Against All Odds: Zambia’S President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’S Rough Journey to State HouseHumility Edgar Lungu has been known for many things but humility for a man of influence in a country where people often get over-consumed by their own self-importance sets him several paces apart from other politicians or national leaders. Observers have sometimes described his humility as his most admirable quality and, to many people - especially the common folk who make up the largest part of Zambias population - his most endearing attribute. Tenacity If there was one word to describe Edgar Lungu as a late-blooming politician facing a vicious power struggle to replace Zambias fifth President Michael Sata, tenacious would be that word. He needed bags of it, first, to survive the bitterly fought internal war to win the Patriotic Fronts nomination to stand as its candidate in the 2015 Presidential election occasioned by Satas death and, later, to fend off arch-rival Hakainde Hichilema of the opposition UPND in another closely contested Presidential poll. Politician Politicians make their names for any number of reasons or actions. Some for their ruthlessness, others for their brashness, cunning or indeed kindness. Edgar Lungu seems to have crafted a name for himself simply by cleverly playing the role of the political tyro who knew little about the game...the green horn the opposition made the fatal mistake of underrating. Peace-loving It is hard to imagine any other Zambian politician would so willingly have yielded to another the instruments of power left with them in accordance with the law by a sitting president, as Michael Sata did when he left Edgar Lungu to serve in his place the night he left for the UK to seek medical help in 2014. When Sata died in hospital, there were many 'expert' voices advising Lungu to keep hold onto the instruments of power, rather than decline to the incumbent Vice-President Guy Scott. Lungu happily handed over the instruments to a man who would then go on to do almost all in his powers to hinder his ambition to win the subsequent Presidential election. This is because he sought peace. I want to be remembered as an ordinary person who became President, a person who brought ordinary and human characteristics to the office of the Presidency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Hot FM radio interview October 2015. By Anthony Mukwita. |
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Against All Odds: Zambia's President Edgar Chagwa Lungu's Rough Journey to ... Anthony Mukwita No preview available - 2017 |
Against All Odds: Zambia's President Edgar Chagwa Lungu's Rough Journey to ... Anthony Mukwita No preview available - 2017 |
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acting president African Anthony Mukwita Bwalya called candidate central committee Chawama Chiluba conference constitution contest convention Copperbelt country’s decision delegates Edgar Chagwa Lungu election electoral Esther Nyawa Lungu event father football Frederick Chiluba Gabon Guy Scott Hakainde Hichilema Hichilema history of Zambia Home Affairs Inonge Wina interview January Kabimba Kabwe Kalusha Kenneth Kaunda lawyer leader leadership Levy Mwanawasa Lozi Lubinda Lusaka Masebo Michael Sata Minister of Defence motorcade Mulungushi Rock Mwamba national chairperson National Heroes Stadium newspaper November opposition party president party’s Patriotic Front perhaps PF president politician poll President Edgar Lungu President Lungu president of Zambia President Sata presidential ruling party ruling PF Rupiah Banda sacked Sata’s seemed sixth President Tasila things tribal UNIP UPND vice president vote Wina Zambian politics ZNBC