By KETRA KALUNGA
THE arrests and prosecution of Patriotic Front (PF) members by the law enforcement agencies for alleged corruption should not stop former President Edgar Lungu and President Hakainde Hichilema from meeting, Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) president, David Masupa has advised.
And Bishop Masupa has warned what he described as detractors who are taking to social media to create a standoff between President Hichilema and Mr Lungu. He said Mr. Lungu and President Hichilema should at all cost not allow the ongoing arrests and prosecution of PF officials for alleged corruption to stop them from sitting down down and compare notes on how best they could work together to develop and unify the country.
Bishop Masupa said in an interview that the nation is eager to see the spirit of unity shown when Mr. Lungu as outgoing President handed over instruments of power to President Hichilema to continue. “We want to call upon the spirit when ECL was handing over power during the transition, how the two Presidents in the presence of Rupiah Banda exchanged instruments of power, we want that spirit to continue so that we lessen on the tension that seems to be dividing the country,” he said.
Bishop Masupa urged the opposition to work in harmony with the government for the development of the nation but also advised the ruling party to accommodate the views of the people who voted for the PF and still believe in their ideology.
The opposition should cooperate with President Hichilema and the ruling party to create peace and unity and also the ruling party should realise that there are those 1.8 million who voted for President Lungu and the PF who may still be in the opposition, he said. Bishop Masupa also warned Zambians who are using social media to create a rift between President Hichilema and Mr. Lungu by creating friction between the two.
