PRESIDENT HICHILEMA SHOULD PROTECT SANCTITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
The Patriotic Front (PF) Party is disappointed with the manner in which the sanctity of the Office of the President is being eroded with partisan politics by the UPND government.
We urge President Hakainde Hichilema to rise above partisan politics and protect all Zambians now that he is Head of State.
What happened at the Nc’wala ceremony in Chipata yesterday is not only an embarrassment to our acting President, Hon. Given Lubinda and the nation but an indictment on the divisive and retrogressive leadership style the UPND has introduced in our country.
We have made it clear that the PF will not emulate the behaviour of the UPND while it was in opposition, but promote national unity and mutually respectful co-existence with the ruling party and the government.
To this end we will attend national events unlike them who boycotted all national gatherings and state functions out of their hatred for our former republican President, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and the PF.
It is in this spirit that Hon. Lubinda honoured the invitation from the Nc’wala organising committee to attend the ceremony.
However, State House decided to use the event to humiliate the PF top leadership, to the shock of the onlookers and the entire nation.
The President must ensure government duties are performed by state officers. It’s unacceptable and embarrassing for UPND cadres to be masquerading as State House security officers.
This is setting a dangerous precedent and it must stop.
We are also appalled by the handling of the fiasco by President Hichilema’s media team, which trivialised the ejection of Hon. Lubinda and his delegation from the main arena on orders from State House.
Our humble advice to the President is that he should appoint competent, tested and mature people to speak on his behalf. The current crop of novices still stuck in on-the-job training who are speaking on his behalf are eroding the sanctity and decorum of the Presidency.
Issued by:
EDWIN LIFWEKELO
PF Deputy Media Director