EDGAR LUNGU THE ANOINTED ONE

Hon. Egdar Chagwa Lungu MP

The story of Prophet Elijah and Elisha in the old testament of the bible is a depiction of a transfer of anointing power and influence from one great man to a loyal disciple. The story has it that Elisha followed Elijah around everywhere he went to the extent that Elijah would at times get irritated but the young man persisted until when his master was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha inherited his mantle and acquired a double portion of his master’s anointing. He went on to do great exploits and miracles. Elisha became so powerful that even when he had died, his bones could still raise the dead!

In the Patriotic Front, Edgar Chagwa Lungu is fondly referred to as the anointed one, the one mentored and entrusted by his master to carryon his legacy. President Michael Sata in the last days of his presidency entrusted Edgar with two very senior cabinet portfolios of Minister of Justice and Minster of Defence as well as the position of Secretary General of the Party, this was taken as an indication of his will and preference for a successor in the party circles. This was further crowned when he was left with the instruments of power before President Sata left for London where he died. Edgar had to be summoned from Angola where he had gone on national duty to receive the instruments of power from president Sata before he left for London.

Tough tested humility

Edgar Chagwa Lungu has never admitted to having presidential ambitions; throughout the three years of PF rule under President Sata, he consistently said that being president was not one of his aspirations. Whilst there was talk of two camps having arisen in PF with one popularly referred to as the cartel, Edgar played a consistent role of arbiter having also served as chairperson for the party’s disciplinary committee.

To many independent observers, it is his humility and loyalty that saw him becoming the PF presidential candidate, but that could also be his weakness, since he is viewed as one under pressure from forces bigger than himself to step into President Sata’s shoes, which are a lot bigger and heavier for a man of a less forceful character.

His ascendance to the PF Presidency was marred with serious battles, he often times came in direct confrontation with the acting President Guy Scott who is holding the instruments of power that cabinet handed to him from Edgar when President Sata died. The trials and tribulations that Edgar and loyal PF members have gone through have acted as a serious litmus test for Edgar’s tenacity and resilience as a national leader.

Confronting the past

Edgar has not had an easy professional career as a lawyer, with the Law Association of Zambia LAZ having had to suspend his practicing license over allegations of misuse of client finances. The matter according to Lungu had some political connotations and his license has since been given back to him.

Strong allegations abound about his social life and particular reference is always made to his liking for beer and this is a weapon for his detractors. But whether or not this is consequential to his leadership capabilities is a matter for the public to judge for themselves.

Blurred vision Vs Sata’s legacy

The wide section of Zambians who believe Edgar is the right man do so purely on the premise that they see him as a shadow of President Sata and hope that he would continue with the good works that he started especially in improving the country’s road infrastructure.

Given this backdrop, it is not easy to understand what the thrust of Edgar’s campaign message is. He has consistently said that he has no vision of his own but is stepping up to rally with the vision of late President Michael Sata. He has not clearly spelt out his understanding of Sata’s vision but has instead gone ahead to reverse some key positions that the late President had taken such as the decision not to recognise Henry Sosala as paramount chief of the bemba speaking people.

Service chiefs salute Edgar

Before President Sata died and without his consent Edgar released the final draft constitution in parliament a document the president Sata said Zambia did not need since the country already had a functional constitution and as far as he was concerned there was no animal driven constitution so he did not understand what people meant when they demanded for a people driven constitution.

President Sata presided over the decision to fire nurses that protested poor conditions and his government said it would be irresponsible of it to re-instate the said nurses. Edgar said he would re-instate them and to that effect government has announced that they will be brought back.

The PF policies under President Sata particularly on the economy were premised on a huge investment in infrastructure at the expense of deliver of social services and a lowering of the cost of living for majority Zambians. Edgar suggests that he will drive down the cost of essential goods and services.

 Endorsements and propaganda

The Edgar Lungu campaign has managed to get endorsements from other political parties such as Alliance for Better Zambia headed by controversial catholic priest Father Frank Bwalya and some MPs from the Movement for Multi Party Democracy.  Emmanuel Mwamba recently informed the nation that he was certain that PF candidate Edgar Lungu was wining the upcoming election based on the large number of MPs backing him and who will campaign for him in their constituencies. Even the daughter to late President Mirriam and some of her family members are reported to have endorsed Edgar even though late President Mwanawasa’s widow Maureen is campaigning for UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema. It is not how many MPs campaign that guarantees victory in an election but the individual voters. The amount of competing propaganda ahead of the January 20, 2014 elections is interesting indeed.

A lot is yet to be seen in terms of campaigns from his side since this is when he is geared up after the settling of intra-party wrangles and the court process around his candidature.