely highly ingrained in the cloth he says he broke away from. Masebo stood her ground and opposed the mine yet she was also a cabinet minister.
So this lungu…….
If a Chinese company decides to import rice with plastics , this lungu will wait for a public outcry before he does or says anything ???
Should that surprise you? Lungu is a dull man.
This is confusing Mr President! Can the Executive Branch of Government overrule Court rulings? We were also shocked to hear that your political adviser stopped the execution of a court order by bailiffs on REA? Where is the Doctrine of Separation of Powers and where is the rule of Law? Is this not cheap political mileage? We start the problem and when there is public outcry, we come back pretending to be a listening GRZ? We need to be seen to be more productive on issues. It should not take public outcry for us to do the right things. Only the simple minded have been deceived by this tactical retreat. Can we also hear something on Forest 27 sabotage and Political Violence!
Executive has power after courts have ruled to act in the nation’s interest… The power of all citizens in the country is vested in the Presidency no wonder it’s only the Presidency which can declare war and not otherwise..The Judiciary and Parliament can only check but not deter…
who and why is the president promising. His job is to act in fact the KCM issue is more complicated than this one. So why promise when all things have already being laid bear.