Lungu nods broad talks

Lungu is encouraged that the space of disagreement over the national dialogue process is now narrowing, following the main opposition UPND’s agreement that the process must be locally driven.

Mr. Lungu has particularly noted that the UPND, which has been against locally-driven process, is now in agreement that the Church, which is the conscious of the nation, must be at the centre of all efforts at consensus building and the envisaged broader national dialogue.

This is according to a statement issued by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda last evening.

“The President says the new development is encouraging because all along the UPND has been opposed to any locally driven process especially if the all- political parties’ body, the Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCÍD, is involved, insisting that only the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat can lead the process.

“The President therefore appeals to the ZCID to immediately find the necessary space for the Church to join the leadership of the national dialogue process. This country has seen the remarkable efforts of the Church in pushing for consensus and achieving admirable results out of previous processes of political dialogue.

“Our confidence in the Church in this regard is therefore unquestionable. I therefore welcome the UPND’s confirmation that locally-driven process, with the Church at the centre of it, is the way to go.”