By Merlyn Mwanza
President Edgar Lungu says he would refuse to accept the election results because things don’t show that “we are losing.”
And Dr Canicius Banda has urged President Lungu to do whatever he can in the remaining hours to retain the presidency.
President Lungu also said that the country’s peace is threatened because of opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, but has assured that peace will reign in Zambia.
During the final virtual PF rally, President said he believed he would defeat Hichilema with 500,000 plus, saying that was the more reason why he was questioning people who were going to him and asking him if he would concede if he lost the election, saying there was no basis for such.
“Na loss ilamoneka ekoifuma,” President Lungu said, adding that that question would be more appropriate to those who were used to losing, and wondering why such questions should be posed to him. “I can refuse because things don’t show that we are losing.”
He said he had never lost the election, saying to some it was like Rupiah Banda, Michael Sata and Edgar Lungu stole from them since they had lost against all these people, in apparent reference to Hichilema.
He said he defeated Hichilema with only 21 days of campaigning in 2015, and increased the vote margin to over 100,000 in 2016.
President Lungu said Hichilema was asking for ulubuli (fight), by asking people to vote and remain at the polling stations.
“We have the presence of security to make sure they qual any lawlessness,” he said.
President Lungu said the PF under Michael Sata lost several times but they accepted results, reorganised until they won the elections in 2011, saying the ruling party did not go to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), calling the commission party cadres.
“Peace is threatened in Zambia because of one person and we have to name and shame him, and not beating about the bush,” President Lungu said, warning that he will still be President even during the election, until he hands over to himself.
President Lungu said there should be no vengeance to those who will win and no enchantment to those who will lose, saying he is more popularly known during the 2021 elections.
“So how can I lose now because PF elo ilowele?” asked President Lungu.
And Dr Banda said President Lungu will lose councilors and members of parliament but if the one position he can’t afford to lose was the presidency.
“You have to do everything you can within these remaining hours to retain the presidency,” said Dr Mbewe.
