EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU: THE SLY FOX RESURRECTED BY UPND
There’s just something about Edgar Chagwa Lungu – a certain political savvy that can never be underestimated. And if today’s celebrations at the court are any indication, the former Zambian president has proved that he’s a force to be reckoned with, even after his defeat in the 2021 elections.
For us, the Infinity Media Hub community, ECL was done and dusted after his loss. We had written him off, thinking the UPND’s victory had obliterated him from the political landscape. But alas, the UPND’s relentless persecution of his family, particularly his wife Esther Lungu, has reignited the fire within the former president.
You see, when it comes to politics, ECL is a sly fox after all we have seen this before when he rose to be Patriotic Front leader and eventually Zambia’s President. He knows how to play the game, and he’s not afraid to use any means necessary to achieve his goals. And now, with the UPND’s actions serving as the kindling, he’s poised to roar back into the spotlight.
While ECL may not be able to unseat President Hakainde Hichilema in 2026 – the scars of the PF’s misrule are still too fresh in the minds of Zambians – he’s certainly positioned to create havoc, especially with the numbers he commands in parliament.
Let’s not forget the 50%+1 clause in the Zambian constitution, which calls for a rerun in the event that no one gets more than 50% of the votes. ECL knows this, and he’s likely positioning himself to take advantage of it.
The harsh economic realities that Zambians are facing right now only serve to bolster ECL’s cause. Some are even beginning to echo the sentiment that “remove the peace, take us back to the State of affairs in 2021 – at least we could afford to buy mealie meal.”
While those in power may choose to shrug off today’s events, we here at Infinity Media Hub believe that they would do well to take a close look at the recent politics in South Africa as a yardstick. ECL is back, and the UPND is the one who resuscitated him.
The sly fox has been awakened, and he’s ready to pounce. The UPND would be wise to tread carefully, lest they find themselves outfoxed.
The Editor
#InfinityMediaHub #stayinformed
Hope he will be on the ballot
My wish is that he be put on the ballot, then he will certainly feel the heat. Any one can have crowds like ECL but elections are a different ball game. Let’s wait and see.
Zambians think ECL can help them if voted back
In office with the high cost of living and other
Challenges they are facing like loads shedding etc.That is the reason we see those crowds.
The suffering and easily bought Komboni people are the ones who will take Zambia back Kumalushi!
There is no honor or dignity in poverty (both mental and physical poverty)!
Vote for the top notch mambala again and get robbed twice!
You mean you cannot come up with better leaders than ECL and HH?
Are these the only ones who were born to lead Zambia?
Voting for ECL and HH is indirectly voting for cadrerism, except that the PF Militias have potential to start civil war given a second chance!
Ecl can do it for zambians bcose he knws to be poor.
There are about 20million people in Zambia, ELC can have a representation in every town anywhere in Zambia, the issue is the total at the end of the day. In 2021 the total was 1.8million, those at court yesterday were less than 5000. We can do the maths for all towns.
Bauzeni aba ba half baked jreporter pausing as a journalist. Who say Lungu’s family is being persecuted? Chizungu please, the former first family is being prosecuted for alleged unexplained wealth obtained when Lungu was head of state. If they are clean, the Courts will clear them.
Lungu’s family acquired wealth illicitly. They are not being persecuted. He won’t change anything for the better economically. He will just make things worse because we may experience the hyperinflation that Zimbabwe is is still battling with. But this is beyond the average Zambians thinking
Personally Lungu was after his defeat a non factor but the inexperience of UPND has led them to play in his trap.
The problem is that the UPND president became a president before he become a politician in my view, and it is that which makes him see things in a businessman’s point of view as opposed to a politicians point of view hence not understanding what the people need as opposed to what they want
The UPND has done well in terms of bringing sanity of removing thuggery behaviour by caderism. They have also brought in CDF to propel local development at community level. On the other hand, a layman in urban towns of Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces where majority are semi literate on understanding economic development still feel the UPND has done little in terms of alleviating suffering due to high prices of staple food and other essential commodities like mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar and to some extent fuel. Similarly, worse still is the increased load shedding of electricity. If the Government doesn’t do anything to address these problems to a common man it means that the UPND government is failing and may not been in their favour or support. Grassroot politics and economics of the poor is different from the politics of the well informed and educated. Poor people do not mind or admire about making hunge amount of money or living a lucrative life but majority of the poor both in urban or rural areas only demand for affordable simple food (mealie – meal / grain maize) and living which at the this time majority can not afford it. Conversely, the opposition political parties especially the PF is taking advantage of this situation and it is a reality.
The other issue that need to be addressed is the calling of the previous government thieves and corrupt. From the inception of the UPND government and when it was in the opposition called the PF thieves and corrupt and alleging that the PF government plundered the economy, yet the UPND government has not fully persecuted the corrupt and it is now almost three years of their rule. Majority of Zambians are expectant to witness actionable court arrests and recovery of huge stolen public funds and seeing the corrupt jailed.
If you call someone to have stolen or corruptly acquired wealth yet no action to bring the perpetrators of crime to book that only becomes mere accusations and rhetoric in the eyes of the public.
It is time for the UPND government to be aggressive and proactive in addressing issues impacting negatively on the poor and secure court convictions for the people who plundered the economy and time is now to act.
This is my submission which I believe is impartial.