Lungu genuine, says Tonga

Thu, 20 Jul 2017 08:00:04 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu’s authorization for the Catholic bishops to initiate the reconciliation process with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is not meant to blindfold the church, 3rd Liberation Movement (3rd LM) president Enoch Tonga has charged.

Mr Tonga said that the President had proved to doomsayers that he was a man of peace by allowing the Catholic Bishops to facilitate for reconciliation with Mr Hichilema.

He said in an interview with the Daily Nation that President Lungu’s quest for reconciliation was genuine and not meant to blindfold the bishops.

Mr Tonga noted that some sections of society had already started to question the real intentions of President Lungu and why he had suddenly agreed to reconcile.

He assured that the President had always been for the idea of “one Zambia, one Nation” and that he was committed to building a peaceful nation.

Mr Tonga said that President Lungu’s acceptance to let the reconciliation process take centre stage should serve as a reminder that he was a man of peace.

“The move President Lungu has taken should serve as a reminder that he is a man of peace. The reconciliation process with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is not meant to blindfold the church. It is genuine and the bishops should not take credit for that,” he said.

Mr Tonga reiterated that President Lungu had demonstrated that he had no hurt feelings against the opposition and that he also respected the church.

President Lungu last Friday met the Catholic Bishops at State House where he allowed them to organize dialogue with Mr Hichilema.

He said that the bishops could go ahead and meet the incarcerated UPND leader to discuss with him the need for dialogue and reconciliation.