Sun, 15 Oct 2017 09:38:46 +0000
… but forgiveness is better
By VIOLET TEMBO
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said that as a Christian he believed in forgiveness but that people should not dare him into a boxing ring because he was more than capable of delivering a knockout punch.
The Head of State said he was humbled by the fact that Ndola residents turned out in large numbers to welcome him.
Speaking upon arrival in Ndola at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe airport, President Lungu said the Patriotic Front (PF) was still big contrary to what some people were saying that the party had lost its appeal.
“Look into your heart and do some introspection and say I have offended my friend, let me go and say am sorry. Don’t be too proud because pride is not Godly.
“Forgiveness, repentance and prayer should be ongoing all the time. I know there are people who want to politicize the process and do some drama,” he said.
The Head of State said his heart was always ready to forgive.
“I know that there are some people who want to politicize the whole process and want to play drama and politics and say I have come to seek forgiveness because it is 18th October no, forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation should be ongoing all the time.
“What I want to make very clear is that when I keep quite doesn’t mean I cannot fight.
“I want to make this very clear when I say my heart is big enough it can accommodate all sorts of trouble including nonsense. it doesn’t mean that I cannot fight back. I have a job to do, in doing my job I will make sure that all of you are protected including those who are insulting me because that is my responsibility.
Meanwhile, President Lungu implored Copperbelt residents and the citizenry at large to do self-introspection and look into their hearts and forgive one another for the wrongs done to each other.
He said forgiveness came easily to him because he was a believer and encouraged everyone to open their hearts to repentance and forgiveness as well as reconciliation.
And President Edgar Lungu yesterday made history by becoming the first sitting president to visit senior Chief Nkana’s Palace of the Lamba speaking people on the Copperbelt .
Senior Chief Nkana disclosed this when President Lungu paid a courtesy call at the palace saying this showed the commitment the President had shown to working with the chiefs in the country irrespective of their tribes.
The traditional leader said he was happy that the President had fulfilled his campaign promises of working with traditional leaders as this had boosted investors’ confidence.
Chief Nkana expressed satisfaction that the President was working with traditional leaders in the country to bring about development in the country.
The Chief urged Lufwanyama settlers to appreciate President Lungu’s rule of embracing everyone and all corners of the country.
‘You have made history as the first sitting President to visit chief Nkana chiefdom and commission developmental projects which were constructed by the investors in the gemfields. Investors are delivering because of your hard work and also the environment that has been created for them to work.
“I want to thank you. Settlers suffered to access medical facilities and take children to the nearby school. Now we have these facilities at our door steps,’ he said.
Chief Nkana also appreciated the gesture by Kagem Mine of constructing a clinic and classrooms at Chapula and thereby upgrading it into a secondary school.
He also appealed to the President to consider constructing a room in the area stating that settlers in the area where challenged interms of transport.
He said Kagem Mine which operates in the area had donated a school and a heath facility meant to better people’s livelihood in the area.
And President Lungu thanked the Chief for their roles which did not discriminate anyone as seen by the investment that Kagem Mining were ploughing back through its corporate social responsibility.
