Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Governance, Elections, Advocacy and Research Services –GEARS- Initiative Zambia says opposition PF members are the ones bringing former President Edgar Lungu back into active politics thereby threatening his continued enjoyment of retirement benefits.
GEARS Initiative Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says if the former head of state is still active in politics as he indicated when PF members of parliament visited him at his house last week, the law must be applied regarding his benefits.
Mr Chipenzi says he hopes that the former head of state had a slip of the tongue when he said that he’s still active in politics.
He has since accused PF members of not having divorced President Lungu from active politics as they continue frequenting still his house even when he relinquished his position as party president and appointed a new party leader.
Mr Chipenzi has advised PF members to air their grievances through acting party President Given Lubinda.
He states that as long as former President Lungu still entertains PF members he will be considered as still being active in politics.
But Patriotic Front (PF) Media Director Antonio Mwanza says the ruling United Party for National Development Government is offside to be considering withholding former president Lungu’s retirement benefits.
Speaking to Q-NEWS, Mr Mwanza says the former head of state is not active in politics and currently does not hold any elective or appointed position in the Patriotic Front Party.
Mr. Mwanza says under the current law, there is no ground for withholding the former President’s retirement benefits unless the New Dawn Administration is looking to amend the law.
He has accused the New Dawn Administration of trying to silence Mr Lungu because they think the former head of state wants to contest the 2026 elections, the reason why they are considering withholding his benefits.