By GIDEON NYENDWA
The move by President Hakainde Hichilema to reach out to his predecessor to be part of the state funeral of the late fourth republican president Rupiah Banda, is groundbreaking because it displays a strong stroke of leadership that is significant to the unity of Zambia.
Veteran politician, George Mpombo, said that Mr. Hichilema deserved a pat on his back because what he did was the first step to achieving national reconciliation and national unity.
Dr. Mpombo said that Mr. Hichilema was a president for all Zambians and his major focus should be unity, reconciliation and rebuilding of the nation.
He said that the two presidents could not afford to be two poles apart because it would mean perpetuation of political tension in the country.
Dr. Mpombo said that even the broken state of the economy in the country needs cooperation from every Zambian if some tangible recoveries were to be made.
“We need both hands on the deck,” Dr. Mpombo said.
He said that what the president did was magnanimous and should be applauded by all well-meaning Zambians.
President Hichilema asked his predecessor Edgar Lungu to be part of the state funeral for the late fourth republican president and directed the cabinet to be updating him on the preparations.
Dr. Mpombo said that the action by the President should quickly trickle down to all his ministers for the country to unite properly.
Author
