Worst President Claim Laughable

Rev. Lungu Slams Sumaili’s Attacks on Hichilema as an Insult to Children who are beneficiaries of Free Education

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24 – (10-09-2025) - Evangelical Youth Alliance International (EYI) President Moses Lungu has strongly criticized former Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs, Reverend Godfridah Sumaili, accusing her of misleading the public, insulting Zambians, and misrepresenting the church in her recent remarks against President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka, Mr. Lungu said Rev. Sumaili’s views were personal and did not represent the position of the wider church. 

He described her comments as “misleading” and “an insult” to millions of Zambians who are benefitting from government policies.

Mr. Lungu defended the free education policy, saying it had transformed lives and opened opportunities for children across the country.

“Reverend Godfridah Sumaili’s statements are not just misleading. They are an insult to the millions of children seizing the opportunity provided by free education with both hands. Free education under President Hichilema is not a slogan — it is a life-changing opportunity for millions of children who would otherwise be left behind,” he said.

He noted that, for the first time in decades, children in both rural and urban areas were entering classrooms without being chased away for failure to pay school fees. He acknowledged challenges with infrastructure but attributed them to years of neglect under the Patriotic Front (PF) government that Rev. Sumaili once supported.

“To condemn a policy that is breaking the cycle of poverty is to condemn national development itself,” Mr. Lungu added.

The EYI president further dismissed claims that the United Party for National Development (UPND) government had “done nothing” since assuming office. He cited key achievements, including debt restructuring, restoration of peace, mass recruitment of teachers and health workers, an increase in the Constituency Development Fund, and a stronger fight against corruption.

“For her to claim that the government has done nothing is laughable. This administration has restructured the country’s debt, ending economic suffocation; ended violence on the streets; recruited massive numbers of teachers and health workers; increased the Constituency Development Fund to reach local communities; and embarked on a clear fight against corruption that the previous regime allowed to flourish,” he said.

Rev. Lungu also rejected Rev. Sumaili’s praise of former president Edgar Lungu, saying it was offensive to citizens who suffered under his rule.

“To hold Edgar Lungu as a model of vision is an insult to Zambians who endured economic collapse, arbitrary arrests, grand corruption scandals, and unprecedented national debt under his weak leadership. Zambians are still paying the price of PF’s reckless mismanagement today,” he stated.

He added that while no government was flawless, the current administration was laying a foundation for prosperity compared to what he termed the “quicksand of corruption and poverty” left by the PF.

“Rev. Sumaili’s desperate attempt to brand Hichilema as the ‘worst President’ will not erase the truth. Zambians know the difference between leadership that steals from them and leadership that is fighting for them,” he said.

Rev. Lungu urged the clergy to fulfill their biblical duty to pray for and support national leaders instead of discrediting them, warning that misrepresentation risked turning spiritual leaders into political actors.

“The Bible commands us to pray for those in authority. Even if you dislike the leader, you are not exempt from God’s instruction. Misrepresenting the church and defending corruption is not the calling of a servant of God,” he said.

On constitutional reforms, he advised caution over Bill No. 7, stressing the need for thorough examination before church leaders take firm positions.

“Before taking positions, we need to examine the bill’s merits and demerits. Where the bill is wrong, let government be corrected; where it promotes something good, let the opposition acknowledge it. What we must avoid is falling into political agendas without understanding the bill,” he cautioned.

Rev. Lungu called for a national meeting of pastors to reflect on the church’s role in promoting good governance and moral values.

“No government is perfect, but this one is laying a foundation for prosperity. As Christians, our obligation is to support the Head of State, pray for him, and stand with him. History will not be kind to those who defended corruption while attacking progress,” he said.