GOVERNMENT must clearly state its position over the
status of former President Edgar Lungu in relation to his
movements.
Is he a free citizen who could move freely within and
outside the country or are his movements controlled by
a branch of the government?
Zambians are baffled over the recent happenings to
the former president and the more reason that Government must state its position or risk being accused
of having a sinister agenda based on vindictiveness
against the former President.
Confusion has ensued over why the former President
was ejected from a plane and blocked from travelling to
South Korea to attend a World Peace Conference.
State House said they were not aware of the development, while the Ministry of Information and Media says
he was stopped because he did not get clearance from
Cabinet.
It is in the public domain that Mr Lungu was recently
not allowed to travel to South Africa for a scheduled
medical review on account that Cabinet was not informed.
Then at the weekend, Mr Lungu was not allowed to fly
to South Korea for an international engagement as he
did not obtain clearance from Cabinet.
It was however the crude and undiplomatic manner in
which he was treated that has raised eyebrows.
Mr Lungu, who was accompanied by his wife Esther,
among others, was ejected from the plane long after he
had been cleared through the airport formalities.
Of concern is the confusion emanating from the government over the cancelled South Korean engagement.
Minister of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda in
an attempt to explain said: “The office of the Sixth Republican President is recognised under the Act of Parliament and is a very important office. It is mandatory
for his office to inform Cabinet of his plans to travel, but
in this case, he did not receive clearance. This is procedure due to security and other protocol reasons.”
But State House said it was not aware of the cancellation of Mr. Lungu’s trip.
State House Communication Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said the State House team had just arrived
from China and was not aware about Mr. Lungu being
stopped.
PF national chairperson for Information and Publicity
Emmanuel Mwamba said “They were cleared properly,
and bags were checked in. Boarding passes were issued, but afterwards there was an uncomfortable delay.
Shortly, a protocol officer approached President Lungu and told him the trip had been cancelled. Now, how
do you cancel a trip that is not yours, which you have
not sponsored? How do you cancel a trip sponsored by
other people, paid for by other people,” wondered Mr.
Mwamba.
Just how State House could claim ignorance over
such a major development begs for an answer unless
the government operating system is dysfunctional.
But as Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba has noted,
the continued harassment of Mr Lungu by the UPND
administration has brought shame and embarrassment
upon the country that has been known as a bastion of
peace and the rule of law.
Mr Kalaba, has appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to heal and reconcile with his emotions that are
allegedly driving him to continue persecuting his successor.
“Once again, we have seen the highest level of abuse
of power by the Executive and in typical style the President (Hichilema) will feign ignorance on what happened
to President Lungu at the Kenneth Kaunda International
Airport who was ejected from a plane.
Mr Kalaba is right, for how could the country ever heal
when there appears to be a spirit of vindictiveness all
over amidst assurances of promoting the rule of law?
