Lusaka — People without the Holy Spirit are tampering with the Republican Constitution so as to allow President Frederick Chiluba go for a third term of office, charged former home affairs deputy minister Edwin Hatembo yesterday.

Hatembo who was last month fired by President Chiluba for opposing his third term bid, said he was making a special appeal to all Christians, churches and individuals to pray for the protection of the Constitution.

"I appeal to Christians, Hindus, Moslems, Buddhists, churches and non believers to pray for the protection of the Constitution which is being tampered with by people who have no Holy Spirit," he said. "They should pray for peace and the protection of the Constitution from the power hungry lot.

They should also specifically pray for President Chiluba so that he is able to come up with a proper decision of retiring." Hatembo said President Chiluba had done so well from the time he took over from Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and that no selfish man or woman should endanger the peace Zambia enjoyed under his tenure of office.

"It's for this reason that I beg all the churches registered in Zambia to pray that Zambia goes through the presidential and general elections peacefully," he said. "They should start fasting for peace.

They should also pray for all the MMD hooligans who travelled to all the provincial conferences to cause confusion so that they don't come to disturb the national convention this time. I will also pray as a person that peace prevails on our land." Hatembo said he would pray in advance for the new MMD president and other leaders.

"I will also pray for the out-going President of Zambia so that he can continue guiding whoever will take over from him," he said. "President Chiluba is our parent so we respect him and value his guidance from the inception of the MMD." Hatembo condemned the insulting of first lady Vera Chiluba and called for the immediate arrest of the culprits.

He said Vera was a national mother who should not be insulted at will by junior MMD cadres. "I call upon my former boss (Peter Machungwa) to supervise the arrest of these culprits through the Inspector General of Police Sailas Ngangula."