By SIMON MUNTEMBA
STOP political violence or else I will be forced to evoke my constitutional powers to protect the country, President Edgar Lungu has warned.
And President Lungu has unearthed a ploy by the opposition to replicate a Malawian ploy in which the people revolted against the police in their quest to cause anarchy in the country.
Speaking to journalists after he took some time fishing at State House yesterday, President Lungu warned that he was prepared to take draconian measures to protect peace if pushed against the wall.
He said the perpetrators of violence should avoid pushing him against the wall because there was a limit to what he would tolerate in terms of provocation from them.
“If the rules and laws in place are not respected by those charged with the responsibility, I have my own laws given to me by the Zambian constitution. If ECZ (Electoral Commission of Zambia) or the Police can’t do their part, I have powers in the constitution to invoke and don’t push me against that route,” President Lungu warned.
He said peace and unity Zambia was enjoying was attained at great sacrifice and he was not going to allow political mischief to breed anarchy and make the country ungovernable in the name of democracy.
The Head of State also revealed that he had information that the opposition were sponsoring violence to cause anarchy in the country but warned that he would not allow them to succeed.
He said his government would decisively deal with known perpetrators of violence who on the other hand were playing victim.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has expressed concern with the escalating numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country.
He also warned that he would not hesitate to use his constitutional powers to protect the people if institutions that are mandated to enforce Covid-19 guidelines fail to do their work.
He said people will not be allowed to die because of elections and failure by institutions to enforce the guidelines.
President Lungu also encouraged Zambians to seriously take up fish farming as that would contribute to the country’s food security.
