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His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu,
President of the Republic of Zambia, has thanked voters in Malambo, Petauke and Mulobezi constituencies for honouring the Patriotic Front (PF) with resounding victories in yesterday’s parliamentary by-elections.
“The victory is neither mine nor the PFs alone. It is victory of the people of Zambia that have continued to show us immense support as the ruling party. I congratulate all PF members for the job well done. To the opposition, let me say thank you for putting up a good run but better luck next time.”
The President is confident that the support the people have shown him will be sustained until the 2016 Presidential election, which he is eagerly looking forward to.
“Speaking for my party, the PF, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to state that we do not take this honour for granted. It is a demonstration of the faith and confidence
Zambians have in us,” President Lungu said.
“With these three parliamentary by-elections behind us, I urge all our supporters to be magnanimous in victory and to those who lost, to be gracious in defeat. This is the reality of democracy. There is always the next time.”
The President said Zambians will always choose their leaders in a free and fair atmosphere, a situation that characterized the campaigns save for a few incidents, which he said police must ensure, do not recur.
“I am also mindful that the opposition UPND won a ward seat in Mulobezi and I therefore congratulate them. While these elections have been free and fair and while Malambo and Petauke remained incident-free, there were those of our brothers and sisters in Mulobezi who attempted to stand in the way of democracy by exhibiting intolerance. They must accept that the people have spoken and vox populi, vox dei
“the voice of the people, is the voice of God.”
There are many lessons to be drawn from the just-ended Parliamentary by-elections, one of which is that Zambians have rejected regionalism and tribal politics because they believe in the “One Zambia, One Nation” motto.
With this conviction on the part of Zambians, they remain ready to dismantle any regionally-based political strongholds, because that kind of politics negates the gains of our democracy, freedom and unity as a country.
“As President, I will continue to champion national unity across tribe, political, religious and all other affiliations because this is why you elected me. There is no North-westerner, Southerner, Westerner, Northerner or Easterner, there is only One Zambia, One Nation, we are all Zambians…that is our tribe!”
The President will continue to perform his duties by bringing together the cream of the nation from different political and professional backgrounds because everyone is called to do their best in serving mother Zambia. “We must always remember that we all have a particular duty to perform in society. That is what gives practical expression to the very idea of the concept of citizenship.”
To those who seek to sow seeds of discord by spreading falsehoods and hate speech, the outcome of the three by-elections is yet another reminder that to them the goodwill of the people will always triumph over the merchants of ill-will and senseless malice against others.
“We have won seats in two important regions that some narrow-minded individuals would want to consider as opposition strongholds. Zambians will not fall for
falsehoods because this country has cherished unity for the past 50 years and will continue to do so,” the President said.
“There is nothing of incremental value to the nation about sheer malice, hatred and petty jealousies. The PF administration shall continue to soldier on with developing our country and creating better lives for all our citizens, convinced that even when we experience temporal setbacks, no challenge will be insurmountable, because as a united people, we shall overcome!”
The PF has recorded six straight wins at parliamentary levels and more than 20 local government seats in the last four months.
Issued by:
Amos Chanda
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
(PRESS &PUBLIC RELATIONS)
