‘NO DIALOGUE WITH UPND’

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 09:31:37 +0000

By NATION REPORTER

GOVERNMENT says it is not ready and has no intention of holding any dialogue meeting with the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) until the party recognizes the President and government in office, says Chief government Spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga.

Ms Mulenga said in an interview that government continued to have an open door policy but will not entertain dialogue with the UPND that had continually disregarded the President in office as evidenced through their boycott of his address to parliament twice.

Ms. Mulenga who is Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said this in response to the Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) proposal for both the PF and the UPND to dialogue over their differences.

And Ms. Mulenga said the police had the right to deny the UPND permits to hold any political rallies in Zambia as long as they detect that the opposition party remained a threat to national security.

She said however, that is not an indication that government was suppressing the UPND’s freedom to assembly but simply the police’s duty to enforce law and order in the nation.