My focus is prosperity for Zambia, says President Lungu

By SIMON MUNTEMBA MY principal focus is not on the next election, but the prosperity of the next generation of Zambians, President Edgar Lungu has said. And President Lungu has urged Zambians to embrace shared identity and collective responsibility, and reject name-calling. Mr Lungu was speaking during the Lusaka provincial conference for the Patriotic Front (PF) yesterday. He said there was need for Zambians to do only that which benefits and strengthens the nation first. “Together, we can build the Zambia we all want. Our children are our future. I have repeatedly stated that; my principal focus is not on the next election, but on the next generation of Zambians,” President Lungu said. He said it was for this reason that his Government has continued to place “investing in its people,” at the centre of the transformative development agenda. President Lungu also called on Zambians to choose to collectively defeat Covid-19 and other common challenges, while continuing to work together to transform Zambia into “a prosperous middle income country by 2030.” He said by working together, Zambia can achieve remarkable economic success and become a high-income economy in one generation. To achieve this, he said, Zambians must embrace shared identity and collective responsibility, and reject cynicism. “Your tribe and my tribe is Zambian. We are all Zambian first and foremost. Therefore, let us seek to do only that which benefits and strengthens Zambia first and foremost. Our common heritage is deeply embedded in our nation’s creed: “one Zambia, one nation.” Though we are many, we are one tribe – Zambian,” he said. Meanwhile, President Lungu noted that elections in a vibrant party such as PF could sometimes be fierce and competitive. He, therefore, called for sober minds and maturity as members exercise their democratic right to choose leaders at provincial level. He said PF will continue to uphold intra party democracy by affording an opportunity to the members to choose their own leaders, and not imposing leaders on the people. The President however said love for each other and mutual respect between those elected and those not elected is what will hold the party together. He urged all participants to arise from the conference as one force geared to make a difference in the nation beyond April and August this year. Mr Lungu encouraged PF members to be proud because his government has done great things since coming into office, including the building of roads, bridges, schools, universities, hospitals and houses.