President Edgar Lungu has lashed out at critics who want to see the Government fail. Speaking when he met the Clergy in Chibombo District, central province yesterday, President Lungu said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government will never fail not even in the near future.
He said it is shocking that some people are not happy with the good performance of the Kwacha. President Lungu said the country will continue to prosper.
“This Government will never fail, not even in the near future. People are criticizing us that the appreciation of the Kwacha is out of Luck, they are saying that President is very lucky. They said the same thing when we recorded a bumper harvest, ” President Lungu said.
President Lungu urged the clergymen and women to continue praying for peace as the country goes to the polls next month. President Lungu said that the church has the responsibility to preach love and pray for peace before, during and after the elections.
“Continue with prayer, God hears our prayers and prosperity will come to Zambia because of prayer. Continue praying for us and for peace to continue prevailing in our country,” he said.
The Head of State said the country has identified itself as a peaceful nation, adding that this reputation should therefore be sustained and further appealed to the church to continue providing guidance to politicians so they can uphold peace and love for one another.
“It is only through the church that Christianity and sanity can be practiced in politics,” President Lungu stated.
And the President has advised the church leaders to sensitize their members on various empowerment programmes that the government is undertaking.
“The government is implementing a number of empowerment programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people,” he said.
And President Lungu has assured the church leaders that funds are available under the COVID 19 Social Relief Fund aimed at empowering the churches and other religious organisations.
He said the government is now finalizing the process of harmonizing how the scheme will be implemented.
The Head of State has since advised the clergy to engage the provincial administration on the procedures to be followed in order to access the funds.
And speaking on behalf of other Church leaders, James Manda commended the government for various empowerment programmes that are being undertaken in the District and in other parts of the country.
“The Social Cash Transfer Programme is one of the notable empowerment schemes that have continued to improve the livelihoods of the vulnerable people in the communities,” Pastor Manda stated.
Earlier, business came to a standstill at the roadside market in Keembe Constituency, as traders lined up to have a glimpse of the Head of State who took time to interact with the marketeers.
President Lungu who walked over a kilometer from Chibombo District Administration Offices to the market, also distributed face masks and sanitizers to the traders and urged them to observe the prescribed health guidelines of avoiding contracting the COVID 19.
Meanwhile, President Lungu appealed to the people of Chibombo to vote for leaders that will find it easy to work with Government. He said the district has been electing opposition UPND members of parliament who for some reason have taken an antagonistic approach to development.
“Give us members of parliament who will work with us. I was MP in 2011 and we had no people to work with. Now in 2021 give us people to work with. The people you have chosen here have for some reason chosen not to work with us,” President Lungu said.
And earlier President Lungu paid a courtesy call on Chief Chitanda of the Lenje speaking people. The chief said there is no wind of change in the country.
“We have seen that there is no wind of change, the chiefs have put it in black and white that the people voted for UPND members of parliament in Katuba, Keembe, Chisamba and Chibombo who have not delivered and the chiefs have realised that for them to see development they need to vote for the PF,” Chief Chitanda said.
LUNGU NOT ASHAMED OF YOURSDELF SINCE YOU ARE THE ONE HAS HE FAILED
THE ECONOMY , NOT US , ALSO FOREIGN EXCHANGE STABILITY IS KEY
FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC SUSTAIBAILITY .
ALSO THAT WE ARE WAITING TO VOTEYOU OUT AND GIVE A CHANCE TO HH
AS WE DID TO SATA AND YOURSELF .SO GOOD BYE AND STARTING PREPARING TO LEAVE BACK TO YOUR COMPOUND
UPND has always wished bad luck for Zambia so that the evil one can one day rule. You do not win because of other people’s misfortunes. You win because of your good deeds Mr. Privatization tribal thief.
How to Spot a Weak Argument
Daniel Dennett on the “surely” operator
“When you’re reading or skimming argumentative essays, especially by philosophers, here is a quick trick that may save you much time and effort, especially in this age of simple searching by computer: look for “surely” in the document, and check each occurrence. Not always, not even most of the time, but often the word “surely” is as good as a blinking light locating a weak point in the argument.”
PF time out, the world is watching.
If this currency can hold further depreciation and stay up there until election day, it will prove that the currency appreciation is not superficial. Facts have long legs and they don’t lie. People should have confidence in the Kwacha at all times.
They are not happy because you have foiled their campaign bluff of promising the people that the Kwacha would only appreciate on their swearing in ceremony. Please continue to be humble, peaceful, people centred and maybe you may have my vote. You have a lot of work to rid this nation of corruption, deceit, devisions and greed. Only violent free elections will retire some of these imposters for good. The opposition parties need to up their game in a peaceful manner. You need to scrutinise the policies and not individuals but above all we are a peaceful people, let’s keep it that way.
This PF has no shame stopping others from distributing masks yet him is all over. You call this a free and fair elections
And what is happening is because God is on your side, your Excellency. Mathew 19:6 “what God has put together, let no man put asunder.”
Hh used the campaign strategy of the economy by lying to people that it’s PFs fault that the kwacha has depreciated while hiding facts that in 2014 commodities went bust (for us copper dropped to record lows) as oil for example dropped from $100/b to $20/b, 2015 the power crisis hit hard, 2017 drought set in and 2019 covid hit. Now, the GRZ headed by ECL steered us through these crises-copper is soaring, a new power plant is online and others upgraded-PF has boosted power generation by over 90%, 4 successive bumper harvests due to well managed input systems, the ERP (economic recovery plan) launched by ECL, a moderate vaccination drive and adequate…
The appreciation of kwacha is not backed by any economical fundamentals, where on earth have you seen a currency appreciate like this with a short possible time? This will not translate any significant reduction in the cost of living due to the fact that most of businesses bought goods when the exchange rate was high and there uncertainty in the business world whether this appreciation is geniuing or not. We should expect meaning price reduction after two or three months from now if the exchange rate remain stable. Kudos to you PF government you made us endure the cost of leaving for a long time meanwhile you knew what do and you have done it now because you want votes from us. You are late, we have decided already. I believe you have seen that your debt swap is failed project!
What does it even mean to have a stronger Kwacha. Why do we play politics with everything? The psychology of the word strong and weak is a very salient point for manipulation especially by floundering proponents. OK here is one: it will help your repayments but will kill your exports. Ba mbuli.
….covid response have all contributed to investor confidence and economic outlook. Mulebwelelapo, yama!!
You already failed kamnwang@ iwe, you bankrupted a country, need we say more, useless ka worst president on earth
Yes the evil losing upnd motherfcukers. They are all dogs
You’ve been a President for almost 7yrs now so I don’t expect you to be involved in such shallow debate. I’ve told you that what we require is a stable Kwacha. These fluctuations affect our businesses. The net effect is disastrous. When we criticize it’s not that we want you to fail, we want you to do better. We want you to maintain the Kwacha at the same rate for 5yrs then we’ll commend you. Criticism can’t make you to fail, success and failure are in your hands
Zambia is a net importer of goods. It makes more sense that the currency remains relatively stronger and stable.
PF DOGS NOW BARKING WOOF WOOF WOOF
MR PRESIDENT YOU DIDNT CONTROL YOUR MINISTERS AND THE ECONOMY AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE GOING… 5 YEARS
OF HARDSHIPS FOR 90% OF THE COUNTRY AND BE TOLD LUSAKA WHERE MOST OF THE DEVELOPEMENT IS CONCENTRATED IS NOT THE COUNTRY
Chief Chitanda of the Lenje people should not cheat the President that it is written in Black and White that there is NO WIND OF CHANGE. The truth of the matter the mood country wide is that people do not want President Lungu and his PF to continue running the affairs of this country beyond 12/08/21. If at all Chief Chitanda has promised ECL massive votes in Lenje land then it will the vote from the Chief and a few others.
The Economy Mr Lungu The Economy.What have done to the Economy???That’s the Question.
MR PRESIDENT YOU DIDNT CONTROL YOUR MINISTERS AND THE ECONOMY AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE GOING… 5 YEARS
OF HARDSHIPS FOR 90% OF THE COUNTRY AND BE TOLD LUSAKA WHERE MOST OF THE DEVELOPEMENT IS CONCENTRATED IS NOT THE COUNTRY
ECL will get more than 51+1 votes the noise makers will shut up . ECL is transforming the country, something there for all to see, but UPND choose not to look at Developmental projects.
Bwana President some of us are happy. Infact we would like the kwacha to come down to K5 to a dollar. Don’t listen to detractors. Keep working hard to improve people’s livelihoods
This lazy moron has zero shame. …6 years in govt Kwacha has never appreciated..two weeks to elections… boom!!
Six years ago the Kwacha was at 4.5 to the dollar. Now it is at 22.4 to the dollar. Who says the Kwacha is appreciating??? Because of the 50 Ngwee up for three days??? Edgar China Lungu has RUINED the economy and he thankfully will be REPLACED on August 12! Bye bye KZ! I will come and visit you in JAIL!
So who needs ministers if Lazy Lungu can improve the economy…really laughable…they are lucky the opposition media teams are not clued up.
Mr or Ms Lusaka Times Moderator. Can you please do due diligence and suspend Kaizer Zulu from posting here. He is a PF supporter who is terrorizing your bloggers day in day out depicting the values held by the party he supports. Insult after insult and you keep allowing him/her to post his vile bile on your site. Can’t you see that he or she is a bully and social media troll?
This man is really dull. No wonder Zambia’s economy is in the ICU.
God help us.
Boss do you realize that this fake currency appreciation is a disadvantage to our small scale exporters? A bag of paprika from Zambia is now going for a higher dollar price. This will force buyers to look elsewhere.
We need a stable currency and not one that you manipulate a few days before elections
Edward chagwa lungu…you missing the point….it doesn’t mean that if you have good economic policies then you can rule Zambia forever….NO….there’s a 2 term limit whether you perform or not…you’re an illegal Presidential candidate…period
Nzelu fuseke. Telling the truth is not a crime or bullying. If you support a tribal party what do you expect to be called?
WHICH NEAR FUTURE IS HE IMAGINING HIMSELF IN? BEYOND AUG. 2021 ELECTIONS? CAN A CURRENCY APPRECIATE THRO LUCK? HOW DOES THIS LUCK APPEAR ONLY DURING CRUCIAL ELECTIONS? MAY BE IT IS SORCERY OR CROOKERY OR ECONOMIC THUGGERY WHERE THOSE IN POWER CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT WITH THE ECONOMY? WHO CAN UNDERSTAND OR ACCEPT ANY EXPLANATION FROM THE PF AT THIS POINT IN TIME? BETTER MUST COME!
Election related appreciation …and then the long slow Kwacha slide will continue like it has done for 7yrs.
The monetary policy framework is controlled by the Bank of Zambia. Short term exchange rate volatility especially in an election year is expected. In fact expect the Kwacha to drop again closer to elections. Not sure why these text book economists are busy pointing at witchcraft as a cause for the appreciation of the Kwacha. Why are UPND not querying the appreciation with the governor of the Bank of Zambia?
There are some people who can’t see anything good happening around. The best way is to ignore them and continue the good work.
Don’t worry about those sadistic people, Mr President. They will not understand the importance of your work. But we know it and we stand by you firmly.
@Edwin Zulu Have you read about the steady appreciation of Kwacha against Dollar? Today Kwacha stands at K18.80. Isn’t it a good sign for economy? You need to come out of the UPND ghetto to see the reality.
@Mulongoti Machayi The present currency appreciation is not some fluke. It is the result of meticulous planning and implementation of ERP20. So, be assured that it is here to stay and given long term dividends. Why don’t you just sit back, relax and let the government work its way towards economic recovery?
Sir, you can’t expect them to praise when their lies are getting busted day in and day out. Their own people are taking them down. We only need to continue the good work for people and country.
@Mulongoti Machayi This is the clear example of how mindless you are. Why don’t you find the kids of your age to play with? Let the adults discuss economy. We will buy you a toy, don’t worry.
@Kalok Go and ask this to HH. He had been crying this since long. His biggest ‘pain’ was the high exchange rates and now he is in even bigger pain that Kwacha is appreciating. This means his chances of winning the elections are diminishing. Your comment clearly explains the pain you and your boss are feeling.
I do not do partisan commentaries sir. Don’t force a boss on me. Thank you
Appreciating Kwacha has depreciated political career of some people. That’s why the cry babies at work. Don’t pay heed to them Sir, we know you are doing the right thing.
@tikki A small advise. It’s not your fault if you are an *****. But it is definitely your fault if you can’t hide it from people. So, try to be more sensible next time. When people read your comment, they should not be able to see through. Got my point? I know you haven’t. Waiting for next comment.
@Muwerewere Musemakweri Who are these people you are referring to? Can you elaborate a little? If you can’t then why don’t you *uck off?
KWATI ALEWAMYA.
You found the Kwacha at K4 to a dollar. It fell to 22 and has now gone to 20 and you are singing! Ata se!
It has already started depreciating. With effect from today gone down to K19.46 from the 18 chakuti yesterday. Borrowed money which was used to prop it up in the short term has finished. Unless they borrow some more again.
It’s not far now ECL forever we are sending someone back to where he has been for the last 6 elections… bye bye under 5… mukakose
NAH THIRD TERM
Hahaha ba Kolwe Mumpoto and his team, so you are not happy that the kwacha is appreciating? You wanted it to continue depreciating so that you would have a field day accusing ECL and his PF of mismanaging the economy? I am not an economist but those in the know have told us the appreciation of the kwacha has nothing to do with elections and the reasons they have stand unchallenged. Remember ba Kolwe Mumpoto and those who think like him that leadership is from God. You can demonise ECL and call him names but if it’s God’s will that he remains president after 12th August, nothing will stop him.