UPND shuns ZCID indaba
THE United Party for National Development UPND has boycotted the National Democracy stakeholders Summit organised by the Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue ZCID.
The two-day summit which started in Lusaka yesterday was officially opened by Minister of Justice Given Lubinda.
Meanwhile, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the party had decided to boycott the summit because it was pushed by the PF to undermine the Commonwealth-led dialogue.
Mr Kakoma claimed that ZCID had no capacity to lead the dialogue process.
Mr Kakoma said if the talks would go on under ZCID, whatever resolutions to be made would not be binding on the UPND.
Mr Kakoma said the UPND would rather participate in talks that were led by the Church.
And ZCID board chairperson Nathan Mulonga said it was not fair for the opposition political party to start finger pointing and painting others black.
He said it the UPND were invited to the summit but they decided to stay away.
Mr Mulonga said it was unfair for UPND to start crying foul when an opportunity was availed for all political parties to present their concerns.
“We are puzzled that the UPND has already started painting us black when we invited them to be part of the summit, this summit is important as it is were we are supposed to kick start dialogue itself."
He said there was still chance for the UPND to join the summit today and air their grievances.