Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi has urged Edgar Lungu not to step down as president following his ill health.
President Lungu who is undergoing treatment in South Africa has said if he will feel that his condition unables him to perform his duties as Head of State, he will step down.
But Chipenzi has told Hot FM Radio in Lusaka that Lungu should not step down because the exercise to hold another Presidential election will be costly for the country.
Chipenzi has however advised President Lungu to cut down on his workload to enable him complete his term of office, which ends in September 20, 2016. He also wondered why Lungu accepted to run for the presidency when he knew his health condition saying he was now putting the country in an alkward situation.
President Lungu collapsed last Sunday while gracing a Women’s Day celebration in Lusaka and it was later discovered that his Achalasia condition that happened 30 years ago had recurred. This is a condition which causes the narrowing of food pipes.
Zambian ailing presidents are the most ignorant for they cling to power til the last nail on to their coffines
when the lone kidney parks up the national funneral comes in and thats more money be 4 most money for an other ailing president though i also have lung problem as a result of smoking,i might die first.
You know some of these thing its we the pipo who vote blindly who will be suffering every time becoz its very expensive to mantain a sick president Kwacha is falling becoz of the sick president and he,s spending huge sums of money for medication,if he had follwed TB Joshua’s prohency all these shdn’t hv been there so lets him continue until 2016 becoz there’s no money in the country and the government is yet to pay the expatiate coaches they.ve been enganging.
When the children of Israel cried for a king like surrounding nations, He gave them soul, and had more problems than before. God respects people’s choice BUT CANNOT be blamed for misfortunes
Let me also participate to the debate of President Lungu proposing to step down if his health fails him. I would like to say he is a very sincere person and he is not selfish. None of us who are debating this subject has ever been presidents of a country. Do you know the benefits that goes with being a President of a country? I will give him distinction for being sincere. However Mr President, you should know that God the almighty is the one who has the final say whether you will manage through or not. So don’t doubt your ability and your health, just trust God because he is aware of what is going on. Wishing you a quick recovery Mr President
If HE’s health does not allow him to continue, why then shouild he not step down or is it that we want him to die fast in the office? It would be good to step down and dissolve Parliament for General Election instead of 2016
Ifintu ni Lungu, Ifintu ni wasting time, ifintu ni by election, ifintu poor governance, ifintu ni violence, ifintu ni hihg cost of living, ifintu ni lack of fuel, ifintu ni paya farmer, ifintu ni chifulunganya every day. Zambians please wake up and do right things right beyond your political, tribe, religion where you belong and let us put men and women with a planned way to reduce poverty in our country. Crying like babies over Edgar Lungu won’t assist us. Edgar Lungu should dissolve parliament and hold early general elections probably this August when it will be easier for most people to participate since there will be no rains. If he fears to loose elections to HH and UPND then let him hold on to power and soon we will escort his remains at emmbassy park. Bwana President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, note that medical doctors have their own interests they may not tell you the trueth, Iwe ndiwe uvera kubaba, make your decisions right. Step down and call for general elections.
Zambians you don’t listen, Silvia Masebo told you everything in the run up to the 20th January 2015 elections…..now you ignored her message and you said IFINTU NI LUNGU. Masebo warned you to put HH and UPND into Government but you ignored her, so you are in another rude shock for another one and half years. NO economic growth, no fuel, high exchange rate (of course goes with no employment) and high standard of living as Kapenta, Beans, Sugar, Saladi, Mealie meal will remain high or increase their prices.
I suggest all the next Presidential candidates to declare their health status also to the Chief Justice alone. so that if during his/her tenure of office, it is then discovered that there was a health history, then no benefits to be paid to the stepping down President. The country should only nurse new health history that will be occurring during that tenure of office.
Lungu has been seen to be not serious with anything he did including his life/ life styles. If he continues in State house there will be a huge drain to the country’s resources i.e. financial,time, management,etc. There will be in fighting within PF again as during the time of the late president Sata’s time of illness. The country again will miss good governance, resulting in more wounds on tribal bases again. Remember the aspiring Presidential candidates for Pf are still the same and are present. Now they are waiting for their chance. some of them now are numb. they plan silently.
If the constitution could allow for early elections, that could be the best after his resignation. If not then we are in for it as a country being run by unfaithful cadres. AS long as our current politicians remain the present crop, zambia has no life.
So 2016 it’s either HH or Mama Inonge Wina republican president. At least Tongas will be regarded as Zambians also whichever way it goes.
If Edgar were to step down, the best would be to dissolve parliament and hold early general elections. We cannot continue holding silly and needless bye elections over and over again. It is a drain on national coffers. Otherwise I agree entirely with Chipenzi, let Lungu finish his term of office. If he dies in state house, well, that is what he deserves having lied about his health just to have a taste of the presidency. National interest must at all times override personal interest and greed.
Mr President,this is no time to step down.You knew very well your health status before you ascended to that position.Please,if you love Zambia and PF,the best to do is to begin to identify a health and capable leader within PF and immediately appoint him to the position of Vice President then step aside when your term of office comes to an end.
Please,those aspiring for Presidency,be sincere enough and if not in good health,leave it to those with good health.
Wish you quick recovery Mr President
This thing, PF is just a time waster: it wasted Zmbia’s time Sata, now, its Lungu… they even went, ‘Ifintu ni Lungu’! Ifintu ni wasting time!!!
Chipenzi, you re the same individuals who did not want Edga to go through medical check ups. Let him step down and we will bring next year’s elections forward. Edga is being punished for having stolen the votes,
Lets face and accept reality friends, Edgar is the choice and will of God for us for now. No devil or demons or person can frustrate the plans and will of God
He is the choice of PF and PF sympathizers. I do not believe that all leadership comes from God. How come we hard Hitler, Idi Amin, Bokassa,Mussolin. How come we have leaders under talaban, Boko Haram, ISISI etc.? Is Yaya Jamein also from God? You asked for a born and God gave it to you. Do not accuse him of having chosen for you. Zambia has what it wanted and what it deserves. Gullible people deserve gullibility. Zambians are annoyingly gullible and we deserve this kind of leadership. This is pathetic. PF is a bore and agonizingly irresponsible.
God would have frustrated the election of Lungu if He wanted . He is Almighty! you know. Boko Haram , Yaya Jamien and ISISI are agents of satan. Thank God we have so far been spared of such leaders since independence . Something to thank God for my brother.