Defence Minister Edgar Lungu says he gave up the instruments of power entrusted to him by late President Michael Sata for the sake of preserving Zambia’s peace and order.
Mr. Lungu, who had been acting Republican President before Vice President Guy Scott assumed the role following the death of President Sata, says he cherishes the people of Zambia so much that he could not risk a possible bloodshed that would have happened had he held on to the instruments of power and remained acting President.
He says this is because after President Sata died, two power bases emerged with one centred around Article 38(2) of the constitution upon which Dr. Scott is now acting President and Article 39 (1) under which he was appointed acting President by President Sata before he died.
Speaking to Qfm News in an interview shortly after he attended the laying of wreaths ceremony for the funeral of the late republican President in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Lungu, who is also Justice Minister and the ruling Patriotic Front’s Secretary General, has wondered what would have happened had he held on to power on the basis of Article 39 of the constitution.
Mr. Lungu states that the current situation the country finds itself in is an example of the story in the bible in the book of 1 Kings Chapter 3 verses 16-28 where the real mother of the child which was about to be cut into two asked King Solomon to preserve the life of the child by giving it to the other woman who claimed the child was hers when in fact not.
He has charged that if therefore power is in the wrong hands, it should be so for now as the country is still mourning the late republican President.
Mr. Lungu says this is especially that only three months remain before the Presidential by-election for the country to elect a new President.
And Mr. Lungu has maintained he is equal to the task of being Zambia’s republican President depending on the support and trust that is bestowed on him.
He however, notes that he does not think this is the time to talk about power or transition, but is time to mourn, respect the late President as well as reflect on what he stood for.
Mr Lungu says there is need to put President Sata to rest with dignity before talking about the succession in the ruling party.
He adds that he is personally not worried about who succeeds President Sata as his interest is the late President’s vision and who in particular will carry it as Mr. Sata himself intended it to be.
Mr Lungu says being one of the people that bought into President Sata’s vision, he is of the view that this means that the ruling Patriotic Front will have to choose the best in order to ensure that the late President’s vision is seen through.
QFM NEWS
That’s wisdom Hon Lungu.Courage to do the right thing.
Imagine, if wynter was the acting president and the demise happened! We could have heard a lot of words justifying why he should have remained acting president! Edgar is a wise Man and Zambia Needs such wise people to avoid conflicts!
I see what Defense Minister Lungu did as a sign to the world that Zambia is a peaceful and nonracial nation, a nation where one can safely invest capital without fear of losing it. Zambians are looking for capital to create their own development. The turning over to Scott, however condescending it was, will have far reaching effects, none of which are the re-implementation of capitalism!
Sorry, I meant to say colonialism!
u ve jst reminded me of Madiba!! thanx brother lungu 4 da wisdom!!!!!!!!!
protect zambia against any blood shed!!
Since the cartel is known, why dont we pray for their deliverence? There is nothing impossible with God. These guys are so thirsty for power.
Am not seeing any preserved power but all i see is that you pipo have taken us back to the year 1964 when this nation was ruled by whites,if we are not careful that altar pastor sinyangwe distroyed in chirundu some months ago will come to pass.Mulefimwena muli 90days kanshi this is the beginning of 1964.Pray mother zambia,pray.
Thats wat a politically matured person should hve done like u did it Hon. Lungu
Which power ba Lungu naimwe,just relax mwileka tumisule kabili
We need a better Zambia,Lungu for Zambia
I Like your spirit mr Lungu may God bless u for wat u did.If God says yes no man can say yes,
U have our support,let us just mourn our foundation in peace and respect the fact that he is a great father of this our nation.
Honourables, Edgar Lungu,Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba(GBM)Given Lubinda,Christopher Yaluma,ALfredah Kansembe,Mulenga Sata,KAMBWILI,bwalya chibwe of lupososhi and others guys we need u we PF youths
The rise and fall
Mutasha dnt say evil against pipo who are humble and cn let go off,power like that.some pipo wud hav refused nt jst constitution.
It was not yours to give away.
thats wisdom mr lungu.if its your seat,it wil cum bak to u in its own light.
Mr Lungu only followed the constitution. He had no other choice. For him to proclaim that he gave power away to preserve peace in Zambia is misleading and arrogant.
artical 39 of the constitution allows him to give the power to the president only n since the president is not alive he would have kept the power until the by elelctions! so he didn’t that for the love of peace
Lungu
He jst followed the constitution
Lungu, if u want pf to contain in power follew what people of zambia want.We need u ti success the late president (H.E MICHEL S.SATA.)let them talk bad thing about u what we want u.I am ask God to be with all the tym.
I salute for you Hor Lungu
Thats why he is the right man for the top job
Diplomacy is what you utilized,anyway it was fair enough.