Ex-miners chide Kakoma

POLITICAL party leaders who are ge nuinely interested in national dialogu e should tone down and use the langu age that is gi vi ng hope to the nation, Exminers patron in Mufulira Gift Mushinge has said.

Mr Mushinge said political party leaders should promote dialogue in resolving differences instead of being rigid and wanting everything to be done their way.

The Ex-Miners patron was reacting to United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Charles Kakoma who rubbished President Lungu's handshake with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema

During the burial of veteran politician Daniel Munkombwe on Wednesday last week in Choma, Mr Hichilema, National Democratic Party consultant Chishimba Kambwili and other opposition leaders shook hands with President Lungu.

Mr Kakoma had said the handshake had nothing to do with reconciliation.

But Mr Mushinge said it was sad that despite the cross section of society applauding the gesture, the UPND spokesperson made negative utterances.

"For Mr Kakoma to come out the way he did, it means the UPND has a lot of issues. It is really sad because we expect politicians of Mr Kakoma's standing to give hope regarding the dialogue process.

"For some Zambians, that was a good gesture from President Lungu and the opposition leaders who shook hands, especially President Lungu who agreed to shake hands with people who have been insulting and calling him all sorts of names," he said

Mr Mushinge also said some leaders of the opposition parties have no heart to look after people, but were merely making noise so that people could feel their presence.

"Most of these people who are making noise have nothing to offer, apart from insulting President Lungu, but they want to cause confusion in the country," he said