By Agness Changala
State House Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka says State House is not threatened by former president Edgar Lungu’s comeback to active politics
And Citizens First (CF) president Harry Kalaba says all those who seem to be threatened by Lungu’s announcement, should set aside their disquiet, level the playing field and let the people of Zambia remain the final judges over who
they select to lead them.
On Saturday during the memorial commemorations of predecessor Micheal Chilufya Sata, Lungu said he has come back to active politics as PF president.
Lungu says as he returns to active politics, he will need to work with everyone and has extended an invitation to opposition parties to join forces with the PF.
Asked by Daily Revelation on Lungu’s move to return to active politics, Hamasaka responded in the negative.
“Ahh….you if you were in my shoes, can you be threatened? No not at all,” he said.
Hamasaka said President Lungu has never retired from active politics and added that he was welcome to continue doing what he has been doing politically.
“Well we welcome…he is welcome to continue what he had been doing politically. But in the first place, I don’t really think he had quit politics. He didn’t quit politics at all. So it is just a continuation of what he had been doing.
And in a statement, Kalaba stated that in 1991, Zambians resolved irrevocably to give unto themselves a plural, free and democratic system of governance where all citizens can freely participate.
He stated that there is need for more players that will help push back the looming hand of a one party system that is threatening to obliterate the country’s democratic credentials.
He added that Lungu like any other citizen has a free and democratic right to seek public office as and when he so pleases.
“It is against this background that as the CF, we welcome president Lungu’s return to active politics without any prejudice whatsoever. It is our hope that under the present dispensation, we will need to have more players that will help push back the looming hand of a one party system that is threatening to obliterate our democratic credentials,” stated Kalaba. “In that context, we in the Citizens First will always unequivocally defend Zambia’s democratic ideals and that includes giving every citizen (president Lungu included) their opportunity to participate in all aspects of life as Zambians citizens.”
Kalaba has called upon all citizens at home and in the diaspora to stand guard and unite in defending the country’s democracy with passion and zest as “we only have one Zambia.”
