“I may be forced to suspend some rights”

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 14:19:44 +0000

BY KALOBWE BWALYA and PRINCE CHIBAWAH

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has asked Zambians to forgive him if he suspends some rights in a bid to curb acts of sabotage in the country.

The Head of State told marketeers at the gutted Lusaka City Market that  he may be forced to suspend some rights for a while to safe guard government and private property.

And speaking to journalists upon arrival from Ethiopia, the President said the fire at the market showed that security officers needed to up their game and take necessary measures to curb attacks of sabotage because people’s livelihoods are affected.

He warned that even if it meant taking unprecedented  measures to stop the acts of sabotage, government would do so.

The President was accompanied to the City Market by the  security and defense chiefs, minister of Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo, and presidential aides, Amos Chanda  and Kaizer Zulu.

President Lungu  said Cabinet will sit today to review the reports on the fire as well as other acts of sabotage witnessed in the recent past.

He said Cabinet would discuss the exact measures Government will put in place following the fire that destroyed City Market, a modern market built by the Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) government.

The President drove to the market upon arrival from Ethiopia. Using a smaller motorcade, the President went to the market and entered the gutted market to inspect the damage.

A visibly angry President warned that the culprits should be brought to book.

The solemn looking head of state said on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) from Ethiopia where he had gone to attend the African Union summit that government will not sit by and watch people destroy ordinary people’s source of livelihoods.

“In light of this calamity we will come up with serious measures and based on the report I will receive some people might have to lose their rights,” President Lungu said in a terse interview with journalists.

President Lungu lamented that people have lost their livelihoods, savings and merchandise.

The President later went to City Market for an on spot check.

The arrival of President Lungu at Lusaka’s populous market brought euphoria, sending crowds into singing songs of victory while others wept.

President Lungu was accompanied by service chiefs.

Scores of people gathered at the market some just to have a glimpse of President Lungu.

Meanwhile, Zambia Police has now increased to K500,000 from K300,00  the reward  to any person or persons with information leading to the apprehension and successful prosecution of criminals behind the torching of  ZESCO pylons including  the spate of fires that has rocked the country.