Church calls for national indaba

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:10:26 +0000

President Michael Sata must call for a National Indaba for all opposition political party leaders, the Church, the Civil Society and other stakeholders to address the continued political polarization the country is going through

Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Reverend Pukuta Mwanza said that calls for a national indaba were made in good faith and government should take a step and welcome the move .

Rev. Mwanza said that the PF government should hold a national Indaba where various critical national issues would be addressed.

He said the church, has always advocate for decent politics and leadership, adding that it was time President Sata took the opportunity to build on the country’s political, economic and social change by allowing stakeholders  to speak freely.

Rev. Mwanza said that, “Especially issues to do with the poaching of MMD or opposition Members of Parliament. It is important for President Sata to find a common goal with the opposition on how such appointments can be made. Those appointments are morally questionable and therefore a threat to the democracy.”

He said that failure to address such issues through a round table meeting with affected stakeholders would not help the PF government.

“This country will not progress in the manner President Sata is doing things. The question should be, does the leadership listen in order to accommodate divergent views? It is our view that the current government should ensure that they protect and help democracy flourish by promoting democratic principles and good governance,” he said.

He said that many Zambians have been let down because the PF government had not shown leadership in the manner they had handled issues such as the many commissions of inquiry set up to probe perceived corruption in the previous government.

Rev. Mwanza said that the church has always stood firm to address the problems of leadership under the PF government, adding that many concerns have been raised following President Sata’s inaugural speech in Parliament.