FORMER PRESIDENTS REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE STATE.
Reports that thieves broke into the residence of Zambia’s sixth Republican President Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu and walked away with some household goods must be condemned by all right-thinking citizens and calls for thorough and extensive investigations.
For purposes of this write up, Zambia has so far had seven Presidents with two of them, Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata, dying in office and the first, second and fourth heads of State Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, Dr Frederick Chiluba, Rupiah Banda after leaving the presidency.
Today, Zambia’s only surviving former President is Dr Edgar Lungu.
It is a no brainer that upon leaving Office, former presidents continue to be public figures. Though they may no longer make big decisions, they are, by virtue of having been in State House, still in possession of a lot of confidential information about the country and the government. A former President therefore cannot be separated from that of the incumbent President and Government at any given time on this premise. As such, the need to provide them with adequate security need not be overemphasized.
For purposes of clarity, there is a good reason why there exists the Benefits of Former Presidents Act as amended by Act No 33 of 1994 and No 21 of 1998.
Among the many entitlements accrued to a former President, this Act provides the following:
- “A former President, immediately upon ceasing to hold office, shall be provided housing accommodation as the government considers fit before the executive house is built for him or her.”
- “The State shall provide to a former President, within a period of not more than six months from the date of ceasing to hold office, three drivers, three motor vehicles with free maintenance and entitlement to fuel to the extent determined by Cabinet.”
- “… a former President shall, upon ceasing to hold office, be entitled to a tax-free monthly pension at the rate of 80 percent of the incumbent President’s emoluments, all of which shall be a charge on the general revenues of the republic”.
- Other entitlements include “ one personal secretary, three security persons, one administrative assistant who shall be at the level of deputy permanent secretary, and three house employees, whose number may be increased by Cabinet.”
Let me hasten to mention that the Act applies to all former Presidents, including those that ceased to hold office before the commencement of this Act.
In conclusion, the welfare of any former President, the moment he or she leaves office rests with the state to the extent that it will continue to dictate different aspects of their lives, up to and including their funeral arrangements.
Signed:
Hon Sunday Chanda
Member of Parliament
Kanchibiya Constituency
10.08.2022
Compared to most utterances speaking on behalf of the former President your comments and arguments are compeling and actually make sense.
What baffles us as citizens is;
1. None of people advocating for or against what is happening has actually cone out clearly to confirmed or denied whether services being advocated for are being provided for or not. So is this just politics? What is really status on the ground. Maybe the authorities through the office of the Vice President.
2. We notice that there has been a lot of speculations and loud speeches of the former President intending to come back to active politics. Is this certain or not. Seeing that this does have a bearing on his status, and what legally can be provided as benefits. We need the PF current leadership to openly state the current position of the former head of state. Is he actively engaged in politics or not.
Based on these outcomes we the citizens will support why is legally supported by law. This is the logical response to these issues being raised. If this is not done then we suggest we stop wasting our time and deal with pressing matters.
Every rule has exceptions. Thieves, dictators, or murderers should not continue enjoying taxpayers money. In addition, ECL divided the nation on tribal and regional lines in ways never seen before since independence.
Shapiro, I am in total agreement with you on this one.
IS IT AFTER THIEVES BROKE IN THAT YOU HAVE REALIZED THAT ECL IS NOT BEING TAKE OF? IF THERE WAS ANYTHING MISSING, WHY DID’T YOU THE PF VUVUZELAS FOLLOW IT UP WITH THE GOVT? CAN THE COMING OF THIEF BE PREDICTABLE? IS THE PREDICTION OF A ROBBERY ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT ALSO PART OF THE ACT? JUST BUY ECL A GENSET.
Iwee, ka Sunday Monday, ikalafye.
Lungu, wabufi, nothing was stolen. All gimmick.
Kakbwelefye uko kaya. Kalipama Rvs?
Pressure iyoo!
The criminals they can just go and pick two televisions out of the whole goods he has ?niboza
Sunday, you are talking a lot of clap trap here.
Suggest you talk to Monday or Friday they will advise your thick head
MR. MONDAY, THIS MAN YOU ARE CALLING FORMER PRESIDENT WAS NEVER A PRESIDENT. HE FORCEFULLY PUT HIMSELF THERE THROUGH RIGGING ELECTIONS.
NOW LET ME TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THIS KA FELLOW WILL NOT GET HIS RETIREMENT PACKAGE FOR AS LONG AS HE WAS RELUCTANT TO PAY RETIREES THEIR PACKAGES, HE SHOULD ROT WITHOUT GETTING HIS SO THAT HE KNOWS HOW PAINFUL IT GETS TO.
MONDAY WAS IN GOVERNMENT AND HE COULD NOT ADVISE MENO MENO HOW TO BEHAVE AND YOU WANT TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOUR MAN HAS MESSED UP OUR COUNTRY! KEEP QUIET AND ENJOY YOUR SALARY AS MP ONLY FOR THIS TERM. IN 2026 BISA CHIEFS WILL KICK YOU OUT BECAUSE THEY ONE OF THEIR SONS THERE. WANYA!