Concerned Clergymen Urge Former President Edgar Lungu to Retire from Politics

*Concerned Clergymen Urge Former President Edgar Lungu to Retire from Politics*

…As the former president tells the Oasis Forum he is ready to meet President Hichilema for Dialogue BUT..

By Martha Mpindu

Former president Edgar Lungu has told the Oasis Forum that he is ready to meet with President Hakainde Hichilema for dialogue.

And a group of concerned clergymen has joined the Oasis Forum to ask President Hichilema and his predecessor to dialogue.

The group of clergymen recently met with former President Edgar Lungu, advising him to step back from active politics and assume the role of a senior statesman. Their recommendation follows several public incidents, including Lungu’s confrontation with police officers and his call for PF members to engage in physical altercations with the ruling party.

In a letter seen by this author written by the former President to the Oasis forum dated 20th September, Mr. Lungu said he was ready to dialogue on condition that the government stops interfering in the issues of the Patriotic Front.
“I am willing to take part in the proposed dialogue between President Hakainde Hichilema and myself, subject to my successor meeting two conditions,” reads the letter in part.

Meanwhile a group of clergy are concerned with president Lungu’s return to active politics.
A video surfaced recently showing the former President using demeaning and disrespectful nicknames for his predecessor, further tarnishing his image.

The clergymen voiced concerns that Lungu’s actions are damaging his standing in society. As the only surviving former President, they urged him to avoid further public embarrassment. They believe a small group of advisors is misleading him for personal financial gain, noting similarities to the downfall of former President Frederick Chiluba, who suffered from similarly ill-advised counsel.

Former Vice President Nevers Mumba, who is also a Pastor, echoed these concerns, urging Lungu’s family to intervene, suggesting that he is being used by his advisors for selfish purposes. The clergymen called on Lungu to restore his dignity as a respected former President, cautioning that challenging the current administration could have negative consequences, as seen with other former leaders.

Lungu remains under scrutiny, with reports of police preventing him from leaving court premises and prohibiting him from running in public, acts that authorities describe as “political activism.” He also faces ongoing investigations into allegations of corruption and authoritarianism during his presidency. Additionally, his significant weight loss has sparked concerns about his physical and mental well-being.

It is yet to be seen how Lungu will respond to the clergymen’s advice. Other figures, such as Bishop Ellison Bwalya and a UNZA academic, have similarly advised him to retire from active politics.