ECL’S POSSIBLE COMEBACK NOT A THREAT- MWEETWA

By Lumbiwe Mwanza 

A POSSIBLE political comeback of former president Edgar Lungu is not a threat to the ruling UPND as the party defeated him while he was in power, UPND national spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has said.

Addressing the media this morning, Mr. Mweetwa said repeated questions from some sections of society to the UPND whether the party is intimidated by a possible political comeback of the former Head of State should be rested as he is not a threat.

He said that movements being made by the former Head of State assumed to be of a political gimmick should be considered as freedoms of speech and movement being exercised and not something strange.  “As the ruling party, we are not concerned about the movements of the former Head of State but we are concerned with the movement of prices of mealie meal. Movements seen by the former Head of State are an enjoyment of his constitutional rights. Any citizen should enjoy the rights in the constitution.  

“We are being asked, are you afraid of his comeback? We are not afraid of Lungu’s possible comeback. We have an upper hand over him as we defeated him while he was in power. What more in opposition? So how would we be scared of such?” Mr. Mweetwa asked.

“The Government will continue to recognize, respect, protect, and defend any citizen’s right to speech and movements as by law requires. There is nothing strange about him moving or attending the church…nothing strange. It is a living testament that HH has upheld human rights for all citizens,” He added.

He said that when Mr Lungu moves around the country, it should not be seen as strange based on recent political history but rather thank him for exemplifying the freedoms that are in the Constitution that the New Dawn Government continues to promote.

He however warned that legal actions will apply should he decide to get back into active politics where he will end up losing his benefits as required by the law.

Mr. Mweetwa further pointed out that escalating prices of Mealie meal are of concern to the Government as it is causing anxiety among citizens but added that modalities of reducing the prices of mealie meal in the long term will be put in place but that citizens should not expect a sharp decrease in the prices.