Former Republican president Edgar Lungu has sent out his heart out to the nine Patriotic Front (PF) members of parliament whose seats were nullified after their expulsion from the party.
On Friday, Lungu held a media briefing in Lusaka where he also accused Republican President Hakainde Hichilema and the ruling UPND government of political interference in the legislative affairs of the state.
Lungu said Zambians should mourn the death of the principles of the ‘Separation of Powers’ and the ‘Rule of Law’ which he claimed were well respected during his presidency under the PF regime.
“For the past three years since President Hakainde Hichilema came into power, we have seen a structured and coordinated campaign to undermine and erode the principle of Separation of Powers” Lungu said.
“Today, I join millions of Zambians to mourn the death of the principle of Separation of Powers in our country. The moment any of the three wings of government accept to be arbitrarily abused or overthrown by the other, then the citizens must declare a national mourning for the funeral of the separation of powers.”
Lungu declared that he will fight using available means with the expelled MPs to ensure they are reinstated into parliament.
“For our affected MPs, I feel your pain and I feel your anguish because you were democratically elected to serve your people and I wish to promise here that I will fight with you all the way” he declared.
“We will do everything possible both politically and legally to ensure that dictatorship does not take root in our country over democracy.”
He added that the nine MPs’ seats were still bona fide and that they were free to return to parliament.
“I wish to point out here that as far the law and democracy is concerned, you are still our MPs and you can go back to parliament in the name and spirit of the rule of law and democracy.”
Parliament has declared nine seats vacant despite PF President Miles Sampa – who initially expelled them – rescinding his decision.
