By GIDEON NYENDWA
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has a chance to break the vicious cycle of harassing former heads of State that has been a trend by letting President Edgar Lungu go without any victimisation, former UPND vice president, Dr Canisius Banda has said.
Dr. Banda said that it was not easy to be president and that was the reason why they were given immunity when doing their work.
He said that all the former presidents after they leave office were victimised and stripped of their immunity which was so painful and a shameful trend that should end.
Dr. Banda said that Mr Hichilema knew better that it was not easy to run for the office of president, it was much easier to run for office.
He said that only unique people were able to occupy the office of the President, that was the reason why people with that mandate deserve everyone’s support during their tenure of office and after they leave office. Dr. Banda said President Hichilema should set a precedence that was different from what all the former presidents did so that when he leaves office no one would harass him and his family.
“Let Lungu go,” Dr. Banda said. He said African countries should learn from western countries who continue giving respect for their former heads of State regardless of the mistakes they might have made while in office. He said Zambians should confer the title of father of the nation on Mr. Lungu by virtue of having been president and the only surviving former head of State. Dr. Banda said that the issue of Mr Lungu being the father of the nation was not up for debate because having served for seven years, he automatically earned that title.
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