By JAMES KUNDA and REBECCA MUSHOTA –

GOVERNMENT is on course with the implementation of development programmes and polices espoused in the Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili has said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kambwili says Government will not dignify baseless utterances on the health of President Edgar Lungu.
Mr Kambwili who is also Chief Government Spokesperson said in a statement yesterday that the PF administration had continued with the developmental agenda in its manifesto after being voted back into Government two months ago.
The Minister’s remarks come in the wake of a statement attributed to Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi, who claims that President Lungu’s administration lacked the competence to manage a Government and the economy.
But Mr Kambwili said the PF’s victory in the January 20 2015, Presidential election was a demonstration of the confidence that Zambians have in the PF Government and its policies.
“So far, Government, under the leadership of his Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is on track and on schedule in the implementation of the development programmes and policies as espoused in the PF manifesto.
“These include acceleration of the ongoing Constitution making process, infrastructure development and the Gender Agenda in which, for the first time in the history of the country, the womenfolk have ascended to high positions of responsibility alongside their male counterparts,” he said.
Mr Kambwili said President Lungu’s crusade to rally Zambians together under the motto, “One Zambia, One Nation,” distinguished and endeared him as a skillful and visionary leader.
“It is, therefore, petty and immature for Ms Nawakwi to question Government’s competence, under the leadership of his Excellency in handling national affairs,” he said.
Mr Kambwili also took a swipe at Fourth Revolution Party president Eric Chanda who was quoted in the media yesterday as questioning the fitness of President Lungu.
“As for the maverick Fourth Revolution party leader, Eric Chanda, Government cannot dignify his baseless utterances on the health of the President as he is not a medical doctor. His comments are a product of crass ignorance,” Mr Kambwili said.
In a related development, the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church of Zambia has disowned one of its Pastors, Bob Sinamusanga, for his ‘unwarranted’ attacks on President Lungu.
The Post newspaper published on March 17, this year, a story under the headline ‘Prayers for Lungu won’t work if he doesn’t stop drinking,’ attributed to Pastor Sinamusanga of Wesleyan Church of Zambia in which he discussed the health of the President.
But the church’s Presiding Bishop Alfred Kalembo said in a statement yesterday that Pastor Sinamusanga was not authorised to issue the statement and was not the spokesperson of the Church.