STOP DISRESPECTING THE FORMER HEAD OF STATE!
By Jocek Kunda
There is no justification for sounding sarcastic and disrespectful towards those who deserve double honor. ( Romans 12:10)
Movement for Promoting National Values and Principles was constituted in order to preserve, appreciate, honor and highly esteem national values and principles. Among the highly valued assets include our freedom fighters, the elderly in general and our leaders who render services to the Republic of Zambia. One way we can preserve history is by listening to our elderly men and women who were there before, during and after independence.
Whether we like it or not President/Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu will remain in the history books of this Country as the sixth Head of State. A visit at Cabinet Office on the third floor under the OVP wing would remind anyone about the Heads of State who previously served the Republic of Zambia. The portraits of these men are left hanging on the wall visible to be seen by anyone.
Recently the former Head of State His Excellency Dr. Edgar C. Lungu was captured watering down the New Dawn Administration and lamenting about the alleged persecutions he is undergoing with his closest family. President ECL challenged the New Dawn Administration to remove his Presidential Immunity and take him before Court.
DO NOT CHOOSE MISUNDERSTANDING PRESIDENT/DR. ECL.
Do not choose to misunderstand whatever others say neither should we put meaning in someone’s sentiments. We are free moral agents and have freedom of expression. President Lungu is a mere human being with feelings. He has emotions as well.
During his tenure of office as the Republican President, Dr. Chagwa Lungu was called all sorts of names ranging from a Chakolwa, a Thief, a Criminal and Mr. Jameson. Mr. Chama Fumba commonly known as Pilato went to an extent of composing a song comparing him to a drunken person.
The UPND while in opposition never recognized the former Head of State as the Republican President. His Excellency the now Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema never addressed ECL as His Excellency. He always called him Mr. Lungu. Similarly everyone in the UPND ranks refused recognizing the former Head of State as the Republican President.
Following the emotional remarks made by President ECL at his Ibex residence, hon Cornelius Mweetwa, hon Chushi Kasanda, Mr. Hachombwa ( An ordinary UPND member), Bishop/Commissioner John Maambo, Pastor/President for MMD Amb. Nevers Mumba and several others are on record to have rubbished the former Presidents sentiment.
DO NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY THE UTTERANCES OF A GRIEVING PERSON. ( UULELILA TABAMUCEBA KUKANWA).
When a person is mourning, often they end up uttering uncoordinated statements. Others even shift the blame on a dead person. Some even request to be buried together with their departed colleague. Others blame themselves while some shift a blame on others.
Similarly it is just logical, normal and expected for the former Head of State ranting that way! We call such sentiments ‘Lamentations’. ( Icimbo camalilo). In fact President Lungu is coming out that way for the first time. While he issued a contradictory statement during President Rupiah Banda’s funeral, he has always tried to contain himself.
Naturally and ordinarily, President Edgar Lungu is affected by the happenings in the Country since he lost power following the August 12, 2021 general elections. While handing over power to President Hichilema at Heroes Stadium, President ECL was reduced to a laughing stock by being booed. He suffered total humiliation, denunciation and denouncing by the cheering crowds.
The supporting staff who accompanied him at the Stadium were stopped from being with him with the exception of his daughter hon Tasila Lungu Mwansa. He left the Stadium as an ordinary person and was reduced to a mere whisper. Recently, the Law Enforcement Agencies have pounced on his Son Madalitso, his Aide – Camp, his personal barber man, his closest colleagues, his daughter and now his own wife is facing a corrupt allegation.
It comes as an expected scenario hearing him cry foul about the happenings surrounding his family. We are not in a military cantonment neither are we in a dictatorial type of government. Democracy entail that we allow citizens to speak their minds. No one can feel the emotional pain and anguish he has been going through except himself. ( Icikalipa cumfwa umwine).
Neither is this article meant to disagree with the ongoing investigations taking place not only on the former President’s closest family members and his colleagues. If at all the Law Enforcement Agencies feel that President Lungu’s family members need to be probed, let the due process of the Law take its course.
However, MPNVP does not agree with the ongoing perceptions and notions in the Country of calling people all sorts of names before honorable Courts find them guilty. Only the honorable Courts have the jurisdiction of rendering judgement on the accused. We also need to learn to respect our former leaders and our present leaders.
MAY PRESIDENT HH TAKE THE LEAD IN RECOGNIZING HIS PREDECESSOR!
It was heartwarming and thrilling experiencing the highest Presidential recognitions conferred upon the former Heads of State from three (3) Countries at State House! If President Hakainde Hichilema could go an extra mile honoring and conferring upon the three foreign heads of states in our Country, he can do better than that by appreciating our own!
Honestly, what benefit does our Country earn by recognizing foreign heroes from outside Zambia? What economic value does Zambia attain? Who do we want to please? What impression are we painting to the entire world by disregarding our own former head of state while paying obeisance to foreign political icons?
MPNVP is calling upon the Republican President his Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema to make amends in his approach by learning the need of recognizing political veterans from his own Country! It is high time we started hearing connotations from the Presidents intonations, speeches, utterances and sentiments indicating recognitions and appreciations about our own leaders.
It will be very easy for the rest of the citizens according respect to our former leaders once they begin hearing from President Hichilema. There are so many good things that the former Head of State accomplished in the Country worthy of commendations.
MPNVP – WE HIGHLY VALUE OUR LEADERS!
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