State House has confirmed that President Edgar Lungu collapsed Sunday afternoon during the commemoration of Defence Forces Day.
In a statement, Secretary to Cabinet and Principal Private Secretary Dr. Simon Miti said President Lungu experienced a sudden dizziness but recovered immediately.
Dr Miti said that the Head of State then walked to his car and returned to State House.
Dr. Miti said the President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens including the international community, that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties.
The four-hour ceremony took place at the Freedom Statute on Independence Avenue where the Defence Forces show-cased their military ware.
President Lungu also used the Commemoration to conduct an Investiture Ceremony to honour gallant men and women in Uniform.
Meanwhile, Zambia has today commemorated its 45th defence force day with a display of assorted land military hardware and a fly passed over the Freedom Statue area along Independence Avenue in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu has urged the defence force to remain politically neutral and to stay loyal to the constitution and the people of Zambia.
Speaking during the commemoration of the 45th defence force day at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka today, President Lungu said Zambia has the most dedicated defence force whose performance is above board.
“Your exemplary conduct to national duty cannot go unnoticed, as your Commander in Chief, I am proud of you. I urge you to continue being patriotic and loyal to the constitution, the government of the day and the people of Zambia,” the President said.
President Lungu also stated that government will continue supporting the defence force in acquiring modern equipment.
He has called for collaboration with other nations to ensure continued modernisation of the country’s defence force.
The Head of state has also applauded the women and men in uniform for supporting government programmes.
“Going forward, my government will continue to support the defence forces’ long term infrastructure and human resource development programmes,” he pledged.
President Lungu also commended defence forces for their positive response to government’s policy directive for the military to engage in agricultural activities.
Speaking at the same event, Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Felix Phiri
emphasised that the defence forces were key in maintaining the country’s peace and security.
Mr. Phiri has meanwhile assured the Head of State that the Ministry of Defence would perform its mandate professionally.
“The Ministry of Defence is at the center of maintaining the country’s peace and security, we want to pledge our total loyalty in achieving this cause,” Mr. Phiri said.
The Permanent secretary also used the occasion to commended service personnel for their loyalty and dedication to duty.
Meanwhile, Zambia Army Commander William Sikazwe thanked government for equipping the defence force with modern equipment and skills to ensure a professional contemporary and versatile military.
Lieutenant General Sikazwe urged Zambians not to forget the sacrifices that were made in the struggle for freedom and said peace should never be taken for granted.
“We should never forget the cost and sacrifices made by the defence force to the freedom that we enjoy today,” he said.
The Zambia Army Commander further reaffirmed that the defence force will remain committed to maintaining national peace and unity and to keep the good reputation of the Zambian military on the continent.
Every year on the 13th of June, Defence Force Day is commemorated to celebrate service personnel who are bestowed with the duty to defend the country.
This year’s defence force day carried the theme ‘Preservation of national peace and security through patriotism and loyalty’.
During the commemoration, the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) and the Zambia National Service showcased various military equipment, which were driven passed the Freedom Statue along Independence Avenue while fighter jets, military planes and helicopters flew passed.
A man who puts others before himself. We all know that our president has been working tirelessly. I have been pleading for him to take things easy but our president loves his country so much that he sometimes forgets to realise that he has been working for 30 hours in a day. We can confirm that he is well and has been advised to take his rest seriously. Mr president you are too generous but please your life is important too. Amen .
Open reporting by state house. Unlike when that f00l hh was in coma after getting covid, they lied to us that he was riding bicycle
A man who puts others before himself. We all know that our president has been working tirelessIy. I have been pIeading for him to take things easy but our president loves his c0untry so much that he sometimes forgets to reaIise that he has been working for 30 h0urs in a day. We can c0nfirm that he is well and has been advlsed to take his rest seriousIy. Mr president you are too gener0us but please your life is impo
0rtant t00. Amen .
Open rep0rting by state h0use. Unlike when that *** hh ***deleted ******
Same what’s app group with that 1doit Kambwili, they all faint when the tough gets going, maybe chi colour akafwa pa 9 Aug or he will faint permanently and expire
Mr chapona apona zoona…kwashala ukupona aka last pa 12..
I’m happy that he’s fine. The way some UPND members celebrated! Some are still celebrating. God have mercy on them
We thank God that the President is well. It is not easy to be a leader of a country especially with so much pressing needs. May God grant him strength and power.
THE STRAIN OF LOOSING IS OBVIOUSLY TOO MUCH
WE NEED HIM AROUND ELECTIONS TO SHOW HIM THE RESULT OF THE LAST 5 YEARS
AND NO ONE IS CELEBRATION HIS ILL HEALTH..
THE FACT IS WAS IT INTENTIONAL OR NOT
“Briefly” collapsed hahahaha ok I didn’t know collapsing comes in brief and in full
Next time he’ll fully collapse I guess. The man has caused a lot of misery in this country. If he survives he should never be referred to as former President, that’s a waste of title.
He must be tired. He has been all over Luapula, then eastern, now standing with fit men in uniform. And lately he has stopped jogging because hh became jealous of his jogging program. So some take him back to the gym. There is more campaigns to do so he needs to be fit
Only natural selection could save a failed project like Zambia from dictators like Lungu. I hope he reflects on this by realizing he is not immortal and he needs to do right by the country and not being selfish.
The lowlife imposter wannabe really loves attention. It must be Mushota MKII.
We don’t wish the president to die death is not a Good thing, The country and the people of Zambia need him to hand over power amicably.
Is he jogging at statehouse!?
Zambian politician awe, living in denial. It reminds the time Mwanawasa died (MHSRIP) in France, George Mpombo claimed the president was very much fine and jogging in France.
PF must go!
May the president fully recover and we wish him a healthy recovery……..
@Madilu system
THAT IS A POSSIBILTY NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT
WITH ZAMBIAN POLITICS THE TRUTH IS NEVER RECEALED
Of course he’s fine and will be fine. A brief fainting spell csn happen to anyone, including elite sportsmen and women.
A party that celebrates an opponent not feeling well is one which knows that it cannot win an election. Their only hope is to wish death on their opponent. How sad is that ? You will never rule this country imbwa imwe
A party that celebrates an opponent not feeling well is one which knows that it cannot win an election. Their only hope is to wish death on their opponent. How sad is that ? You will never rule this country eembwa imwe
Is ” Briefly Collapsing” same a being a “Bit Pregnant”? But seriously the strain the man is going through is understandable. I hope he is undergoing a battery of tests to determine the cause of the fainting spells. Wishing him a quick recovery nevertheless
May God Renew the Presidents strength and protection from the power of the dog and mouth of the lion. I declare that all witchcraft and witchcraft curses against shall fail and return back to sender in Jesus name we pay and everybody said…..?
The letter itself is very questionable I mean since when has the Secretary to the Cabinet used State House Letter Heads…the man left State House years ago. Where was Isaac? As for Lazy Lungu he couldn’t wait to dress up in military uniform….wht do you expect after super spreading covid all over the country.
Ndoleshyafye – Dont be silly …who would want to bewitch a useless man like Edgar Lungu? He has been flying all over the country wasting taxpayers money whilst banning opposition from doing the same. You think God would care about a selfish empty tin like him.
If he can “briefly” collapse before election then what more after election when he hears that he lost?
The truth is that every country in Africa has had massive infrastructure developments. Tanzania has built bridges, airports and thousands of houses for security staff. Angola has built a city bigger than Lusaka’s Kingsland in Luanda. Kenya has built a new standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi and an express highway bigger and longer than the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriage. Ethiopia has built the first intercity electric railway in Africa. Nigeria has the Lagos-Ibadan railway. Rwanda has scored many firsts, including making mobile phones, a brand new large international airport south east of Kigali and so also has Uganda. The Entebbe-Kampala-Jinja expressway is a showpiece. So many African countries have done it but largely from their own resources and not with unsustainable…
So many African countries have done it but largely from their own resources and not with unsustainable debt. The PF have done nothing extraordinary, except bloating the costs of the projects to benefit themselves.
Wishing EC Lungu to be fit & well.With this incident in mind he should remember the GDP ,the Kwacha & forex reserves didn’t collapse briefly like him-its been a long and painful collapse.
Our head of state has to be protected and respected having responsibility for the nation is a big task, We wish him a speedy recovery.
Manje after the brief collapse while I still processing and wishing him well he goes to a fish pond and SAYS
” if the rules and laws are not respected I have my own laws and I have powers that I can invoke given me by the constitution”
Now this we know he does my question was ok so what does that have to do with the collapsing first?
Did someone not do there job to ensure he doesn’t collapse olo there is suspicion of foul play…
My benefit of doubt is really running thin.
Mr President Take time to recovery and complete whatever work you are still to do in the role you are in.
Lungu is not a Super Human being. He is only human after all. ECL in trying to steal a Third Term and has been traversing the Country holding Rallies for a long time. What is worrying ECL is that Country wide People no longer like him. People want a New Govt on August 12 and no longer want him in Power. People elected ECL twice and want him to step down. The pressures of rejection are piling up. This Third Term Project will kill ECL. On August 12, Zambians are going to cast their votes and wish Lungu Bon Voyage. HH and UPND Alliance have been anointed by the People to form a New Govt after August 12. The writing is on the wall.
When was he tested last for Covid-19 ??????
HALF OF PF MPS ARE NOT REALLY BEHIND THE PRESIDENT
SO WHO REALLY KNOWS WHATS GOING ON
May the president get well soon and please bwana permanent secretary stop misleading people that the president collapsed briefly, there is nothing like that please. Just inform the nation that the president collapsed but he is recovering well. We the people may start to speculate and creating fake stories when being told trivial information. May he get better soon, the PF and the nation need him during this crucial time.
“President Lungu assures the public he is okay after BRIEFLY COLLAPSING” What nonsense is this about collapsing briefly? Collapsing is collapsing indicating something wrong with the body either a medical condition or fatigue out of stress and for Lungu could be triggered by the dawning reality that Zambians seem ready to move on! @ Madilu System I am with you in that in usual fashion of denial the damage control mode is already in motion! Try to cheat the nation it’s Lungu’s health he can handle it which ever way he wants but Zambians know he collapsed thus something is not right with him! Hmm! The only other notable one who “briefly” collapses is Kambwili but him we know its caused in the heat of the law visiting him.
God why have you forsaken us?
June 13 (GMT)
Updates
1,414 new cases and 24 new deaths in Zambia [source]
Ni ma rehearsals! Cabwino baba get well posacedwa — we need you mu ring pa 12. That bout is not easy baba.
We thank God ECL is out of danger. A little rest and a preferred brand of liquor should help the President. Works for me.
How was the military display anyway? Can anyone share the link I can use to watch the military display?
We need to send our boys and girls to uproot al-Shabab in Mozambique. Let us not wait for al-Shabab to reach Zambia!!!
I am surprised this lazy man had even the audacity to go Govt Journalists to State House to reassure them that he was fine but fails short to host a Press Briefing…did he even get a covid-19 test before calling them? We can not have 5 more years of this where a leader is afraid of addressing the nation or the media.
Again I am afraid the opposition wont have a clue on how to capitalise on this news..they are just clueless !!
I want Lazy Lungu to live long enough so he sees the damage his Party under his inept leadership has caused in Zambia….the Chinese debt they have heaped on unborn children in Zambia, the moral decay of society through rampant corruption, brutal cadre violence…this is a leader who is happy to adopt a PF candidate who was his cabinet minister and masturbating on camera for his girlfriend whilst married.
I want Lazy Lungu to live long enough so he sees the damage his Party under his inept leadership has caused in Zambia….the Chin-ese debt they have heaped on unborn children in Zambia, the moral decay of society through rampant corruption, brutal cadre violence…this is a leader who is happy to adopt a PF candidate who was his cabinet minister and mas-turbating on camera for his girl-friend whilst married.
These are pressures that go with stealing a Third Term. People will punish Lungu thru the Ballot Box for stealing a Third Term. Zambians will never forgive him for this. The real Concourt of Public Opinion will pass its verdict on August 12. If Lungu is overwhelmingly rejected at the Polls even Rigging will not help him. Ruling a Nation which dislikes u is a recipe for disaster. People elected ECL twice and are not prepared to vote for him for the third time. Lungu will be shocked when he finds out that People are fed up with his violent, corrupt,incompetent and clueless Rule. For a change People want HH to Govern and turnaround the Economy and our lives.
It is very wrong to celebrate someone being unwell.
Normal people pray and wish the president well, just like everyone else including those leading the opposition.
What happened to the president, as reported, is nothing serious and not unusual.
It can, and does, happen to anyone. Even other people, including HH, may be having similar happening except that secretary to the cabinet will not report to the nation about them, as there is no necessity.
Deja vu Divine Intervation
The President has made a habit of “Briefly Collapsing” at the freedom statue .The Election time “3Day Working Visits “ have taken their toll, ECZ have banned Campaign Rallies,This was a PF Election Rally
Please this time go to UTH like the rest of Zambian people,no more hospital trips to South Africa. The
GWM – No one is celebrating Lazy Lungu’s collapsing…what we are celebrating is taxpayers funds that will be saved whilst he is sat in State House …do you not know that where ever Lazy travels there are brown envelopes distributed and empowerment funds to everyone. I want Lazy Lungu to live long enough to explain how he and his corrupt shy daughter acquired their wealth within a short period.
What is to “briefly collapse”? How is this different from “collapsing”? Why is this report splitting hairs?
If this lazy moron Edgar can be collapsing after criss-crossing the country in the name of working visits ….what more the 80 year old Grandma who is cheating people she is working yet she is letting Luo abuse GRZ resources in her name!!
Tarino you don’t pay any taxes in this country you mother faka. So you cannot talk about how we use taxpayers money. You are not even Zambian. Go and comment on how boris is using your money and locking you up there rather than spraying this website with your faeces. Muk0ng0 wako
The problem is that when Lungu spends money o roads, schools, hospitals etc., the people you want to lead the country say roads, schools and hospitals are not edible.
Lusaka times editor I will soon call you to discuss why you have censored my factual comment about that ugly f00I HH. It’s no lie that he contracted covid and was in a coma. We have access to his medical record which show that he is suffering from long covid. Delete this comment and see what I do to you. You have forgotten what i did last time
Just wait ba UPND you enjoy celebrating small victories in advance. Wait until you cry the way you cried after concourt ruling on eligilbilty. This time its 14 days.
KZ you don’t pay taxes in Zambia yourself, you lazy UK based troll. And about Edgar China Lungu: I bet he was drunk. Having just returned from visiting the casino, he must have been thirsty…. And with his track record for alcohol consumption, it must be difficult to stand up right for longer than 1 minute!
Pressure…Pressure and the fear of rejection. This Third Term Steal Project will haunt ECL for the rest of his life. Stealing a Third Term from Zambians will have dire consequences in future. Time will tell!
Kaizer jackass aren’t you in the UK? The nerve. Your verbal diarrhea is so old. Not funny, insightful and most definitely not intelligent. Stop making a fool of yourself.
Even when you hate him as a president, you can hate a person to a point of wishing him dead. Those celebrating his collapsing are filthy wasted animals in human form. They are vomites from a dogs stomach.
Mr President not a good sign of collapsing
All the time.Better to leave the podium when
People are still clapping.Enjoy your wealth
While you are still healthy.
So Kaiser is in the UK not paying taxes, but is such a brain-challenged imbecile, i doubt he sees the irony in his comments. Boy bye. Get a life, grow up, your insults are juvenile and WEAK!
It sad that a a lawyer it does matter how many cases you lose in a roll, your followers still consider you a hero.
Some lawyers have the title SC. But if you look at their trail of losses you wonder why they can convince minds of ordinary people.
Some issues you don’t need to be a lawyer understand.
For example some cases are like nshima – it does not matter whether you are told by a lawyer that it is biscuits or not, when you see it you will know it is nshima.
Surely, should believe that nshima is biscuit when you know it is nshima, just because a so called lawyer has told you so.
This shows the propensity that people have to be guided. No wonder people are easy to be manipulated.
Chagwa ages futile. Hangover ya Jameson I action.
I said it time and again that this is always drunk. He has no clue what’s going on.
PF and Lungu must go
You mean return to Freedom Siks?
Where are his advisers?
Let them advise him to resign on
Medical grounds.
Pressure pressure pressure
Not good.
Sarah – There was a time when location flags were switched off, this UK based troll /impostor was working overtime using both Bowman Lusambo and K-Z aliases … the irony about it is that it has no affiliation whatsoever to PF and is suctioned by LT.
Best to just ignore it as it can not debate. It just wants you to trade insults with it like pigs wallowing in the mud!
Moto- Lungu has too dirt and the prospect of being behind bars scares him like BUFFOON CK..he can trade his wife and children just to escape jail time.
Boasting about weapons that you do not make yourself?
“President Edgar Lungu’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relation Isaac Chipampe is critically ill in Maina Soko Military Hospital with Covid-19. ”
This answers the hastily typed out letter by Simon Miti with the wrong Letter Head.
My comment is awaiting moderation
We + want + change = chagwa collapse, and Kz is just an empty tin living in a council flat on social benefit from the UK government
This is just a trick, a fake dizziness to make people feel sorry for him, its election time, saying that note one of the honour guard has his mask not covering his nose spreading covid and those missiles probably Chinese made look fake.
Chagwa agwa nafuti! For all I know, he was evacuated to Morningside last night after fainting again at State House. By the way wena Kainyokolola Zulu, how can Chagwa work 30 hours in any day that has only 24 hours? Masipa ahao kanamunungu tuwe.
We will ask the health personnel to tell us how many types of collapsing.
KZ should be taken to chinama hospital for medical check-up.
Sarah you must be a new upnd diaspora here. Because the old timers know that I am based in Zambia. You are so f00lish to believe that my flag IP location fixed by my VPN is where i am located. Even my kids know how to get IP addresses to protect their safety. do you know how many of your upnd thugs try to hack my accounts. With this UK IP address they can hack all they want. You are very dull
Sarah you must be a new upnd diaspora here. Because the old timers know that I am based in Zambia. You are so f00Iish to believe that my flag IP location fixed by my VPN is where i am located. Even my kids know how to get IP addresses to protect their safety. do you know how many of your upnd thugs try to hack my accounts. With this UK IP address they can hack all they want. You are very dull
I just wonder what led to the president’s ‘collapse’ during the commemoration?? But whatever it is, my prayer is that he stays healthy, especially till after the elections…!!
The Man is over working himself and stressed and handlers are just watching him without giving professional and impartial advise. Next he may be headed to North Western Province where PF adopted candidates are struggling to make impact on the ground. We need ECL even beyond his official duties come to an end. He is a family man and wish him quick recovery not what Dr. Solomon Mitutu is telling the nation that he became dizzy and rushed to his official car. We can’t trust these guys we had such assurances before from Levy to Sata.
If the defense forces are meant to be “politically neutral” why is the leading soldier in your photograph giving the PF salute ?
Get out you son of the Devil Kaizer Pompwe Zulu. This time around you are just facing the exit door. After all the real Kaizar Zulu cant post the nonsense that you post every day on LT. Kaizer himself is not happy about about what is going on but you are busy making noise for nothing.
At “..my flag IP location fixed by my VPN is where i am located…”, says a lowlife wannabe trying to justify his stoopidity. In one breathe he claims he uses VPN to hide and remain anonymous; but in another he wanta everyone to think he is Kaizar Zulu… what kind of stoopidity is this?
VPNs don’t give you a fixed IP address you numskull… it would defeat the very purpose. VPNs are meant to give you different IP addresses.
The fact is you are based in the UK and masquerading as Kaizar Zulu (who was fired by Lungu long time ago). S!lly!
It all looks like someone is running for a state funeral, and by August 7, there will be a party without a presidential candidate. It’s sad though the guy knows his ailments are incurable and degenerative but still insists on running for office, it’s a very foolish move!
Ba Saint do not tell lies – all the countries that you have cited (save for Rwanda) have incurred huge debts for the massive infrastructure development they have recorded. Granted we could have done better but let’s be truthful.
There is nothing wrong with the letter head…Miti is principle private secretary as well as secretary to cabinet….On the other hand do we dislike each other so much we can celebrate a person falling ill? When hh was down he had to ride a bicycle to show he was ok…ECL has had to go fishing….to show he is fine…..let us even in our chosen support be humane