AVAP counsels UPND over HH

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:59:40 +0000

By ROGERS KALERO

PARTISAN clergymen and other sympathizers of UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema should not panic over the detention of the UPND leader on the charge of treason, but should let him prove his innocence in the courts of law,” Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Copperbelt Provincial Coordinator Poster Jumbe has said.

Mr Jumbe said biased clerics and supporters of Mr Hichilema should not panic and describe the incarceration of the opposition leader as a crisis, but should patiently wait for him to prove his innocence in the courts of law.

The AVAP Copperbelt chief said in an interview in Kitwe that it was sad and disappointing that some clergymen, who were expected to be neutral, had decided to take a partisan stance and reduced themselves to mere opposition party cadres. He said statements from some clergymen that President Edgar Lungu was a dictator and that Zambia was in a crisis because Mr Hichilema was incarcerated were misplaced and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserved.

“If any person comes in conflict with the law, he should face the law and prove himself why he should not be punished for is unlawful actions. Any person, regardless of his tribal, religious and status in society, he should face the law if he has committed an offense,

“So if somebody is arrested for committing an offense, the law should apply indiscriminately and this should not be described as a crisis. So those partisan clergymen and sympathizers of Mr Hichilema should not panic and start describing his incarceration as a crisis, but should wait for him to prove his innocence in court,” Mr Jumbe said.

Mr Jumbe said there was no crisis in Zambia because there was a republican President in office, the parliament and other government departments in place.

He said, instead of taking a partisan stance and issuing statements that there was a crisis in Zambia following the arrest of Mr Hichilema, clergymen should take a leading a role in terms of dialogue aimed at promoting genuine reconciliation

“It is really sad to see Archbishop Tresphore Mpundu of the Catholic Church taking a partisan stance instead of being neutral so that he can promote dialogue. We have been told there is a crisis in Zambia which we cannot see. What crisis are they talking about?  Do they understand what a crisis is?” he asked

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