.LUNGU

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –

in Harare, ZIMBABWE
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said access to information is a right for all Zambian’s and no one should be barred from accessing information as stipulated in the Constitution.
President Lungu said he does not want to see any Zambian or media practitioner denied access to information and himself.
Mr Lungu said ever since he ascended to the position of President, he felt isolated as only a few people had access to him.
“We need to change the way of doing things and change things during my presidency,” he said.
Mr Lungu said this when he addressed Zambians living in Zimbabwe during a dinner hosted for him and his entourage by the Zambia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ndiyoyi Mutiti on Wednesday evening.
“So, let us allow people to speak up, the media to cover us, we will allow the media to do its work and we will allow the Zambians to judge for themselves,” Mr Lungu said.
He said he would always allow the media to interview him so that Zambians had the right information.
“No matter how you distort the information (media), Zambians are sufficiently intelligent to know what their President is saying, based on this, I will not bar practitioners from covering me because they have the propensity to distort my messages everyday,” he said.
The President also emphasised on the need for unity among Zambians.
He also advised the people to work hard as it was the only way that they would benefit from Government policies and have more money in their pockets.
“When we say more money in your pocket, we don’t mean that we will give you money, but that we will create a conducive environment for you to make money,” he said.
He said Government was doing everything possible to develop the country and recently approved a loan for water reticulation projects in Western province which the opposition political parties were condemning.
Ms Mutiti said Zambians living in Zimbabwe appreciated the work that President Lungu had done in a short period of time he had been in power.
She said the Zambians in the diaspora and back home were confident that the vision of the new administration would stir the country to higher heights.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba thanked the President for the continued support for the people in the diaspora.
He said there were about 10, 000 Zambians living in Zimbabwe out of which 500 are registered with the embassy.
Former Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga in a vote of thanks on behalf of the Zambians living in Zimbabwe commended Mr Lungu for finding time to interact with them.