Youths defend Lungu’s foreign travels

Thu, 08 Dec 2016 07:27:52 +0000

By Mukosela Kasalwe

IT is hypocrisy for the opposition to accuse President Lungu of excessive travel when it is meant to attract investment in the country especially that our country is land linked, says Youth Aid chairman Kachenga Chungu.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Chungu said that the opposition needed to be rational and equitable in how they offered checks and balances to the Government if their views were to be taken seriously.

He said that the country needed to be to be more critical and analytical when making analysis of issues and try to investigate for themselves unlike adhering to cheap propaganda and ever bitter remarks always being issued against President Edgar Lungu.

‘‘It is hypocrisy for the opposition to accuse President Edgar Chagwa Lungu of excessive travel when such trips are meant to benefit the country as well as the economy.

We as youth Aid would like the nation to be more critical and analytical when making analysis of issues and try to investigate for themselves unlike adhering to cheap propaganda and ever bitter remarks always being issued against the Head of State,’’ Mr Chungu said.

Mr Chungu said that it was unfortunate that some opposition political parties had decided to be critics of President Lungu even on matters of economic development stating that contrary to popular belief that were a waste of tax payers actually it were such trips that brought about bilateral agreements and foreign investment attraction.

He said that Zambia being land linked there was need it took advantage of attracting more investment as well as trade among its neighbors and the international community at large.

The non-governmental organisation has since advised President Lungu to ignore such sentiments from the opposition but that he utilizes every trip for the benefit of all Zambians.

‘‘As Youth Aid we would to advise the Republican President to utilize each and every trip for the benefit of the people and Zambia and the Zambian economy,’’ he said.

The President recently came under strong criticism from the opposition following his recent travel aimed at cementing bilateral relations, trade and attracting foreign investments.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba informed Parliament that President Lungu would continue to make trips they were meant to benefit Zambians.