By LUCY PHIRI
The humility of former president Edgar Lungu showing respect to President Hakainde Hichilema by bowing, is an inspiration to young politicians on how to conduct ourselves as leaders, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Secretary General, Charles Kabwita, has said
Mr Kabwita was commenting on a picture circulating on social media platforms where former President Edgar Lungu was bowing to President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr Kabwita in an interview said that Mr Lungu had set a tone of respect, that the President must be respected regardless of whether one likes him or not.
He said leaders are guided on how they should conduct themselves, and what Mr Lungu did by bowing to President Hichilema showed that he is not only humble but a good leader who should be emulated by all.
“We must also learn to respect our former leaders. It’s so unfortunate that we praise our leaders when they are gone. That’s so unfortunate and hypocrisy at its highest level,’’ he said.
Mr Kabwita charged that President Lungu had transformed Zambia with infrastructure development in health, education and all other sectors, “thus we need to give him praise when he is still alive.”
“I want to thank him when he is alive. You did your part your excellency, we are not talking about things we cannot see that we have to justify for people to understand but we are able to see the works you did and we thank you,’’ Mr Kabwita said.
Mr Kabwita appealed to all politicians to learn something from president Lungu so that they also regard President Hichilema with respect, and give him advice with respect.
“Starting from now, let the leaders learn something from our leaders. And we also need to regard Mr Hichilema with respect, give him advice with respect so that he respects us as well when we take over,’’ he said.