We need healing, reconciliation – Aka

By NATION REPORTER ZAMBIA cannot achieve genuine national reconciliation while political opponents remain behind bars and citizens who believe their electoral choice was denied victory remain excluded from the national conversation, Dr Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika has warned. And Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika has said Brian Mundubile, his running mate Makebi Zulu, retired Anglican Bishop Trevor Mwamba and George Chisanga have remained confident of their innocence over their treason charges. Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika, who on Wednesday visited the treason detainees at Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility in Kabwe said he found Mr Mundubile, Mr Makebi and others in high spirits, without fear or worry. “They have shown no fear, no worry. And they are confident of their innocence. They are confident that they shall overcome. We do not want these people to be released on a non-prosecution (nolle-prosequi) which will hang a case on their head forever and ever. That practice also must end,” he said. Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika also called for an end to the practice of keeping people on prolonged non-prosecution arrangements, saying such cases left individuals uncertain about when they might be summoned back to court. And Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika, a seasoned politician and one of the founding members of MMD said an honest national conversation that would lead to reconciliation and healing should involve all citizens. He said the first step by Government should be to release “political prisoners,” among them Mr Mundubile, Mr Zulu, Mr Chisanga and Bishop Mwamba. Government has vehemently denied that there are political prisoners in the country but those who break the law. But Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said those incarcerated were political prisoners who should be freed so that they could participate fully in determining the country’s political and constitutional future. “People should be freed so that they can participate in the reconciliation or the way forward which Zambia wants to go. Nelson Mandela said to the apartheid regime that a prisoner cannot negotiate, and so is the case in Zambia” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said. Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika, who endorsed the Mundubile-Zulu presidential ticket under the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance and campaigned for them during the August 13 general elections, said he personally witnessed an unfair electoral campaign environment. He recalled that his participation in the campaign ended at a rally where he was tear-gassed while addressing supporters. “I was particularly involved in actually campaigning with them on the stage. We saw the videos and the huge crowds, starting with my endorsement in Kasama and ending shamefully with my presentation at the Mongu rally, which was tear gas while I was speaking,” the veteran politician said. Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said he remained on the stage despite the chaos because it was not in his nature to run away. “I couldn’t find it in my nature to run away. I am very disturbed with what looks like a repetition of the bad habits which have led to opposition party leaders being jailed,” hesaid. Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said he had visited people in Zambian prisons for many years, including former President Kenneth Kaunda, and traditional leaders who had been incarcerated. “I know how terrible the jails in Zambia are. And therefore, it’s doubly shameful when people are sent there for political reasons,” he said. He said he regarded the people incarcerated over the post-election disputes as political prisoners, stating that treason charges were inherently political. “There is no charge of treason which is non-political. That is why I regard the people who are in Mukobeko, the 15 whom I saw, including Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu, Bishop Mwamba and the rest of them, as political prisoners,” Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said.

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