The opposition UPND says people condemning its leader Hakainde Hichilema for failing to shake hands with President Edgar Lungu at the SDA function at Heroes stadium last Saturday are being unfair.
Party Deputy Spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo said in a statement that those condemning Mr. Hichilema should realize that greeting the Head of State is not constitutional and mandatory.
Mr. Lifwekelo said both President Lungu and Mr. Hichilema’s protocol officers failed them as they did not advise them correctly.
‘When President Lungu kneels before in front of traditional chiefs, it is not a sign of weakness and it does not make him less important. It’s just a sign of respect, however at Heroes Stadium, President Lungu’s protocol offices failed him because they were supposed to lead him to greet the invited guests although he was also invited,’ Mr Lifwekelo said.
He said FDD leader President Nawakwi and former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa including many others just used their initiatives to greet the Head of State at the function which should not be the case.
‘Late President Sata used his initiate to greet opposition leaders especially at funeral church gatherings and there was nothing wrong with that. What is disheartening is that President Lungu never even recognized the presence of opposition leaders in his speech compounding the situation and I blame the advisers,’ Mr Lifwekelo said.
He added, ‘President Lungu missed an opportunity to heal and reconcile the nation as Head of State especially that not long ago the PF leadership at the same stadium in full view of President Lungu and his counterpart Robert Mugabe demonized UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema by dressing a dog in a UNPD attire and to date the PF leadership has never tendered an apology, not even the Church stood up to condemn the act.’
Mr Lifwekelo said the PF and the Head of State must first recognize that the opposition leaders have a role to play in the governance of the country’s affairs and in return opposition leaders will give the Head of State space to govern.
‘Even a dog when it realizes the owner does not like it, it will always run and hide until the owner gives it respect, sometimes it even bites the owner.’
L E. It was wise keeping quiet. that silence UPND initiated was the best answer that PF understands.
I dont often shake Zambians, unlike whites you know they use folks- In zambia people use hands to eat…eeewww
I wouldn’t shake those hand and I am told most don’t even use any paper to clean the bottom bit, So HH was right not to shake anyone’s hand.
I have seen people bewitched because of Handshakes
Any Africans that use their hands to eat- I wouldn’t shake their hands, sorry
Thanks
BB2014
A good lesson to all future events organizers to have protocol people their act together. They should have asked all dignitaries to wait for the president and shake his hand and not expect people to go and start kneeling before him. Ubufintini pa Zed
with such warped thinking coming from upnd, i am glad they are not in govt.
sometimes its just nice to keep quiet than justify the unjustfiable
HH is an arrogant and self-centered a-hole. This is the guy who, up to now, has not even acknowledge the fact that ECL won the election. So it is NOT surprising that he continues acting like a kindergartener—it is always about “me, me, me, me” with this bigheaded NORCIST!
Lifwekelo, your excuses for this kind of childish behavior from your party president only makes you sound ridiculous and shallow. To me HH comes across as a very pompous and petty individual. There are circumstances when grown men are expected to act and behave like grown ups. This is even more so for people with ambitions of becoming president some day.
This was a church event where politics should have been left at the door to the stadium. Especially by someone who claims to be an SDA church elder.
Actually anything coming from Lifwekelo is utter rubbish! Just like the drivel that comes from this stup!d bloger called Mushota. However louder you yap, just get a mirror and look at your a.s.s, it’s not white but very black iwe chi Mushota!
Spot on ba Yambayamba, it cannot be put better than that! He will pepertually be an under five with such a behaviour. This is what makes him very much unlikeable to most people, he’s just pompous, simple! What a church ”elder”, if he truly is one!
Ha ha ha ! Ati greeting is not constitutional! Him and His party balema manje.
In Zambia greeting is important and it shows respect and that someone has manners naku nyumba kwake.
@Yambayamba – Your last paragraph is the only sensible thing you’ve said. Indeed this was a religious occasion, so, no need to politicise it. Mind you PF started all this …it.
All of you complaining and defending yourselves over a mere handshake are very ignorant.
We’ve digital migration. Those people greeted each other on the phone ! Come on folks, migrate also.
I agree with him here
He could have been bewitched
Zambians thinking like baboons
WHy should he shake him, again? Dont say respect- respect is earned NOT given
Thanks
BB2014
Ba Mushota naimwe you are talking too much drivel these days. I no longer look forward to your comments.
uli chinkula iwe we mwana ai?
are you stupid or what? Like seriously, you’re the most senseless person i’ve come across. And you can.t even spell! smh ati ”whites use folks” yaba! disgrace wena
Shave your armpits Mushota. You stink!
@ Mushota @1.1
Since you claim to use folks, why avoid handshakes?
It means either
1. you use tissue paper to clean your bottom but use your hands to pick food when eating so u don’t want others to soil your natural ‘forks’ (fingers)
or
2. you don’t use tissue when cleaning your bottom but you are cautious not to soil others who may use their natural ‘forks’ when eating.
Mmmmmmm imwe ba lifwekelo ngefyo mwayamba ukusabaila? U mean u wanted the whole lot of the president to follow mr hh and greet him? Who is senior btn the 2? And who is the president btn the 2? We understand ur a civilian bt thez no way a senior officer cn pay compliments to a jr,mangalo ayo nomba,lufwekelo r there no elders where u come frm?
Not worth any comment!
It’s not mandatory but it’s good manners. Yeah, good manners are not mandatory either.
And good manners win votes. Wina azafela mu opposition, kuionela patali cabe.
Mr Lifwekelo are you saying HH is angry because a dog was dressed in a UNPD attire? If that is the case why didn’t he say so at the time? Zambian politicians should learn to burry their differences at times and act in a civil manner especially during national (public) events.
Wasn’t it HH who said RB would be chased like a dog when he loses elections some time back?
Hmmm UPND ..what up with that Dog metaphor at the end of the story. Is UPND behaving like a scared Dog??? Just asking…
No, the dog reference relates to the hungry ones in search of the crumbs from the high table or if you prefer, ambassadorial posting in South America
One cannot believe that this cheap Public Relations comment is coming from UPND.
Edwin is better off keeping Zzzzz.
This has backfired and the PR has come too late. This is the big problem with UPND. They are too slow in repairing the damage. And when they try to repair the damage, they often come off track.
Is this not the party of the acclaimed intelligent people.
To start with, if there is any place people need to leave their indifferences is at a church gathering. What did he had to loose. (HH)
HH is bitter and it’s hurting. That we can see. Period !!
Let us stop humiliating each other. Lifwekelo is right here. It makes one feel better when your leader comes over to greet you. Imagine if the Presidents embarking from the aircraft from a trip was to just walk past the juniors lining up to receive them. Actually if ELECTED leaders understood the concept of servant-leadership, they would be the ones going where the so-called ordinary citizens are and greet them. Of course during rallies when they beg our votes they even kneel down. HH lost the elections and one would have expected the victor to behave in a political sportsmanship manner- go to the losing team and encourage them. That is what we see at the end of soccer marches. Elected Presidents are NOT traditional leaders, please.
E.L. is a servant of all the Zambian citizens and indeed even a servant to those reside in Zambian. The late Mr. Sata would have definitely done the most humble act of greeting even the most lowest in the audience.
HH is a very rich much unlike you job seekers. Who told you that he is bitter when he is even contributing to national development by building Mukuba mall in kitwe which kachasu man openned. Idi0t f00ls.
Ukusabaila kwati utu alile ifikolwakolwa fyabowa!!! Take a rest chappy!
HH is rich, HH is rich, HH is rich! Even when he fcuks up is the defense always going to his riches? This this kind mentality, will see if his riches will vote for him come next year.
You UPND ch@ps are really confused. Sometimes acknowledging mistakes and then accepting responsibility for them does more good ones image than trying to repair the damage with f00lish and empty rants. When are you people going to get it!???
Vodka is the one who is supposed to greet people. No, they are very cagey to allow him to go round doing that because of the incident of the 8/03/04 –
Chagwa Agwa!!!
Ba mushota ninsele isho nomba, mwakula umutwe!
You are better off quiet
The setting here was awkward. The Protocol staff should have made better arrangements. I have a feeling the protocol staff are not qualified enough to handle awkward situations such as the one described here. The dressing of a dog in ones clothes is a very big insult. Where were the protocol staff? The inauguration of our President was not a partisan affair, please, Zambians. That dog thing should never have been allowed? What has gone wrong with us? Where was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Defence and Security people? That is how civil strife starts. What is that junior and senior stuff? As a citizen I do not feel I am a junior to any leader; respect yes, but it is my choice to display it. Is HH a government official to be classified as a junior or senior?
Please cadres, stay away from public events. You will make our President, ECL unpopular for nothing.
Not everything and every Presidential appearance is a contest with the opposition. You wanted to create a situation here, and you succeeded. I am very sure that had seasoned public officials (not recent ones from the cadre community) been left to handle the protocol, we would have seen ECL and HH shaking hands. They would have created a conducive atmosphere for both not to lose face. Mwa cepa maningi, protocol-wise.
MMD Chief Bootlicker
People stop arguing with fools like MMD Chief bootlicker, you know what ?They will drag you to there level and then at that stage they will beat you with their foolish experience. The guy hate HH like we hate Saturn.
And what message are you sending to the Zambian people? That when you become president you wont be forced in greeting citizens. You guys need political heavyweights coz you may thing you have done a good thing but thats a political miscalculation. Campaigns will go like this ” Mukwai uyu HH beta ati Chintombwa alakana ukuposha abena Zambia muminwe ati muli fiwelewele kuti mwamushinga ifiko pantu tamusamba”. Abantu bebele ala kabili emuntu twingasala uyu. Small things in politics means a lot. I remember when General Miyanda was VP, he would refuse to be served with any drinks unless on his own and this was made aware to the people. What happened?
Greeting by handshakes among people who have no handkerchiefs, and those who wipe their azz with tree leaves and eat with hands should be encouraged!
Ba Lifwekelo. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt!
I am just wondering who is supposed to show respect for the other, the voted or the voter, the opposition party leader or the president. Respect is mutual I suppose and it is earned. However, we need to show love fro one another according to normal life.
Is it an offence not to greet a president? Presidents are servants of the people. They are not chiefs or kings full stop.
The servant who lives in mansion and the bosses in ramshackle? You still believe that rhetoric that the president is a servant? I feel sorry for your mother!
Just as I condemned Sunday Chanda for initiating this useless topic, I condemn Lifwekelo in equal measure for unearthing it. Engage yourselves on development issues other than this political competition ( tit for tat) day in day out.
Talk about development not this nosence greeting if sameone dnt want to great forget about him akuddya kulibanyoko ?
It is very important for our illiterate followers of the two political parties to see their leaders shaking hands and meeting once in a while. They can learn that politics is not about war between the two parties and their differences must simply be on policies and not personal hatred. If HH and EL treat each other like enemies, how about their followers. HH and EL missed a chance to harmonize the tension between the two parties. How I wish these politicians could for once grow up and show good example to their followers.
Obsever, your comment is alright but has been messed up by the usage of the word ”illiterate”. Would you then wonder why you are getting negtive ticks?
@ Man Kenya and Boxer. Spot on! Every time I suggest that these parties explain their policies I get insulted by their cadres. The truth is these parties are terrified of debating policies and their only tactics are attacking other people personally.
There are so many important talking points and all you can choose to peddle about is handshaking. Eish! It is small wonder people were harassed for not waving at the white-handkerchief-wielding wamuyaya those days. Appears the mess has continued to this day. What a mess!
Frankly speaking, I am trying very hard to understand why this matter is even a topic for discussion. The problem in Zambia is that we do not want to focus on issues that add value to the nation as a whole but we are too busy spending valuable time on trivial issues.
Can someone please paint the KABWE POST OFFICE, Post Master General Where are you ?
HH may be rich but he doesn’t feed us The Mukuba Mall he is helping to build, he is doing it free of charge?
Jesus said it will be difficult for those who consider themselves to be rich with the worldly materials to enter the kingdom of God, unless they do things to others they would have loved done to them. Lets all reflect deeply and repent, forgive one another that’s what matters in this world.
Is this matter between God and man or it is man to man? If both are humans, then any of them could have gone to greet the other, especially the one who holds the power. This is common practice; just watch what Obama and others do.
This was also a church service and God demands worshipers to respect holy ground and not move around greeting people and cracking jokes.
Lungu could have greeted HH in his speech and then do the physical greeting. Africans hide in performances such as kneeling down as if respecting someone but insulting in the heart. This is not a village where you pay homage to a chief.
Don’t be jealousy of HH.
be objective too, where have you seen Zakeyo mentioning HH in his post? Why are you hallucinating? Whatever you smoke, please stop it, it’s not doing you any good!
A sad day for politics when it comes down to which leader refused to shake the other’s hand
Who told you that HH went to a church function just to go and shake Kungu’s hands? That’s why you are getting Ebola Kungu has been travelling all over the place.
Is that a sign of guilt from UPND? Obviously the matter has embarrassed them for their lack of civility.
Ask Nawakwi and Maureen how they did it, I am sure e will be embarrassed further.
Some people are just born to gaffe all the time, which why they will never be President. Look at me for example, well I don’t gaffe on serious matters like this one, but I do gaffe all the same so I cannot be President….kikikikikikikikikiki!
Most of you folks are blinded by scoundrel-loyalty. You easily forget that Kambwili fumed last year when Lungu was acting president at an event at the same Heroes stadium when his hand was not shaken by the selfsame ECL. Now that it is HH who did not shake ECL’s hand it becomes an issue.
When other people elsewhere are debating nanotechnology and its application to deliver drugs developed by pharmacogenomics against vexing health challenges such as prostate cancer (if you understand what I mean!), we are busy talking about lack of manners by HH. Is it any wonder we are where we are because of majoring in minors and trivialities?
Warlord, what are you doing on this site wasting time and bloging nonsense instead of being in the laboratory researching on prostate cancer that has afflicted you? Get lost pevert!
A tale of two f00ls apportioning blame on each other for not recognising each other’s presence and offering it the necessary attention. A contest of ‘might’. Pathetic.
Which candid church elder behaves like that!
People were not asking about what is mandatory and what is not. They ‘re asking for civility and level headed attitude to the office of the president. On many occasions HH has shown his unpatriotic, bitter and immature persona. On the other hand Nawakwi has shown to be of mature, stable and reliable character. She has shown she can be trusted with state machinery and can treat everyone in a dignified manner. HH ?? Still proves the immaturity tag!
Yet Lungu could not reciprocate by Saluting her in his address! What a shame!
Mostly insults are coming from cosmopolitan Children with no morals. It is a pity that some people dream ,eat and vomit insults.
may god change you.
Hatred and bitterness, are two wasting sentiments. HH has bathed himself and fully immersed himself in those.
If nawakwi and maureen greeted the president using their initiatives as lefekelo puts it , which mean hh has no initiative to use. This man goes on to equate hh to a dog according to his errastration.anyway I rest may case.
Some pride is good in a person becuase that makes us succeed and focus. Who does not have pride. After all, no single person is the same and we are all unique. Greeting or not, that is not the issue. Judas kissed Jesus but motive was not good. You can greet but what is the motive. Outward show??
U5 followers blamed Nawakwi that she was treated like a made,now this one was treated as a garden boy…kikiki
Ba UPND – surely is this what you can say? Where is your cultural sense, where is your ZAMBIANNESS! Shame on YOU!!
Arrogance ‘pon arrogance.
SO WE TAKE IT THAT HH IS A DISLIKED AND HATED DOG WHO IS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE MASTER EL AND WANTS ATTENTION.
FORGET IT EL WILL NEVER WASTE HIS TIME ON HH WHO EVEN HIS WORKERS HAVE BEEN STOPPED FROM CELEBRATING LABOUR DAY. THE TRUTH IS HH HAS NEVER BEEN A WORKER AND HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF WORKERS GO TO HIS FARM WHERE HIS WORKERS WEAR TYRE RUBBER SHOES NKWABILO