Zambia
Former Zambia president Guy Scott has condemned president Edgar Lungu over the remarks he made recently at the just concluded United nations summit in New York.
Lungu had told the UN 71st summit that Africa did not need any strong leaders but strong institutions. He added that his country endeavored to build a peaceful, just and inclusive society “through the consolidation” of power.
Zambia President described his country as a democratic nation with an inclusive society where its people enjoyed many freedoms.
He noted that the importance of democracy in a society cannot be over-emphasised. He said it was an extremely important aspect of a political system, which empowers people to freely participate in governance.
“As you are aware, Zambia held elections on 11th August 2016. Indeed this was yet another opportunity for Zambia to demonstrate her commitment to upholding and promoting tenets of democracy,” he said.
However, Scoot rubbished Lungu’s claims, saying it was sad that he could “ blatantly tell untruths to the UN Summit” when he was well aware that the Zambian people were denied their rights” leading up to the presidential elections”.
According to Scoot, it was baffling that Lungu chose to blatantly lie to the international community when he was well aware of the happenings in his country where Zambians were being denied their rights.
Lungu lied at UN summit – Ex-Zambian leader Scott – https://t.co/47sRTmYglH pic.twitter.com/bk8KHk1itM
— TODAY (@todayng) September 26, 2016
The former president highlighted the closure of the post publication as an example of how the government cracked down on opposition institutions that were critical of the ruling party.
Zambian authorities ordered the closure of The Post Newspapers Limited on June 21, demanding $6.1m in tax arreas.
The Post newspaper itself described Lungu’s speech as an “embarrassment and hypocrisy.”
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