Former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu says President Hakainde Hichilema must “desist from using cowardly and dirty political schemes” to allegedly bar him from contesting the 2026 presidential election.
And Mr Lungu has accused State House of designing schemes to undermine the 2026 presidential and general elections.
Speaking last night, Mr Lungu said to win elections, one must work for the people and the economy of the country and not plot to retain power against the will of the people.
“HH must face me and must desist from using cowardly and dirty political schemes to bar me from participating in the elections,” Mr Lungu said.
He said instead of focusing on the numerous challenges and crises facing the country such as load shedding, high cost of living, poverty and unemployment, lack of economic opportunities, volatile exchange rate, rising debts, rising inflation and the economic collapse, President Hichilema is engaging in schemes to retain power at all costs even at the expense of destroying democracy and rule of law.
“He has failed to reduce the cost of living. And You are aware that there had been legal petitions against my eligibility to stand as a presidential candidate in both 2021 elections and the future. This matter has been settled by the Constitutional Court and so the reopening of what was settled remains illegal and a clear act of lawlessness.
It is now common knowledge that the petitioners are surrogates of State House. My Hope and prayers are that there will be respect accorded to my application currently so that they can help restore confidence in the courts and the judiciary,” Mr Lungu said.
And Mr Lungu alleged that the schemes orchestrated by the UPND government had been heightened, from secret issuance of NRCs to the secret registration of voters, further accusing the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of not being transparent in their electoral reforms works.
“ECZ has not bothered to publicize their exercise and has not bothered to conduct it in an open manner. All these devious schemes are being implemented to attempt to destroy the opposition, decimate viable and credible candidates and present an opportunity for the UPND to seal the 2026 election,” Mr Lungu said.
He said the alleged participation of democratic institutions such as Parliament, the judiciary and ECZ in the alleged illegal schemes purportedly being championed by State House will amount to treachery and reverse the country’s democratic values.
“These actions are threatening our national security and our cherished peace. We make this call to Zambians who are the real custodians of both our peace and security that democratic dividends earned so far must not be lost,” said Mr Lungu.