UNSEEN WORKS OF PRESIDENT LUNGU- Likando Kalaluka, SC

UNSEEN WORKS OF PRESIDENT LUNGU

By Likando Kalaluka, SC

First and foremost, allow me to convey my heartfelt condolences to the widow, Madam Esther Lungu, to President Lungu’s children, and indeed to all Zambians (everyone included), as we mourn the passing of our former President—a statesman, a servant leader, and a humble soul.   

My earliest memories of Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu—whom I respectfully addressed as such at the time—are from my days at the University of Zambia and later at ZIALE, when I would hear his name mentioned occasionally. However, my first real interaction with him was in or around 2001, shortly after I was admitted to the Bar. Around the same time, I had also been elected as a Council Member of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ). The policy then (and likely still now) required each Council Member to convene or chair one of the sub-committees. I chose to lead the Legal Aid Committee.

Mr. Lungu was by far the most committed member of that committee. He attended every meeting—without fail—and joined us for outreach programs in communities like Matero and John Laing, where we offered pro bono legal services. Despite being more than two decades my senior in both age and legal experience, Mr. Lungu would always take the time—before our meetings—to advise me privately on what to say and how to proceed. Then, he would take a back seat and let me lead. That humility left a lasting impression on me. I was a young, inexperienced lawyer, yet he served under my leadership with such grace and respect. Through that quiet mentorship, I learned one of the most important virtues of leadership—humility. For that, I remain eternally grateful.

Thereafter I took a break from LAZ Council, and I lost contact with him. In or around 2013, we met at the Radisson Blu hotel in Lusaka. By that time, he was serving as Minister of Home Affairs. With his signature smile, he handed me his business card and said ‘Ba lawyer, you no longer have an excuse for not reaching out or contacting me’. While many become incommunicado after ascending to higher offices, Honourable Lungu made it a point to remain accessible. Indeed, he never disappointed. Whenever I called him, as he answered every call and took time to listen to whatever I had to say. He took keen interest in what was happening in my life and in my law practice. He gave counsel with warmth and humour. Remarkably, this openness did not change even when he became President of the Republic. He continued to consult widely, listening to technocrats and experts from various government and quasi-government institutions. It was like he was oblivious to the authority and power reposed in the office he held—choosing instead to lead with humility and wisdom, ensuring that every decision was well-informed and people-focused.

When he appointed me Attorney General at the age of 37—possibly the youngest AG in our history—I was overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility. But President Lungu reassured me: “Do your best. I know you’ll make it.” Those simple words steadied me through my tenure as AG. Though I am constrained by my oath under the Official Oaths Act and cannot share many details, I can confidently say that I enjoyed an excellent working relationship with him—marked by mutual respect, trust, and integrity.

Among President Lungu’s many accomplishments, the 2016 Constitutional Amendments stand out prominently. Up until 2016, Zambians had long aspired for key constitutional reforms – among them;

i. 50% + 1 threshold for election of Republican President;
ii. Presidential Running Mate;
iii. Constitutional Court, and;
iv. An enhanced and modernised Bill of Rights.

These aspirations were well-documented in the Constitutional Review Commission Reports and other Technical Committee reports, but somehow the successive governments always came up with a different ‘colored’ paper and would not implement them. President Lungu stood tall and broke that cycle. He listened to the people’s voice and led the process that saw these long-awaited amendments relating to the 50% + 1 threshold for election of the Republican President, Presidential Running Mate and also the establishment of the Constitutional Court.

Constitutional law experts all agree that these were no ordinary accomplishments.

In a bold move, he also championed the 2016 referendum to amend the archaic Bill of Rights. His goal was clear, to enhance human rights protection for all Zambians and also, to expand this protection by expressly entrenching human rights protection for persons with disabilities and other marginalized people in our society. However, politics chipped in and, while others questioned the holding of the referendum at the same time as the 2016 general elections, President Lungu remained focused and had his sight on the overall objective of improving the human rights landscape in Zambia. Unfortunately, and sadly so, the referendum failed to meet the Article 79 threshold and President Lungu’s dream of enhancing and improving the human rights landscape in Zambia, did not materialise. His effort however, marked a profound moment in Zambia’s human rights journey. Many human rights defenders view that missed opportunity as a national loss—but never for want of resolve on the part of President Lungu.

A lot of Zambians will remember President Lungu as the President who tried his best. 

Zambians will remember President Lungu as a leader who gave his all. His tenure witnessed remarkable infrastructure development across the country and steadfast leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic—a time that tested governments worldwide. Amid severe disruptions, a battered economy, and one of the worst droughts in our history which resulted in near crop failure, President Lungu made tough decisions with grace. Zambia emerged with fewer losses than many countries, a testament to his calm and courageous leadership.

Despite these and numerous other achievements, it is possible that some among us, may not appreciate the enormity of President Lungu’s leadership and accomplishments. On his part, President Lungu was undeterred by the apparent lack of appreciation from some quarters. On 22nd April 2018, in his celebrated and elegant handwriting, he penned these profound words:

“When you work for God, don’t worry whether your work is being seen or heard, as long as the Lord Himself sees. Some people are blind, others are deaf. But the Lord in his own time makes the ‘blind’ see your work, the ‘deaf’ hear of your works!’

He wrote these words while he was still President but it’s like he wrote them for us today, and for the future. They are a call to reflection—a reminder to see, to hear, and to honour the legacy of a man who served with humility, dignity, and unwavering dedication to the people of Zambia. I pray that God opens our eyes to see President Lungu’s works.

MAY THE SOUL OF HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU REST IN ETERNAL PEACE