EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU – A FAITHFUL AND DYNAMIC HEIR
By Sunday Chilufya Chanda

On 20th September, 2011 the Zambian people entrusted the management of the affairs of this great nation in the hands of the Patriotic Front under the able leadership of that great son of the soil, who sadly passed on, on 28thOctober, 2014. His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata – May His Soul Rest in Peace.

The late President Sata, who was the founding father of the Patriotic Front, was a gallant leader who served the people of Zambia selflessly with a passion to improve the living standards of our people especially the poorest.

It is not uncommon to hear about inheritors of many enterprises that have either stunted or even ceased to exist after the pioneer’s demise. The vision in such instances has dimed and disappeared into a black hole of obliviousness, dragging down with it the vision carrier’s legacy.

On the other hand, we have also heard of inspiring cases of diligent heirs that have honoured the memory of their progenitors by raising the levels and expanding the dimensions of their inheritance.


These have steadfastly run with the vision on track and apace, with their eyes resolutely focussed on accomplishing the vision.
The Patriotic Front and the Nation of Zambia are witnesses of a refreshing example of the latter.

President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is part of a rare collection of jewels that honour the founder’s vision and raise it to higher dimensions.

Since His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu took over the leadership of the Patriotic Front through the mandate given to him by the party in 2015, and through the Presidential elections of 2015 and 2016, the Patriotic Front as a political party has continued to grow from strength to strength.

As President of the Patriotic Front, he has demonstrated a leadership style that has been about more than just a title or a designation; he has rolled up his sleeves and has mingled among us as one of us. He works with us, he laughs with us and he cries with us. Therein lies one of his key strengths; his down to earth humility. His warm and sincere infectious influence and inspiration has rubbed on to the youth and the women and permeated through every social, economic and regional demographic across the nation.

 This has had a domino effect that has translated into landslide victories in Ward, Constituency, Council Chairperson and Mayor Elections across the length and breadth of Zambia.

Our Party President’s influence is spread through his passion to make Zambia a better place for all.
He is an aggressive warrior when it comes to delivering for Zambians; and a saint when it comes to treating people with respect. He models empathy and generosity, as he walks in love.

But then there have been a few wolves in sheep skins that once pledged unwavering loyalty to him with daily “loyalty defines a man” platitudes and yet they harboured ill-will and malevolence and went against everything the Patriotic Front stands for.
With his usual conciliatory and amiable characteristics in the mould of the late Michael Chilufya Sata, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu gave them a chance to see the light, but they mistook his meekness for weakness. The result? They have found themselves with their tails between their legs- whimpering from their self-inflicted mortal wounds of foolhardiness.
Our President is humble and open: but firm. His humility and openness without compromising the vision of the PF and the constitution of Zambia have been pivotal to his success and cannot be taken for granted.

President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has replicated the success of his Christian values and work ethic from the party to his execution of duties as President of the Republic of Zambia.
He is consumed with zeal to make Zambia a better place for all and Zambian people are able to see and point at the various projects that have been accomplished under his leadership.

True to his style and character, President Lungu has maintained maturity and composure even in the face of bizarre provocation by some opposition leaders. At the helm of their parties for more than a decade, some of these acrimonious antagonists have never been elected by popular vote within their own parties; yet they make the loudest noises for democracy in the nation. They bellyache about dialogue externally; yet supress and divergent views and voices within their parties. In spite of the opposition’s acrimonious duplicity and ill-will, His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu maintains goodwill and remains open to dialogue with them!

All the while, President Edgar Lungu has been accelerating the massive infrastructure projects inherited from the late President Michael Sata.

 Through the Seventh National Development Plan President Lungu’s vision, foresight and inspired guidance have ushered in a new integrated multi-sectoral era of development in Zambia, firmly putting the country on the path to becoming a middle-income country by 2030 as stipulated in the Vision 2030.

The Patriotic Front and the Republic of Zambia are in good hands.

His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s stewardship is reminiscent of the account of the faithful servants narrated in the Gospels who put to good use the talents that were handed to them.

The Patriotic Front and the People of Zambia say to him:
 “Well done good and faithful servant…we would like you to continue beyond 2021”


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