By Daily Revelation Correspondent
President Edgar Lungu has asked civil servants in Central Province to support and campaign for the ruling Patriotic Front ahead of the August 12 general election.
And President Lungu has urged the clergy to interrogate Presidential aspiring candidates over their stance on Christian values and principles.
Speaking when he addressed PF officials aspiring candidates, district commissioners from across Central Province, teachers and heads of government in Kapiri Mposhi at Kapiri Day Secondary School, President Lungu said that civil servants have pledged to work with the government of the day; hence they should support and campaign for the Patriotic Front in the run-up to next month’s polls.
He told district commissioners to help the PF win the forthcoming general election, stating that if he [President Lungu] loses the Presidential election, most civil servants might lose their jobs as well.
President Lungu said that “for once, you should become party cadres and help us win the general election.”
“If I lose the Presidential election and there’s change of government, naimwe bene ninkupilwa kumo. Most of you civil servants are most likely to lose jobs. So I implore you that for once, you should become party cadres and help us win the general election. Between now and poll day, you have to be our party cadres. Elyo uukalandako akamona,” President Lungu said.
He further urged PF officials and aspiring candidates to intensify their door to door campaigns, stating that on his part he will support the political party activities financially and materially.
“Just go flat out and intensify your door-to-door campaigns. Don’t worry about money because monies for campaigns are readily available…money will come,” said President Lungu.
The Head of State also counseled PF aspiring candidates not to perceive independent parliamentary candidates that had applied to contest on the PF ticket; but not adopted as enemies.
President Lungu stated that he was aware that independent parliamentary candidates have been campaigning for him at presidential level; hence the need not to discard them.
And speaking at the same event, Patriotic Front national chairman Samuel Mukupa prodded the PF aspiring candidates not to “grow big headed” once elected into office after the August 12 general election.
Mukupa pointed out that there is a tendency by aspiring candidates to always look humble when soliciting for votes from party members; but once they are elected into office they become big headed and abandon the party structures that supported them.
He advised those that will be elected into various elective positions to work closely with all party members even after the August 12 polls.
Mukupa warned that the Patriotic Front leadership will not hesitate to part company with aspiring candidates that will not work with party members at all structures of the party.
And President Lungu has urged the clergy to interrogate Presidential aspiring candidates their stance on Christian values and principles.
“The Church should stand for the righteous because when the righteous take charge, the nation prospers. In 1991 Dr [Frederick Chiluba] declared Zambia as a Christian nation. And when I declared a National Day of Prayer, I was just building on the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation. It’s not about Edgar, but about the nation. And I want to state here that Zambia shall remain a Christian nation forever,” President Lungu declared. “So I challenge you my brothers and sisters as leaders of the Church to interrogate these political leaders that to govern you to explain to you what their stance is on Christian values and principles. Others are advocating for legalization of homosexuality. Is that not against Christian values? Some of these political leaders do not subscribe to Christianity.”
Meanwhile, President Lungu further stressed that he is not running for a third Presidential term.
“Some are saying that I have already served two terms and I am now running for a third term. This is the second time I am coming…I have not served two Presidential terms,” he stressed.
The Head of State implored the clergy and Zambians, at large, to denounce and reject politicians advocating for electoral violence.
“Our founding father of the nation Dr Kenneth Kaunda stood for two Biblical commandments: Love God with all your heart and soul and then love your neighbour as you love yourself. And indeed, we need to love each other…we don’t have to fight each other just because of politics…just because of political power. Political differences should be resolved amicably without resorting to violence, not with machetes, not with catapults and other offensive weapons. And as members of the clergy, I urge you to denounce and reject political leaders that are encouraging their members to engage in political violence,” said President Lungu. “I personally don’t support political violence. And as Zambians, you should denounce political violence. Zambia is known to be a beacon of peace. So, we should remain peaceful.”
