By Oliver Chisenga
EDGAR Lungu cannot be a national icon, at least not for a decent country of decent people like Zambia because his hands are too dirty, says Gregory Chifire.
Reacting to Ministry of Information and Media director Thabo Kawana’s statement that Lungu is an icon and national asset, Chifire said the
problem with the former president has nothing to do with his associations with the Patriotic Front but the “dirt” he carries as an individual.
Chifire said Kawana should retract his statement.
“And we further urge the PF to stop associating Lungu with the PF party as doing so makes the latter to be partisan. Thabo must understand that the problem with Lungu has nothing to do with him associating with PF, but the dirt that he as a person carries. In fact, Lungu as a person is more dirty than the PF party,” he charged. “I can’t blame people who are alleging that Lungu is a common criminal who belongs to jail. Little wonder that everyone that appears before
the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC)… Lungu must answer to the many allegations raised at PAC and indeed the many issues we know.”
Chifire, the Southern African Network Against Corruption (SANAC) executive director, said Lungu was actually a “worthy candidate” for the removal of his presidential immunity, and must
first clear his name before he acquires an honourable title.
“Yes, he was president of Zambia by fluke or by whatever force, that is enough. We can’t erase that. But giving him an honourable title to a man we all know has skeletons in his cupboard is not only hypocritical but also a big insult to the integrity of the people of Zambia,” he said.
Chifire insisted that it is an open secret that Lungu “is viewed by many Zambians as the most corrupt president the country has ever had”.
“This is not from me, but the general view from the majority citizens. Someone who is viewed as a thief or corrupt cannot be clothed with honour. It would be a wasted effort,” he said.
Chifire said Lungu would laugh at the assertion that he has an iota of honour because he knows the truth.