LUNGU MUST CHOOSE – MWANZA

By Lumbiwe Mwanza

THE recent statements from the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership revealing that former President Edgar Lungu remains the president of the party, albeit in an inactive capacity, effectively means that the former Head of State is still considered in active politics, Governance Activist Isaac Mwanza has charged. 

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Mwanza, who, is also Executive Director of the Zambian Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU), said that it was high time that the former Head of State made a decision that clearly placed his position on politics.

He said clarifying his position would help in instilling confidence in stakeholders.

“Consequently, President Lungu must choose between retaining his position as the president of the Patriotic Front or accessing his retirement benefits. The former president cannot eat the cake and then have it too. It’s worth noting that if President Lungu decides to continue as the head of the former ruling party, it is well within his constitutional rights to do so after all he was elected to lead the party until April 2026, and no one can obstruct his right to lead it if he decides to do so.

“However, Mr. Lungu, being a distinguished lawyer, understands the legal implications of remaining actively involved in politics. One of these implications is that if he holds an elective political position, the provision of retirement benefits from the State would be suspended until he steps down from that position,” Mr. Mwanza said.

He said that regardless of the former president’s current status as an active political figure, the State had a fundamental obligation to uphold all of his constitutional liberties and rights, including freedom of expression, movement, assembly, and privacy.

He said that these rights were integral to a well-functioning democracy and were a test on how President Hakainde Hichilema would fare in promoting democracy and constitutionalism.

He explained that in this context, it was concerning to observe recent statements from the Zambia Police Command that appear to restrict the rights that their former Commander-in-Chief should enjoy.

He said that such actions were detrimental to the image of the New Dawn Government under President Hichilema and must worry President Hichilema.

He said that President Hichilema should also be mindful of the fact that the same individuals who were currently limiting the former President’s liberties may do the same when he eventually leaves office and no longer holds State power.

He further urged President Hichilema to demand unequivocal protection and respect for the former President’s liberties and rights, even in the presence of any differences between them.