Mon, 24 Apr 2017 10:03:48 +0000
By ANNIE ZULU and JUSTINA MULENGA
DIALOGUE cannot be an immediate option to resolve Zambia’s political tension when some opposition political parties have flatly refused to recognise President Edgar Lungu as Head of State, says Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Pukuta Mwanza.
Reverend Mwanza said calls by the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) for the PF and UPND to dialogue as a cure to end tensions between the two warring parties is unattainable without respect and tribute to the Head of State.
“So who are they going to dialogue with? So for me, dialogue is not the best option for now. All political parties should just address their cadres to stop acts of violence,” said Reverend Mwanza.
He made it clear that the call for dialogue between the UPND and PF was not the best way to bring about peace in Zambia if the opposition did not recognize President Lungu as the legitimately elected President of Zambia.
Reverend Mwanza told the Daily Nation that it was uncalled for, for the Catholic Bishops in Zambia to call for dialogue between President Lungu and Mr Hichilema because the UPND president did not recognize the former.
ZCCB president Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu in a press statement said he feared the tension was affecting many lives as some people were living in fear and not going about their daily business freely.
“As Shepherds of the Catholic Church in our country, we are deeply saddened by the political tension between the two political parties and the careless, inflammatory and divisive statements from our political leaders which are causing fear among citizens.
“Recently we have seen innocent citizens’ property getting damaged by suspected cadres and incidents of unprofessional and brutal conduct of the Police Service among others,” Archbishop Mpundu said.
He has since called for genuine dialogue and reconciliation between the two political parties, which he said would help reduce political tension in the country.
He charged that Zambia was bigger than any political party, hence the need for peace to be maintained.
Archbishop Mpundu assured that the church mother bodies were ready to participate in the dialogue if called upon.
He also appealed to the Church and religious leaders to be instruments of peace, reconciliation and unity.
And National Platform for Reconciliation (NPR) has said President Lungu had done everything to ensure Zambia moved in the direction of peace and harmony, a feat the country was reputed for after 52 years of independence.
NPR president Cephas Liswaniso said in a statement yesterday his organisation was concerned that the eminent Bishops had chosen to call the Judiciary corrupt and lacking stamina instead of condemning existing laws.
