Vice-PresidentMrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina has announced her decision not to be considered as a running mate to President Edgar Lungu for the August General Election.
Mrs Wina disclosed that age was catching up with her and she felt satisfied with her contribution to the development of Zambia hence the need to pass on the button.
She said she was grateful to President Lungu for having given her the opportunity to serve the Zambian people as first female vice president adding that she had already informed the Head of State about her decision.
“It’s now time to pass on the button. I have reached a stage in my political journey where I need to take a different role that will see a new generation of leaders take charge of the affairs of the country especially now that stability has been restored by President Edgar Lungu,” Mrs Wina said.
“I recently turned 80 years and as most of you can agree I cannot summon the same energy as I had when I was a young wife to a freedom fighter taking a position in the trenches.”
She said her involvement in the affairs of Zambia dated back to the pre-independence stage and she was privileged to have served the nation in modern times with the support of the Zambian people.
She said she executed her functions including being Leader of Government Business in Parliament with the support from Cabinet and Members of Parliament with ease which was premised on the principles of collective responsibility.
She said the opportunity to serve as the first female vice president was a historical milestone in the recognition of women as partners in leadership at the highest level of government.
“We enacted laws in the National Assembly that were designed to ensuring that the standard of life of our people is uplifted. I must confess that the Vice-President’s Question Time was indeed at times challenging but it provided a suitable opportunity for us as government to be scrutinised by the people through their elected representatives,” she said.
Mrs Wina said in the quest to uplift the lives of people in times of climate induced calamities like droughts and floods including the COVID-19 Pamdemic, she was pleased to note that her team in the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) was on hand to ensure that they minimised the carnage and saved lives.
She said the efforts of the DMMU would not be successful in isolation as that was a concerted effort by the various supporting partners including International Corporating Partners, the Private Sector and many other bodies and individuals who assisted in actualising the goals of the government.
And Mrs Wina has stated that she would continue to support President Lungu to ensure that all government programs were effectively implemented in the election period.
Her Honour the Vice-President has since expressed gratitude to the Zambian people for the privilege and honour afforded to her to serve as Republican Vice-President.
“May God continue to bless the President of the Republica of Zambia as he continues to steer this great country to prosperity,” Mrs Wina said.
I know ECL will settle for Edith she’s cool.
Wabepa. He will settle for Tasila!
This shameless old hen already stated that she was not standing last year is she too senile too remember…there is nothing to praise her for simply wasting taxpayers money on her at one time she agreed to overlook two ministries. Please just clear your desk and close the door behind you!!
Your home province has been undeveloped under your leadership whilst the thieves are developing Luapula and Muchinga.
This shameless old hen already stated that she was not standing last year is she too senile too remember…there is nothing to praise her for simply wasting taxpayers money on her at one time she agreed to overlook two ministries. Please just clear your desk and close the door behind you!
wajimona – If he settles for Edith he will not see Christmas this year trust me…that woman is wicked ..its like keeping an anaconda in your house its just a matter of time.
She was not going to be picked anyway and was already told so in advance so that she can make this statement and have a dignified exit. Anyway good riddance to the worst vice president ever.
We thank you Bo Mama Inonge Wina for having helped hold the PF together when late President Sata died. Without your contribution, the ruling party would not have been stable and it would have had a ripple effect on the governance of the country. The country has held you in high esteem for your calm, measured and mature response to matters that affect the governance of the nature. We sincerely hope that even as you leave public office, you will still be available to provide counsel to the President and younger politicians. You deserve every right thinking Zambian’s respect for the manner you have handled national matters. Once more, we thank you for what you have been to your country.
If we have indeed been well brought up, we should desist calling Vice-President Inonge Wina names and learn to respect her. Let us stop being a bad example to our own children and those around us.
The vice presidency will certainly go to a female, but obviously not Zewelani Nawakwi. The country is not short of women for gender balancing. PF has led the way in adopting the differently abled; they will still do the needful again.
If I were Edgar Lungu, I would choose between Christine Kaseba and Maureen Mwanawasa before thinking of Given Lubinda.
SHE IS VERY SENSIBLE INDEED. RESPECT TO YOU MAMA INONGE WINA.
HATS OFF TO YOU.
THANK GO0DNESS
AND THANK YOU FOR THE FIRE ENGINES WHICH DIDNT WORK
JUST A QUESTION WILL THE PRESIDENT FOLLOW SUIT IN THE NAME OF UNITY ????
Mulongoti Machayi – Lazy Lungu is too insecure to choose those intelligent strong women especially with petitions against his presidency overhanging …he knows too well what power can do to a weak humble person he has first hand experience.
Good ridance. The old cow was useless
There is no “I jst turned 80 and wont have the same energy” .You were interviewed a year or two ago in which you insisted that you will stand for Vice Presidency, Now you ve been left out of the list, you saw the list, and to avoid Embarrassment you want to lie to us, We know that you were sidelined. You are a reject , stupid old woman. We told you, but where you are you going to go now? You made enemies with the entire country. Just where will you be loved? Where?
Oh i have a suggestion , go and sit at Bus stations everyday or on Bridges you built. Cos as far as i know, your Government neve built a single company or business, insisted you closed viable/profitable companies. Today is your last day of free media coverage,next time you ll pay jst like any Zambian. Edgar is taking away your VP convoy (which was booed in EP anyway), he is also taking away your immunity, now you can be prosecuted for wrong doing and jailed immediately. Now you ll know the True Zambian reality, you lived in a fantasy since Micheal Sata.
What has she got to show for in Barotesland? Absolutely nothing…Her thieving friends have channelled all funds to Muchinga and Luapula…her only achievement is putting that useless l azy man in State House against advice of sober minded like Guy Scott.
The fossi is kicked out by pf and lungu
We wait with great anticipation for lungu and pf to be next out
Fare you well gallant lady, I had looked forward to you being our very first female President. Our politics have been invaded by vultures. There are no morals. I will definitely miss you
Please LT censure people that use vulgar on people. Hon Wina has done her part and is retiring from active politics. Why are some of the people of this platform calling her names? I did not agree to most of the things they were done under her leadership but that does not give me the right to insult her. She deserves dignity and LT please don’t allow this to continue.
Edith Nawakwi is the best candidate for veep n she’ll bring us lots of votes….no brainer really.
I THINK THE BUTTOCKS LADY
DID SHE SAY THAT THEYB ATTRCT THE CROWDS
Thank you mum for your contribution. We wish you well and may the good lord bless the rest of your life.
Just look at all the comments from the u.p.n.d diasporans. They get excited like dogs on heat when they hear pf haha..
Some of us knew this many months ago. It was a great atmosphere 4 nights ago when the VP officially informed the pf senior membership. We had a good laugh. She has done her part and contributed immensely. I cried during the speech. I love mama inonge. We thank you so much mother
Just look at all the comments from the u.p.n.d diasporans. They get excited like d0gs on heat when they hear pf haha..
Some of us knew this many months ago. It was a great atm0sphere 4 nights ago when the VP officially informed the pf seni0r membershlp. We had a good laugh. She has done her part and contributed lmmensely. I cried during the speech. I love mama lnonge. We thank you so much m0ther
Good riddance to old lying witch…….
Who watched a young woman get strippedmext to her by PF thugs on Labour day for wearing red colures
This senile cow can go to hell. Hell fire waits her.
As for KZ you are like a monkey making noises 24/7.
After aug 12 you will be put in a cage
Thank you. I will always appreciate.
There goes one of our iron lady.
So intelligent and selfless.
At his old age Mugabe wanted to go on in power. Power being so sweet very few leave room for others. Even in opposition some chaps want to go on and on. But like Madiba, Iron lady ma inonge Wina hangs her gloves for another to vice HE ECL. You ran a good race with the president. Despite world wide economic turmoils, you and ECL held your position sure and steadfast. Iron lady veep bo Inonge Mutukwa Wina. So strategic and an extra step ahead all the time. Good to know you’re gonna stick around. You made happen for ECL and Zambia. Iron Lady.
Inonge Wina is too ashamed and too tired of being part of Lungu’s mediocrity so she’s called it quits to save her reputation.
Why is there so much speculation around Edith Nawakwi and not Esther Lungu?
Go well failed old Woman and the waste Vice president that Zambia has never had.. Any way we wish you well in your future endeavours
Unfortunately you tarnished what could have been a good name and so no kudos to you, you have not been a good example to women and especially when it comes to social justice. What a waste of time.
EDITOR : I believe the good lady meant to say that she was passing on “the baton” not “the button”. Don’t you have proof readers at Lusaka Times ??!!
@Seanmac
She said button not baton, why do you want to change what was said and what is written here on LT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don’t you understand that she is 80 years old so she cannot make the difference in pronunciation between button and baton kikikikikikikiki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Madame Wina, Thank you for your service to Zambia. Iam sure you get a hefty pay. Would you kindly facilitate my long standing payments for the work l did in your office. Iam so sure the if the amount of work were ‘ insults’ l would have been locked up long ago. Regards, Kaemba Mwale
Madame Wina passing the batton to the young Nkandu Luo at 69 years old, |Madame Wina has been in politics for two thirds of her life, she is 80 years . So to her 69 years is young. So we who are in our 30 years we are toddlers we have to wait for 40 years to be passed the batton. Pa Zambia fye. Thankfully God is on our case. Those who are humble will made more humble when power is taken away from them on 12 August 2021. Twanaka nabo