VJ calls for dialogue wihtout preconditions

Sat, 10 Jun 2017 09:40:45 +0000

BY BENNIE MANDANDO

THERE has been tension among political players since the 2016 general elections and this is not likely to go away unless those in Government and the opposition agree to dialogue without preconditions, Vernon Mwaanga has observed.

Dr. Mwaanga said the 2016 general elections left a divided country, characterised by the alleged refusal by the Constitutional Court to hear the presidential election petition and the consequent non-recognition of President Edgar Lungu by UPND.

He noted that since then, there has been no dialogue between the Government and opposition parties to address grievances by both camps.

He observed that it was incumbent upon politicians to remember that in a democracy, the need for dialogue was paramount and that when grievances arose, it was the duty of the Government in power to initiate dialogue with its opponents without any preconditions by both sides.

He noted that while the struggle for Independence  was waged by patriotic Zambians who wanted to see political, economic and social emancipation for all the people, the current crop of politician fell short of that dedication as they were preoccupied with reaping from where they did not sow.

“No rightful thinking person can deny that since the closely contested presidential elections of August, 2016, which left a deeply divided country, and the refusal by the Constitutional Court to hear the presidential election petition brought by UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and his running mate Geoffrey Mwamba, there has been palpable tension, which will simply not go away.

“There has also been the issue of non-recognition of President Edgar Lungu by UPND. One thing is clear and it is that there has been no dialogue between the Government and opposition parties to address grievances which exist in both camps.

‘‘In any democracy, the need for dialogue cannot be overemphasised. When grievances arise, it is the duty of the government in power to initiate dialogue with its opponents without any preconditions by both sides,” Dr. Mwaanga said.

He noted that the existence of other political parties was indispensable in any functioning democracy and that every government needed a stimulus of criticism to perform better and that such a daunting task could only be attained by a credible and responsible opposition which needed to serve as a channel of people’s discontent.

He also noted that the media played a critical role in the development of any country and that the need for it to operate freely could not be over-emphasized, adding that there was need for African countries to take responsibility and stop blaming their colonial masters for their own failures.

“The independent media played an important supportive role in our struggle for Independence and multiparty democracy. An emasculated or muzzled media is an elephant in the room and an expensive charge to democracy, good governance and does any government in power a disservice.

‘‘The time has long gone when as Africans we blame foreigners for our own shortcomings. We should learn to correct our own mistakes,” Dr Mwaanga said.