OCiDA’S CALL FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST HH UNSETTLES STATE HOUSE

BREBNER Changala yesterday claimed that State House was yesterday forced to allegedly assemble a group of individuals, led by Lesley Mbula, purporting to be members of OCiDA to denounce and attack the persona of Emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu and demand for his resignation over the call to impose financial, Visa and travel bans on President Hakainde Hichilema and six other high-ranking government officials, sources have disclosed.

But Clayson Hamasaka, the State House Communications Specialist when contacted rubbished the assertions that the Lesley Mbula-led group was sponsored by the State, stating that it was an insult for some members of OCiDA to drag State House into their wrangles.

Meanwhile, Mr Changala has challenged Mr Mbula to state in what capacity he is demanding his resignation from OCiDA because the association is governed by rules and regulations that do not tolerate unbridled arbitrariness.

Mr Changala says he could not be fired from OCiDA by Mr Mbula who was but one of the trustees, stating that the group that assembled at Fallsway Apartments yesterday would be dealt with upon the return of Archbishop Mpundu from his tour of duty abroad.

A group comprising Professor Oliver Saasa, the head of Private Public Sector Dialogue Forum (PPDF), Kelvin Ndila, Dr Kelvin Malama, Colonel Yusuf Michelo, Ms Euraria Zulu, Peter Mwale and Danny Simumba gathered at Fallsway Apartments and claimed that the letter to the American Embassy calling for sanctions against President Hichilema did not represent the views of OCiDA.

Mr Changala disclosed that there was serious panic at State House, that a team of individuals, including those that have never been members of OCiDA was assembled and ended up issuing an unsigned statement while the other only carried a list of names without being signed.

The statement addressed to the US Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales with a list of seven individuals was read by Mr Mbula but his name was not among those who had been listed as attendees of the meeting.

“There was panic at State House and in a hurry to counter a letter by OCiDA to the US Embassy in Zambia, a group of people, some of whom have never been members of OCiDA were hurriedly assembled and Lesley Mbula was made to read a statement denouncing Archbishop Mpundu and call for my removal. But my question to those who were assembled yesterday is…who is Prof Saasa in OCiDA?” Mr Changala said.