Sat, 20 May 2017 10:28:49 +0000
By ANNIE ZULU
THE European Union (EU) has advised opposition political parties in the country to respect State institutions.
Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda said following a meeting between President Edgar Lungu and the EU representatives, the EU has clarified that it recognised President
Edgar Lungu as duly elected.
Mr Chanda said this at State House yesterday shortly after President Lungu met a delegation of eight representatives of the EU in Zambia led by EU Ambassador Alessandro Marian.
He said the EU also called for dialogue between the PF and UPND regarding the arrest of Mr Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr Chanda said the EU further assured the President that it would do its best not to raise tension in the country, but bring all parties together.
He said the EU indicated that it had a responsibility to bring to the attention of President Lungu issues that could damage
Zambia’s reputation.
“The President met with EU representatives and discussed issues of interest to Zambia and EU. The EU raised the question of political dialogue among key political players, particularly UPND and PF, also questions of the arrest of HH.
“The EU also stressed that their position remains clear that they monitored the elections and recognise President Lungu as duly elected. They said they will do their best to encourage all political parties to respect State institutions,” Mr Chanda said.
And President Lungu has maintained that he would not interfere in UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s case. Mr Chanda said the President told the representatives that Mr Hichilema’s case was before the courts of law and therefore, it could not be brought to dialogue without endangering the independence of the Judiciary.
“The President assured the representatives that the process of the law would be the only thing that would guide this process,” Mr Chanda said.
