…Clayson Hamasaka, the State House Chief Communications Specialist says President Hichilema has been meeting with the Church, other interest group and is open to an indaba proposed by the opposition
By NATION REPORTER
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is open to meeting and dialoguing with all Zambians including the opposition political parties that have requested for an “Indaba” with the head of State, State House has said.
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State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka said in an interview yesterday that President Hichilema had been meeting with church leaders and interest groups to discuss a range of issues affecting the country.
Mr Hamasaka said the call for an Indaba by a consortium of opposition political parties was something President Hichilema was open to as the head of State had been governing the country with an open door policy.
He said President Hichilema had been open to having meetings with anyone including the opposition political party leaders just like the head of State had been meeting other citizens.
“The President (Hichilema) has been meeting many other people. The head of State has been open to meet anyone including the opposition political party leaders or indeed any other citizen. The President has been meeting with Church leaders and other interest groups and the Indaba the opposition political parties are calling for is something the President is open to,” Mr Hamasaka said.
A consortium of opposition political parties have written an open letter to President Hichilema expressing deep concern about the shrinking democratic space in the country.
The opposition political party leaders have also expressed concern in the steep rise in poverty levels, high unemployment and the suffering of Zambians due to hard economic hardships
“We have also noted that, in spite of a number of pronouncements to the effect that these issues will be dealt with, there appears to be lack of progress being made with their resolution and Zambians have continued to suffer the effects arising from these issues. We have therefore, decided to write this open letter for your attention,” Chishala Kateka, leader of the New Heritage Party said on behalf of other opposition political leaders.
Ms Kateka said the opposition had noted that the UPND Manifesto of 2021-2026 pledged and stated that when elected as President, President Hichilema would endeavour to meet and engage leaders of the opposition at regular intervals to promote and build national consensus.
Ms Kateka said the high cost of living had resulted in high price of mealie meal, fuel, cooking oil, electricity and other commodities which she said were now unaffordable for many Zambians.
The opposition political parties complained that there had been a rise in arbitrary arrests and constant harassment of members of the opposition.
“Lack of transparency around large scale public procurement of commodities such as fuel, fertiliser, power purchase agreements under Zesco, issuance and distribution of exploration, mining and timber licensing.”
“Unilateral handling of national peace and security matters by the executive such as, the presence of the US Africom Security Office, abuse of the Public Order Act, proposed amendments of the Public Gatherings Act, the Republican Constitution, the rise in Human Rights abuse, torture and mistreatment of persons, careless remarks of the coup plot, failure to publish IMF agreement, ZCCM-IH divestiture and the sale of KCM to Vedanta Resources,” Ms Kateka said.
The opposition also accused the UPND government of having embarked on a secretive Constitution making process without a clear roadmap and with no consultative process in place to guide the Constitution making process.
Ms Kateka said the opposition political party leaders were alarmed that there were secretive efforts aimed at amending the Republican Constitution in which people were being asked to submit recommendations on non-contentious issues.
“The New Dawn’s neo liberal policies that go to promote multinational, corporate, foreign and ultra-liberal policies have caused tremendous damage to the economy and to the well-being of our people. It is imperative that a national economic INDABA is convened to build broad consensus on how to tackle the many challenges facing the economy, including the high unemployment rate, slow pace of economic growth, high exchange rate and lack of liquidity. This will help bring down political tension and curtail the possibility of wide spread civil and political unrest in the country,” Ms Kateka said.
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