By PETER SICHALI
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema should engage Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over beaconing exercise because it falls short of international standards and is defective, Bwile Royal Establishment member Katele Kalumba has said.
He said it was unfortunate that the country was at the verge of giving out land which the British administration defended through to independence.
Dr Kalumba said the beaconing exercise was likely to displace Zambians on the northern front as it was being done without sensitising the local people in the affected areas. He said the delimitation and beaconing exercise fall short of the international standards because people had not been given chance to have a say on the exercise.
Dr Kalumba said the delimitation treaty between Zambia and DRC has taken 20 years without implementation.
“The process falls short of the international standards because local people have not been given chance to have a say,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said the ongoing beaconing exercise started two days after the elections with approval from political authority.
Dr Kalumba said there was need for the President to be accorded time to understand the northern front boundary dispute between Congo DR and Zambia.
He said the beaconing exercise should be halted and allow the head of State to engage his Congolese counterpart.
