HH SETS TERMS FOR DIALOGUE

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 12:26:34 +0000

By Andrew Mukoma

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has demanded for a number conditions to be met before the much-talked about dialogue can take off.

Mr. Hichilema said that there were issues that needed to be addressed before the planned dialogue slated for December could commence.

He has demanded that before dialogue, both parties should work closely to ensure that there was restoration of fundamental human rights and liberty to freedom.

He has also demanded for the restoration of confidence in the rule of law, the Judiciary’s loss of credibility among others.

“Before we start dialogue, we demand for the restoration of fundamental human rights, liberty to freedom as number one..number two, we demand for the restoration of the rule of law because there is a breakdown in the rule of law in this country, ” Mr Hichilema  said.

He claimed that currently, fundamental principles in the country were undesirable and must be restored for the country to move forward.

The UPND leader said addressing these issues was what dialogue meant.

Mr. Hichilema claimed there was a total breakdown of the rule of law in Zambia.

The UPND leader said this during a live Radio programme on BYTA FM in Choma, on Wednesday night.

Mr Hichilema claimed that there was no more freedom of expression as people in Zambia got arrested when they tried to express themselves.

Mr. Hichilema said Zambia currently seemed to have two laws; one which was meant for the ruling party and the other for opposition parties.

He was optimistic that best results were likely to be achieved at the end of the dialogue between him and President Edgar Lungu if only his demands were met.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hichilema has expressed worry over the current political violence that Zambia was facing.

In an apparent reference to the recent violence which was reported during the just ended local government and council chairmanship by-election in various parts of Zambia, Mr. Hichilema categorically blamed it on the Zambia Police Service.

He accused the Zambia Police Service of having failed to carry out its duties diligently.