Don’t undermine me – Lungu

By SYLVESTER MWALE –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has warned that those that have refused to acknowledge that he is the Republican President are committing a crime and police will arrest them.
Mr Lungu said Zambia was governed by laws which stated that failing to acknowledge the presidency was an offence and those who commited it would be dealt with accordingly.
Mr Lungu also reiterated that he would “crash” party members who would undermine his presidency. He was speaking at at a thanks giving rally at Chawama grounds yesterday.
The President said while it was common knowledge that the ruling party was rocked with internal wrangles prior to the presidential election, time had come for everyone to support him because he was now the President.

Mr Lungu said he was the President for everyone, including those that did not vote for him in last month’s presidential election.
“This country has got laws and those who do not agree that I am the President will be breaking the law and the law will take care of you because the police will arrest you,” he said.
Mr Lungu, however, assured that he would not abuse the police by unleashing them on individuals or prevent the law-enforcement agency from arresting the law breakers.
In reference to the incident at Soweto Market where a woman and her children were beaten by suspected cadres, Mr Lungu said he had been assured by the police that the assailants would be brought to book.

He said he had showed that the PF was not a tribal party by appointing credible people from different parts of the country to his Cabinet.
President Lungu thanked the people of Chawama Constituency for their support and assured that he would continue to uphold the legacy of late President Michael Sata in fighting poverty among the people.
Mr Lungu also hailed former president Rupiah Banda and MMD leader Nevers Mumba for supporting him in the January polls.
“I, therefore, have a duty to recognise my friends who supported me, and I have two ministerial positions. We promised our friends that if you help us, we will help you,” he said.
Mr Lungu said he was one of the politicians with integrity who always wanted to keep his word, hence the decision to appoint Chipangali Member of Parliament Vincent Mwale and his Mwandi counterpart Michael Kaingu as ministers.

Mr Lungu urged the people of Chawama to give the PF a humble candidate in the forthcoming parliamentary by-elections so that he could serve like him.
The President said he would like to see his successor in the constituency to be a humble person who would respect and represent the poor women in the markets.
Earlier, PF secretary general Davis Chama said the PF would rule for not less than 50 years and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema should forget about becoming president.
Earlier, Mr Lungu commissioned Misisi and John Haword police posts that would be built using the Constituency Development Funds.
Mr Lungu has also directed Inspector General of police Stella Libongani to start the police reserve to boost the numbers in the service.