Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:12:28 +0000
By IRVIN MUYUMBWA
the rigid positions that both the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development have taken towards dialogue will not lead to quick reconciliation, Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has said
And SACCORD executive director Boniface Cheembe said the increasing tension that the country continued to go through was a saddening state of affairs that called on Zambians not to take the peace enjoyed for granted.
Mr. Chembe said any approach that leaders took that seemed to protect their rigid positions towards dialogue following the 2016 elections will not help to resolve the impact this was having on national unity especially if those in office showed unwillingness to dialogue.
“There is no misunderstanding that is greater than dialogue no matter the extent in which it exists because ultimately, it has to come to an end around a dialogue table and if our leaders mean well for this nation, they have to find time to dialogue,” Mr. Cheembe said.
Mr. Cheembe has challenged leaders of both political parties to adopt the route of unconditional dialogue following the dispute over the outcome of the 2016 general elections that was won by the PF.
“Even the issue of recognition, it’s not a forcing matter because if the majority of Zambians recognise the Head of State, it would be erroneous for anyone to go on calling on them not to recognise him or to recognise him. What matters is that he has been given the instruments of power and has been recognised world over and that doesn’t change,” Mr. Cheembe said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cheembe said the political tension rising in the country was unhealthy and that Zambians must always strive towards nurturing the peace enjoyed as opposed to taking it for granted.
“The incarceration and charges of various opposition political party leaders is not helpful towards ensuring that we have a reduced amount of tension in our country as well as addressing the very root causes of the tension; our expectation is that these political parties must be able to dialogue,” he added.
