By NATION REPORTER
TORMENTING former President Edgar Lungu and his acquaintances using State machinery should stop, as the former Head of State deserves respect not ridicule, Eastern Province chiefs have said.
The chiefs said the raid on the Esther Lungu Foundation Trust by the investigative wings was tantamount to harassment which should be condemned with the contempt it deserved.
Senior Chief Madzimawe, the representative of chiefs in the province said Zambia was a country with rules and laws pertaining to governance.
Senior Chief Madzimawe said that it was unfortunate that people were taking matters in their own hands due to mere hatred.
He said that people should not use government wings to fix others just because they did not like them but to ensure that they followed the laid down procedure.
“The brotherliness should be maintained and people should not be excited and the government should be left to operate freely not to be used as a tool to fix opponents,” Senior Chief Madzimawe said.
Meanwhile, Chief Mpepo of the Bemba said that the search on the former first lady was very unfortunate and that there were right channels to follow.
He said that people were taking laws in their own hands and wondered if they even had search warrants.
Chief Mpepo said that was a criminal offence because the first family were being humiliated even after serving the country diligently.
He said the former head of State had been quiet for a long time despite the many attacks and innuendos being thrown at him.
“I just want to thank the former head of State. I think he has been very quiet, which is a good sign of a statesman. Now it appears things are getting out of hand,” Chief Mpepo said.
He said the former first family were not criminals for them to be degraded the way they were by the investigative wings who forced their way in the Esther Lungu Foundation were they broke a lock on a container without permission.
And former Defence minister George Mpombo said the gauntlet thrown at the government and investigative wings was therefore appropriate and welcome.
Mr Mpombo said that some people had been gripped in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.
“People have allowed hate to be their natural language, native language and mother tongue to the serious detriment of national unity and cohesion,” Mr Mpombo said.
Mr Lungu, who after losing the August 12 election has kept a low profile, has challenged the investigative wings to go after him and not his close associates and family.
EAST CHIEFS FUME
