A Morning of Disappointment and Legal Clarity, Amb Mukwita Must Not Mislead The Public
A Morning of Disappointment and Legal Clarity, Amb Mukwita Must Not Mislead The Public.
By ; Tobbius Chilembo Hamunkoyo;
LLB, Author, Scientist, Political and Governance activist
13/06/25
It was 4:30 hours this morning, a time when Zambia is still wrapped in the calm of dawn, yet my mind was anything but at peace.
With the quiet hum of my phone illuminating the darkness, I reached for it instinctively, eager to catch up on the latest developments on social media. Little did I know, this morning’s discovery would send a wave of disappointment coursing through me.
As I scrolled through news updates, my eyes landed on an article penned by Ambassador Anthony Mukwita. Intrigued, I began reading, absorbing each statement until I stumbled upon a particular assertion that left me shaken.
Mukwita suggested that President Hakainde Hichilema in his address to the nation yesterday, should have gone further by apologizing for withdrawing benefits from former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. And in that moment, something inside me shifted, disappointment, frustration, and a profound sense of disbelief.
My hands trembled with the weight of my emotions. That unmistakable sensation of betrayal settled deep within, and I could no longer ignore the glaring reality—Mukwita was playing politics. Surely, the law is clear, straightforward, and does not bow to sentiment.
Former President Lungu, once advised by concerned Zambians to retire and focus on his post-political life, initially accepted that reality. No one disputed his contributions to Zambia’s development, nor his position as a former head of state.
Yet, the story takes a twist. While some citizens urged him to embrace retirement, others whispered the call of a return to the political stage.
Lungu made his decision—he officially resigned from active politics, informing the secretary to the cabinet of his choice. Following this, he was granted his benefits, enjoying them without resistance, just as stipulated by law.
However, there is an undeniable truth within that same legal framework, once a former president reenters active politics, those benefits cease.
This is explicitly stated in Section 5 of the Benefits of Former Presidents Act , which outlines the circumstances under which benefits are not payable.
The law states that a former president shall not receive pension or benefits if they are engaged in active politics or receiving a salary from the government.
The Act further defines “active politics” as any act indicating an intention to hold elective or appointive office, or the actual holding of such an office in a political party or organization .
This very law applied to the late President Kenneth Kaunda between 1994 to 1996, when he stepped back into the political arena, and it was enforced upon former President Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba as well. The precedent is strong and undeniable.
And so, when Mukwita framed the situation as though President Hichilema had personally withdrawn Lungu’s benefits, the argument crumbled beneath scrutiny. It was not President Hakainde Hichilema. It was not a political vendetta. It was the law, a law that has remained consistent over the years.
Zambians must understand how the law functions. It is not about individuals or their personal decisions; it is about governance, order, and precedent.
Ambassador Mukwita must acknowledge this truth rather than attempting to sway public perception with misplaced narratives.
As I set my phone down, a thought lingered, In a time when misinformation is easily spread, the responsibility to seek truth has never been greater.
Mindset Must Change
