Dialogue is not one-sided, Lungu tells critics

Tue, 02 May 2017 09:42:15 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA

THOSE who want peace and improvement in the political landscape in Zambia must not just pester Government but must also find time to talk to the other political players and urge them to behave and respect others, President Edgar Lungu said yesterday.

President Lungu said those interested in peace in the country should also tell other political stakeholders to accept the 2016 election results and wait for 2021.

Reacting to sentiments by Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Chishimba Nkole at the Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka who urged Government to do everything in its power to reduce the political tension in the country, President Lungu  said that if there was dialogue in the political arena the county would have been more at peace than it was now.

But he said it was unfair for some people to keep telling him alone to be reasonable, to dialogue, and to be tolerant, thinking that they would get somewhere.

Those who were calling for dialogue must also involve other stakeholders and anyone who wanted to comment on the subject should also ‘‘tell the other partners in the game to be tolerant, failure to that they should just accept the election outcome and wait for 2021’’.

The Head of State said those calling for dialogue were not being sincere because dialogue was not one-sided and it should not be pursued by one side.

“Dialogue is for two or four, it does not take dialogue by one side to get somewhere and if you are asking for dialogue among political parties, I talk to MMD, I talk to every political party; we listen to each other, but only one political party is mischievous and then you are saying I should find room for dialogue.

“There is room for dialogue and in this case you should just accept the election results and wait for 2021; that is what is expected instead you start by saying there is tension in the country, and only to be told this morning that Kafue Debs’ office has been burnt around 01:00 and a petrol bomb was used, then what dialogue is there?’’ asked President Lungu.

President Lungu urged the labour movement to also extend the social dialogue by inviting ‘‘especially those who were living in denial to accept the reality and move on together’’ because he has not refused to dialogue with anyone.

Commenting on the ZCTU’s rejection of the proposed 75 percent increment in ZESCO tariff, the President said there was need for Government to increase the tariff because without it the economy will totally collapse and there will be no jobs to talk about in the country.

President Lungu said although it was a painful decision, there was need to increase the tariff so that many jobs were secured.

Addressing hundreds of workers who marched to mark the Labour Day commemoration, President Lungu said he was determined to actualize decent work for all by implementing policies, strategies and programmes that will foster sustainable socio-economic development, which will significantly contribute to realizing employment creation, human development and broad based inclusive growth.

He said the 2017 Labour Day theme “Securing decent work for suitable socio-economic development” transformation was not only for Government alone, but must be embraced by all stakeholders.

He said Government has also received financing worth US $30 million from the African Development Bank towards the implementation of skills development and entrepreneurship projects.

“Government intends to create at the minimum 200,000 decent jobs on an annual basis for us to attain this goal of higher growth in employment, hence Government has finalized the Seventh National Development Plan which is underpinned by appropriate policies and structural reforms to be implemented over the medium term,” he said.