UPND CASTIGATED OVER KABILA VISIT CRITICISM

Sat, 24 Feb 2018 10:34:13 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

UPND leadership must stop trivialising Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila’s visit to Zambia for cheap political expediency because it is in the interest of peace and stability in the region to host the President, former UPND deputy spokesperson, Edwin Lifwekelo has said.

Mr Lifwekelo said that there was nothing wrong with President Edgar Lungu hosting his counterpart, President Kabila because the invitation was well intended.

He pointed out that being the deputy chair of the Troika of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, President Lungu had a duty to engage leaders to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Mr Lifwekelo reiterated that following the increasing number of refugees in the country from Congo, it was imperative for President Lungu to engage President Kabila.

Mr Lifwekelo wondered who else President Lungu’s critics were expecting himto hand over the infighting in Congo DR if not President Kabila.

“So the UPND wanted President Lungu to invite the rebels? It is Kabila who is the Head of State of that country until when we will be told that there is another President. So it is President Kabila, President Lungu was supposed to talk,” he said.

Mr Lifwekelo said that the political challenges Congo DR faced required political solutions, adding that President Lungu played an important role as a peace maker.

He reiterated that Zambia, like other countries had a responsibility to find a lasting solution to the Congo war that had seen a number of refugees trekking to Zambia in search of peace.

“This has resulted in a number of people facing economic challenges especially at Kasumbalesa border post. It is for this reason that we find comments referring to President Kabila as former President retrogressive, against international norms and highly unfortunate.

“ The current DRC President is Joseph Kabila until a time the Congolese people replace him,” said Mr Lifwekelo.