Kalusha Bwalya
Soccer legend Kalusha Bwalya has saluted President-elect Edgar Lungu for running an “elaborate campaign” that led to him winning the tightly contested August 11 polls.
The 1988 African Footballer of the Year says time has now come for all Zambians, regardless of their political affiliations to move in unity under the spirit of One Zambia One Nation.
“In every game there is a winner and a loser, I must know because I have won some and lost some before. What is important is once you have lost, you conduct an introspection into your game, figure out where you went wrong so that you can stand up, dust yourself and win the next game,” Bwalya said in a statement.
He says looking at the “immense good-will” Lungu has received from the local and international monitors; key among them, the influential local churches, the African Union, the European Union the United States government and many more, it is clear that he won the game fair and square by all standards.
“In politics just like in sports, the vanquished always have a recourse to challenge the result and take a loss with some dignity instead of insulting the referee and supporters of the rival team. You may face the same team in future just like you may face the same referee so it is important to be sober in ones criticism after losing. We are one country and we must rally behind a winning candidate whether we like him or not because that is what democracy entails, he said”
Bwalya says he enjoyed rooting for President Lungu whom he describes as a leader whose “humility and perceptiveness can sometimes be disarming but nevertheless, uniting and progressive.”
“I would like to say working the campaign trail and kicking the ball for the Lungu winning campaign team is something I shall recall with nostalgia for many years to come.
“I urge everyone across the political divide to learn to win with humility and also lose with humility because we are all children or indeed citizens of one country. Let us cherish our God given peace and resent violence, as President Lungu has urged. Bitterness kills.
“Congratulations President Lungu and wishing you the best as you start administering Zambia for the next five years. The good thing is you have a foundation to build on as you try to create more jobs and reduce poverty.”
Kalusha is one of the many “heavy-weights” that backed President Lungu in his gruelling re-election bid in a race that had eight other candidates.
President Lungu was on 15th August declared President-elect of Zambia awaiting inauguration set for next week Tuesday according to State House spokesman Amos Chanda.