Dr. Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s former President, has once again taken to Facebook to peddle a misleading claim: that he “willingly and freely” handed over power. This revisionist narrative is not only false but an insult to the intelligence of Zambians. The truth is simple Dr. Lungu lost the 2021 election, and the Constitution demanded he step down. His attempts to frame his exit as an act of generosity are a dangerous distortion of history.
As a trained lawyer and former Head of State, Dr. Lungu knows better. The Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016 is clear: power is transferred through legal processes, not personal choice. Articles 101 to 105 outline the rules for elections, disputes, and transitions. If Dr. Lungu believed the election was flawed, why did he not challenge it in court? The Constitutional Court was available, yet he walked away not out of goodwill, but because he had no legal grounds to contest his loss.
His repeated claims of voluntarily stepping down are not just misleading; they undermine Zambia’s democracy. Democracy does not rely on the benevolence of individuals but on laws, institutions, and the will of the people. Dr. Lungu’s narrative suggests otherwise, and it risks inciting his followers while eroding trust in the electoral process.
Zambians have shown remarkable restraint in the face of such provocations. In other nations, such rhetoric could spark unrest. Yet, the people have chosen peace and unity over division. This should be celebrated, not exploited. Law enforcement, too, has shown patience, but silence must not be mistaken for weakness.
Dr. Lungu must also be thankful that Zambia has a level-headed President in Hakainde Hichilema, who, on so many occasions, has been deliberately provoked to cause a reaction. Yet, President Hichilema has consistently demonstrated great restraint and respect for the rule of law. His leadership has been a stabilizing force in a nation that could easily have been thrown into chaos by the kind of rhetoric Dr. Lungu continues to propagate.
Dr. Lungu still has a chance to salvage his legacy. He can choose to be a statesman, contributing to national dialogue without spreading falsehoods. But if he continues down this path, history will remember him not as a father of the nation, but as a leader who clung to power in word, if not in deed.
The message is clear: stop the distortions, respect the Constitution, and let truth prevail. Zambia’s democracy is bigger than any one individual. It is time Dr. Lungu recognized that.