STATEMENT ON PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) PRESIDENT EDGAR C LUNGU ALLEGEDLY BEING ILL PEDDLED BY THE POST NEWSPAPER ON 29TH DECEMBER 2014 ISSUED BY PARTY SPOKESMAN HARRY KALABA, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Members of the press, fellow countrymen and women. A very disturbing report in a local tabloid, The Post newspaper today (29th December 2014) alleging that PF President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is ill and may need surgery has been brought to our attention. This report is not only sick, it is malicious, baseless and is only aimed at alarming the nation and the voter population that in the past months have thrown their full weight behind hon. Lungu. In order to set the record straight, we would like to inform the nation that: • Hon. Lungu has not visited a Doctor with any complaint over a long period of time or in recent years • Hon Lungu has never contracted a Family Doctor on a full time or part time basis, be them Indian or African • Hon. Lungu is enjoying good health both mentally and physically. The report is a thinly veiled attempt to yet again paint Hon. Lungu dark, in the eyes of the Voters by The Post in order to lessen or reduce the popular support the Defence Minister and Minister of Justice continues to enjoy among Zambians. We feel the bitter report is a direct violation of Zambian electoral rules that encourage impartiality because the report can plant a seed of doubt in the minds of the voters ahead of the 20th January 2015 polls regarding our candidate. We have therefore resolved to write the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for guidance on this matter. In the same breath, we shall consult our Legal Team for advice on how to proceed on the continued malicious reports by The Post clearly laced with bitterness. Hon. Lungu has been a victim of an intensive negative media campaign that has seen his enemies in the past almost dig up his mother’s grave (MHSRIP) in order to link him to Malawian roots but failed. Hon. Lungu has been a victim of a negative media blitz that saw his professionalism as a lawyer questioned publicly. He has successfully thwarted off various under hand schemes aimed at curtailing his Presidential bid and we have no doubt he will prevail. A local tabloid has even linked hon. Lungu’s popularity to the whole Defence and Security forces of Zambia which they say back him entirely in a bid to fan discontent. Despite everything negative that has been thrown at him, hon. Lungu has remained unshaken, resolute and focused on winning the 20th January 2015 polls that have been preceded by malice from media sections and other bitter elements in the opposition. We are confident that hon. Lungu is the chosen one and he will become President of Zambia after the 20th January 2015 elections because he is the one the Zambian people love. God bless Zambia Hon. Harry Kalaba-Spokesperson of Campaign Team Minister of Foreign Affairs
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 13:55:34 +0000