Press Release
For Immediate Release
“Empty Rhetoric or Genuine Dialogue? HH’s Call to Consult ECL is Insincere and Politically Motivated”
Lusaka – 23rd May, 2026
The Patriotic Front has taken note of recent remarks by President Hakainde Hichilema’s spokesperson, Clayson Hamasaka, suggesting the Head of State is willing to consult former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
While this statement may sound conciliatory on the surface, it rings hollow when placed against the backdrop of President Hichilema’s consistent public disdain and institutional harassment of his predecessor.
It is public knowledge that President Hichilema has repeatedly used every opportunity, from national platforms to international engagements, to demean and vilify President Lungu. From the Heroes Stadium inauguration, where his supporters booed the former President with impunity, to casual remarks insinuating that President Lungu will never return to office — such as “alebwelelapo pamupando? Naliika glue pa seat!” — these are not words of a leader seeking honest reconciliation.
The record is clear. When President Hichilema assumed power, he missed a golden opportunity to unite the nation by extending a genuine hand of friendship and respect to his predecessor. Instead, his administration stripped President Lungu of his entitlements, barred him from exercising freely in public, and subjected his family to repeated court appearances under heavy police presence.
This pattern of behavior undermines the very foundation of the proposed dialogue. How can the Head of State claim to protect the former President while simultaneously creating a hostile environment that treats him as an enemy of the state? How can there be trust when the same government has allowed its officials and cadres to hurl daily insults and deny President Lungu the dignity of being referred to as “Father of the Nation”?
Hon. Brian Mundubile’s call for meaningful engagement between President Hichilema and his predecessor was intelligent and timely. However, what we have witnessed from State House is nothing more than political theatre, aimed at controlling public perception rather than fostering genuine reconciliation.
In summary, It is too late for President Hakainde Hichilema to pretend he seeks dialogue when his actions have consistently betrayed a lack of goodwill. True unity is built on sincerity, not soundbites.
The Patriotic Front remains committed to the peace and progress of Zambia, but it will not be deceived by empty rhetoric. If this government truly desires national healing, it must begin by restoring the dignity and rights of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and treating him with the respect due to the only surviving former Head of State — the true Father of the Nation.
Issued by:
Office of the Director of Media
Patriotic Front Secretariat
Lusaka, Zambia
A member of the clergy recent spoke up and indicated that the insincerity was not on the part of HH. So what are you suggesting here Edwin? If there issues that are contentious, communicate discretely with known mediators…washing dirty laundry in public is in itself disingenious.
Was the clergy from SDA? That would make sense.
Reject tribalism, corruption and oppression.
God bless Why Me and Captain Ibrahim Traore.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
Mwamba Indigo you come here everyday, just so that you can detract and suggest/spread your innuendo.
From the Ibrahim Traoré to your tribal outbursts. You fail to fact check your outbursts. Be objective. Read back articles by this Publication wherein you post everyday, yet dont read the articles you comment on, showing that facts dont matter to you. Just the malicious intent to misinform. Unfortunately everyone knows your tired useless efforts.
Read and stop bu kachepa. Read this article When HH called for dialogue, Lungu put a condition to it – Bishop Masupa, by Shadreck Jere,
19th May 2025.
You narrow outlook seems to get the better of you. As such you continueously display how shallow a person you are.
Lucifer incarnate!
“If this government truly desires national healing, it must begin by restoring President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s dignity and rights and treating him with the respect due to the only surviving former Head of State—the true Father of the Nation.”
National healing will only occur if pf asks for forgiveness from the Zambians for the lives of the people killed during Lungu’s reign. He never spoke against cadres, violence, or tribalism because he was part of the equation.
No one cares about Lungu’s dignity and rights. Lungu decided to return to active politics by himself, and you expect Zambians to accept Lungu as the true Father of the nation? That’s total foolishness.
someone who does not conduct himself with dignity does not deserve to be treated with dignity. How do you consult someone who is clueless, except the ‘kubwelelapo desire’? I don’t want reconciliation, the court cases must go the full course.
The law that takes away all the privileges of a former head of state is not and has never been repealed! It’s still enforceable.
This piece of legislation simply states that a former head of state who continues to actively participate in politics or re-enganges in the same will be stripped of his privileges and conditions of service entitled to them.
exactly right. he was never stripped of his entitlement but the law is clear and was applied correctly. The gentleman was entitled to what a former president is entitled to when he or she is not in active politics…but the gentleman lied that he’d retired and was recieving all that was due to him…only to turn around and say…IAM BACK! what a joke to even mention he was stripped of his entitlements
If Are still dreaming about ba Lungu forget please move on and make other dreams .
With the drought we had and high cost of goods and food.The owner of plan B would have taken advantage and campaign carelessly the way he started.He started going into supermarkets and laughing at prices of commodities.He started comparing prices in his time and now.And he could even be seen laughing too much.But he forgot that he didn’t leave the seat well.There was too much over borrowing and the climate change came to confuse the economy.The owner of plan B is still respected only that he provokes situations.Are we not told he will come with some jabs and will remove HH by all means.This is what Zambians for peace, prosperity and development wouldn’t want to hear.
The article gives me a sense that there no right thinking intellectuals in the country. The law is very clear about a former head of state engaging actively in national politics. Lungu declared that he had come back to politics, and we know he is back. He is a chairperson of Tonse alliance, and naturally all privileges of a former head of state falls off by law. There are court cases of his family members because they have been found wanting. The long arm of law will be on his door step when his immunity is removed by an act of parliament. Moreover he is not the father of the nation now, he is the father of Tasila and others.