Priest invites Lungu and HH for talks

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema have been invited for talks to end their political differences by a Catholic priest, Father Charles Chilinda.

Father Chilinda said the dialogue process between Mr Lungu and Mr Hichilema had taken long and that the two should make peace in honour of the legacy of late President Micheal Sata. The priest seized the moment yesterday, at St. Ignatius where Mr. Lungu led the Sata family and thousands of people from all walks of life for a memorial service in honour of Mr Sata, the late fifth republican President and founder of the ruling Patriotic Front ( PF). President Lungu who was in the audience was seen smiling and nodding following the remarks made by father Chilinda much to the jubilation of the congregation. St. Ignatius Catholic Church where Mr. Sata used to congregate was filled to capacity and attracted people from all walks of life who came to pay homage to a man they described as “a man of action and of the people”. Father Chilinda said he had convinced Mr Sata to reach out to Mr Mwanawasa at State House with whom he was at loggerheads at the time. ‘‘I thank you the President for the words you have shared with us in this house of God where the late Mr. Sata used to congregate with us on numerous occasions. ‘‘I ask you the President to come with your friend Mr. Hichilema here (St. Ignatius Catholic Church) to forgive each other. This is an official invitation Mr. President. This house of God St. Ignatius you know it very well,’’ Father Chilinda said. The priest said the Archbishop of Lusaka Father Alick Banda was available to oversee the dialogue process between the two leaders. President Sata, 77, died four years ago at King Edward VII’s Hospital in London where he had gone for medical treatment.