Former Home Affairs Minister, Lameck Mangani has warned Zambians against changing the country’s president on August 11.
Mr. Mangani says that it will be a disaster for people to vote out President Edgar Lungu because he has proved to be a good leader.
Speaking on a live radio programme dubbed “Political Hour” on Breeze FM this morning, Mr. Mangani stated that Zambia’s current economy is fragile and needs a leader like President Lungu to put it back on track.
He explained that although UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has an economic background, it will be wrong for Zambians to think that he can resolve challenges facing the country because he has no experience.
Mr. Mangani stated that he has spent the last one year reflecting on his political position and came to a conclusion that President Lungu has performed well despite the country facing economic challenges.
And Mr. Mangani described as sad a situation where some people want to make political mileage from his financial problems.
He dismissed reports suggesting that he has run bankrupt and that this is the reason why he has decided to support the Patriotic Front government.
Mr. Mangani called upon people in Eastern Province to support President Lungu adding that traditional leaders in Southern Province are supporting UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.
He stated that easterners also need to realise that it will be very difficult for Zambians to entrust them with presidential powers in future if President Lungu loses since former President Rupiah Banda was also voted out after running the country for a very short time.
And Mr. Mangani charged that most critics of President Lungu were full of hate and jealous, considering that they were not picked to run the country by late president, Michael Sata.
He also warned Zambians to be critical when voting stating that people need to critically assess presidential running mates as they will have almost the same powers as the president if they win elections.