NO DIALOGUE
…process is contaminated
By BENNIE MUNDANDO THE reconciliation and dialogue facilitated by Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral’s office between President Edgar Lungu and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is already a contaminated and spoiled process.
This is because it is clear the opposition leader is not committed to healing the nation going by his wild tantrums against Government, the Zambian DNA has observed.
The Zambian DNA has meanwhile maintained that there is need to extend the state of a threatened emergency as revoking it may plunge the country back into the acts of lawlessness and sabotage that resulted in its invocation.
Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, Zambian DNA spokesperson Spuki Mulemwa said while President Lungu respected the process of dialogue, UPND leaders had taken turns to throw stones at the governance institutions and that they have continued ridiculing the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary with impunity since Mr. Hichilema was released from prison.
Mr. Mulemwa noted that dialogue should be premised on the principle of respect for each other and the rule of law, a component he said was missing in the opposition political party leadership hence his worry that the process could become an exercise in futility despite its good intentions.
“The reconciliation and dialogue between President Lungu and Mr. Hichilema facilitated by the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral’s office, is already a contaminated and spoiled process in that while President Lungu respects the process of dialogue, UPND leaders have taken turns to throw stones at the governance institutions.
“For example, the UPND leaders recently took a swipe at the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. It is clear from their antagonistic utterances that they are not ready for reconciliation and dialogue. Dialogue should be premised on the principle of respect for each other and the rule of law,” Mr. Mulemwa said.
And Mr. Mulemwa maintained that there is need to extend the state of a threatened emergency as revoking it may plunge the country back into the acts of lawlessness and sabotage that led to its invocation.
“President Edgar Lungu’s invocation of Article 31 has helped curb the acts of lawlessness and sabotage in the country. Since parliament approved the state of threatened emergency 90-day period, there have been no media reports of police harassment of innocent citizens or disruption of businesses and day –to-day life.