THIS is not time for politicking but working, says President Edgar Lungu. He said he was disappointed that people were still talking about 2016 general elections.

Speaking after a cleaning exercise organised by Cavendish University Zambia in Lusaka yesterday, President Lungu said political leaders should work together for the common good.

He said the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Health campaign was not for PF alone but for all Zambians.

“So let us work as one because when Cholera comes, it will not choose on whether you are MMD, PF or UNPD. It will affect all of us,” President Lungu said.

“I am very disappointed that people are still talking about 2016 general elections, that ‘people did not vote for me’. This is not time for politicking but working. Time for campaigns is 2021 and not now. So I am appealing to all the residents of Lusaka, [people] across the country and political leaders to put aside their politicking. People should realise that not everything is politics, especially the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Health campaign. People should own the campaign. It is not for PF.”

President said people wanted leaders to work for Zambia and that the PF government was just doing that.

“Ifyo bantu bale fwaya ku bombela ichalo, naifwe efyo tulechita not ukulaumanafye (what people want is to work for this country and we are doing just that, not having differences always).… Tufwile bonse tubombele ichalo (we have to work together for the country) that is what people want because Zambia is bigger than all of us,” said President Lungu.

Local government minister Vincent Mwale commended President Lungu for the introduction of a Statutory Instrument that would aid the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Health campaign.

“The bill which was passed yesterday [Friday] in Parliament was a clear testimony that government was committed in making sure that the country is clean, green and health,” said Mwale.

Other government officials in attendance were health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya, Lusaka Province minister Bowman Lusambo and acting Lusaka mayor Chilando Chitangala, among others.