By OLIVER SAMBOKO
Arbitrary arrests of people close to former president Edgar Lungu by government has brought tension, therefore there is need for an urgent meeting between the two leaders to defuse the division, New Congress Party (NCP) leader Peter Chanda has said.
Pastor Chanda has since called on the Zambia Center for Inter- party Dialogue to immediately engage the four church mother bodies in the country to arrange for a summit of political party presidents to find ways of bringing together, President Hakainde Hichilema and former president Edgar Lungu.
He said the tension should be dealt with because the arbitrary arrests are causing divisions in the country.
Pastor Chanda said apart from the seeming differences between President Hichilema and former president Edgar Lungu, the country is divided in so many ways which require that a solution must be found immediately.
Pastor Chanda said the arrests and detention of individuals who served under the PF, has created an impression that the new dawn government is bent on embarrassing former president Edgar Lungu.
He also said Zambia is one and that serving and former presidents have one goal of ensuring that the country prospers for the benefit of all citizens, regardless of their political belief or affiliation.
Pastor Chanda said the country is faced with a lot of challenges which leaders in the country should be able to find solutions but that with the current situation where others feel targeted, it will be very difficult to come together.
He said the only way the tension can be defused is by way of President Hichilema and the former head of state meeting as brothers to find a way forward that will benefit the country.
Pastor Chanda said he is hopeful that once the two leaders meet, they will be able to discuss and find an understanding on whatever issues that might be responsible for the current situation.
He said the building tension in the country has the potential to scare away investors, adding also that the current political disunity is threatening the peace in a nation which has for many years remained a beacon of peace in the region.
