DISOWN KAKOMA HANDSHAKE REMARKS, HH DARED
FORMER UPND Itezhi Itezhi member of Parliament Greyford Monde has challenged party leader Hakainde Hichilema to disown party spokesperson Charles Kakoma's statement that his now famous handshake with President Lungu has nothing to do with reconciliation.
And President Edgar Lungu says there was nothing wrong to have shaken hands with UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema at late Daniel Munkombwe’s funeral in Chona, Southern Province.
Mr Lungu said yesterday, it was a normal thing to shake hands which everyone does.
Meanwhile in an interview, Mr Monde reiterated that failure to withdraw the statement would make Mr. Hichilema appear not serious with ensuring prevalence of peace in the nation.
He further charged that failure to censure Mr. Kakoma over his statement would cause Mr. Hichilema appear to have fooled millions of people who were pleased with the handshake and hoped it was the beginning of the much awaited dialogue and reconciliation.
Mr Monde, who is former Livestock and Fisheries minister, noted that Mr Kakoma's statement was also against the UPND leader’s position that the handshake would lead to national healing because President Lungu was not his sworn enemy.
He challenged Mr Hichilema to immediately disown his subordinate’s statement if he was serious with national healing.
Mr Monde however suspected that the UPND spokesperson was only echoing his boss’ mind as instructed.
“For me I strongly suspect that Mr Kakoma was only voicing what he had been instructed to him by his boss. HH's advisors were obviously not happy with his position and now he is using his subordinates to make amends.
“Otherwise I challenge Mr Hichilema to distance himself from that negative statement if he is serious about peace and reconciliation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Monde emphasized that it was important for dialogue and reconciliation to take place if the nation was going to move forward in harmony.
He said the handshake between President Lungu and Mr Hichilema was a sign of good direction and should be encouraged by all well-meaning Zambians. He reiterated that Mr Kakoma's statement was against the spirit of peace and national healing, adding that the opposition official did not mean well for the country.
The UPND leader surprised many when he stepped forward to shake hands with President Lungu during veteran politician the late Daniel Munkombwe's burial in Choma last week.
Mr Hichilema is also reported to have described the handshake as a sign that President Lungu was not his sworn enemy.