By Chinoyi Chipulu
UPND Copperbelt provincial secretary Mellbin Simangolwa says former President Edgar Lungu is disrespecting the law by disregarding the Constitutional Court judgment that renders him ineligible to stand for a third term.
And Simangolwa stated that the opposition parties were failing to accept democratic tenets.
In December last year, the Constitutional Court declared Lungu ineligible to contest any future elections.
But Lungu has insisted that he will be on ballot in 2026 and his supporters have endorsed his candidature to stand.
In a statement, Simangolwa stated that those planning to take over power illegally would be bruised.
He stated that President Hakainde Hichilema was overwhelmingly voted into office by Zambians and that as opposition leader, he commanded large support but resisted using it to unseat the ruling government through anarchy or violence.
Simangolwa stated that even when his election petition was dismissed, President Hichilema refrained from unleashing his supporters on the streets for a peaceful demonstration.
He stated that on the contrary, those who were in the previous government were failing to accept democratic tenets.
“Former President Edgar Lungu allegedly disrespects the constitution, refusing to hand over power to the Speaker when required and disregarding constitutional provisions that render him ineligible for a third term,” he stated.
He stated that Lungu had been inciting his supporters to defy the constitution, planning anarchy and civil unrest.
“This will not be tolerated. The PF faction, led by Lungu, feels entitled to power, disregarding the constitution,” he stated.
Simangolwa stated that Lungu’s appetite for power was dangerous.
He stated that Zambians were peaceful and would not allow one power-hungry individual to undermine what the country had built.
“We’re ready to defend our peace and constitution. We know they planned to harm citizens to accuse Hichilema and bar him from standing, but people defended him. They planned terror against citizens to remain in power, even abducting innocent families like the Hatembos to frame HH. However, God fought for HH,” stated Simangolwa. “Those planning to participate in Lungu’s illegalities are on their own.”
