Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Mwila says Republican President Edgar Lungu is in full support of the ongoing peace talks between the opposition UPND and the ruling party.
And Mr. Mwila has reechoed the ruling party’s commitment to a church led dialogue with the opposition political parties facilitated by the Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID).
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwila says the landmark meeting between the two rival parties Chief Executive Officer (himself and UPND’S Stephen Katuka) was a signal that the nation was a step away from witnessing the long awaited meeting between President Lungu and his opposition counterpart Hakainde Hichilema.
He says this would be realised if only the opposition party can be committed to peace and dialogue.
Speaking at the UPND Secretariat in Lusaka today, where he had led a team of senior PF leaders for a courtesy call on UPND Secretary General Katuka, Mr. Mwila reiterated that the gesture made by the ruling party merely indicated the UPND was at liberty to call on him and visit the PF Secretariat to address any issue of concern.
“As PF, we are excited with the ongoing talks between the UPND and ourselves as undertaken by our women and youths… His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu is in full support of those discussions and that is why you are seeing us here for the very first time, “stated Mr. Mwila.
“I always wonder as to why our youths should constantly be fighting when it is not the case with us the elderly. Evidently, those fights are as a result (of ) the instructions given to the youths by those they look up to in leadership and as such , it is the responsibility of us who are senior in the parties to sensitize our youths against violence.
“Getting into the Kasenengwa by-election, the ruling party will take all the necessary steps to ensure a violence free campaigns and as such, we urge you to equally sensitize your youths that Zambia is our nation- all of us and there is nothing we can fail to achieve using peaceful means.”
Meanwhile, UPND Secretary General Katuka expressed his party’s willingness to participate in the church led dialogue, commitment to peace in future elections and called for honesty even as the two parties engage each other.
Mr. Mwila was accompanied by his Deputy Mumbi Phiri, Chairperson for Legal Affairs in the Central Committee Brian Mundubile, Director Administration Nsama Yamba, Antonio Manza, the Deputy Media Director.
The UPND Katuka led team comprised Deputy Secretary General Patrick Mucheleka, Deputy National Youth Chairman Munji Habeenze and Media Director Ruth Dante
And the PF Secretary General revealed that the ruling party will abide by the agreement signed between the PF women and youths and their UPND counterparts.
The two parties agreed that there will be a steering committee mandated to end political violence and the people head the committee will be selected from the two political parties.
Secondly, it was agreed that both political parties will carry out social and political activities aimed at raising an awareness on the resolution to foster peace and unity.
The two parties , thirdly, agreed to depoliticize all the markets in the country in order to allow traders to trade freely and also find a way of recalling those ( traders ) who were chased.
The two parties also agreed to demilitarize their youths as well as ensure that their respective leadership use civilised language.
1. There will be a steering committee with a mandate to end political violence and the people to spearhead the committee will be selected from the two political parties.
2. Both political parties will carry out social and political events aimed at raising an awareness on the resolution to foster peace and unity.
3. There will be depoliticization of all markets in order to allow for all traders to trade freely and also find a way of taking back those who were chased.
4. There will be no deployment of cadres from one place to the other during political events and rallies.
5. There will be demilitarizing of youths from both political parties.
6. Leaders of the two political parties to use civilised language.
From the PF, the meeting was attended by the ruling party’s Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri, Chairperson for Legal Affairs in the Central Committee Brian Mundubile, Director for Administration Mr Nsama Yamba and the Deputy Media Director Antonio Mwanza.
Attendees from the UPND included Deputy Secretary General Hon Patrick Mucheleka, Deputy National Youth Chairman Munji Habeenzu and Media Director Ruth Dante.
Does it mean that underfive is not in control of this process? Wouldn’t be surprised, seeing that h.h is basically a war monger and finds himself at the helm of the once peaceful party of Kambela Mazoka only by virtue of tribe and not by merit.
HH has distanced himself from this process. The man enjoys violence. He’s never at any time commented on violence committed by Upnd members. Of course he’s quick to condemn the PF whenever they commit violence. Also he indirectly promotes violence by urging his members to go for Panga for Panga.
Its surprising to hear PF minions accuse UPND of violence and yet no UPND has been arrested or charged for violence execept the PF
Lungu and other regimes in Africa need a violent removal because African democracy has dismally failed.
Every rogue regime is now using the 50.8% win to 44.5 % loss rigging formula to psycholigically dupe the voters. Lungu did it and now Mnangagwa has done it.
Without military action these so democratically rig- elected African leaders will continue to bleed our economies.
Lungu and his violent thugs must go
What’s the meaning of minion. Please explain to me.
Lungu must not waist his time with Howling Hyena.
Who’s the aggressor in this violence and who fails to make arrests when violence breaks out? Is it HH or Lungu and his instruments of force, intimidation and murder?
The two political parties are enemies because of the power sharing Pact which crushed in 2011. That is where the enemity stems from. If they can now agree to revive their power sharing scheme which collapsed in 2011, then all the halabaloo is done and dusted. Let the two leaders meet and agree to revive their broken pact, and share power e.g. appoint HH as Home Affairs minister; Katuka (community development); Nalumango (gender); Garry (Agric) then we are done with the bi-party violence
Our Constitution is very clear. ..only the winner forms government. It doesn’t give room to emotions like sharing with the loser to appease them. France won the Fifa worldcup and took the trophy and that’s the way it’s with our system. If HH can’t win an election, that’s his problem. …he’s just among us 15 million Zambians.
I tried to watch h.h’s press briefing video. Watched for 10 minutes and the boy is truly boring and uninspiring. His message may have contained some valid issues (which we are already aware of anyway) but you could see clearly that he is not connected to what he says. Probably reading from a script prepared from borrowed material.
Look here h.h mwaice, thd bottomline is that you are simply not the alternative leadership that we are looking fof in Zambia.
Lazy jj, looks like you are too lazy to do your job of guiding your tribal leader.
#2 Ze Biggy, that’s a non-starter, you are suggesting a government of national unity and ignore the democratic process? That can only work between opposition parties and then the alliance goes to the electorate to seek their opinion. Sorry no shortcuts to power!
@Upnd cadre: Mutati is MMD president but minister in PF government. To be minister, the only qualification is that one must be MP. So Mutati was nominated as MP and appointed Minister of Finance, and later moved to Works and Supply. The same formula can be used here, and that is very much a democratic process. The constitution does not recognize what your alliance thing
This whole article is about PF, the only quote on UPND is “Meanwhile, UPND Secretary General Katuka expressed his party’s willingness to participate in the church led dialogue, commitment to peace in future elections and called for honesty even as the two parties engage each other.”
WHY? This is not creating fairness at all. My first impression is that UPND delegation was d.am.n and never said anything, but is that the reality? Something is wrong here, is it the media? Or is it fi mambala like Chama creating this propaganda machinery to potray PF as the only ones doing the right thing? What is behind this?
AND NO MORE INDUCED BY-ELECTION…DO DISCUSS THAT TOO……
Correction there ba pf. Hh has met lungu on many occasions. Let us not sensationalize something that is not even a big deal. What will their meeting achieve for the common zambian suffering at the hands of poor governance and economic mismanagement. You can meet hh everyday but that wont make u economic masterminds. It is more important for pf to facilitate constitutional change in line with people’s wishes. The electoral process is flawed and designed to disadvantage any opposition. These are issues that need sorting out before next election. Not just your hardon to meet hh
So once the two leaders finally meet & shake hands we can finaly submit the constitutional amendment bill & change this confusing constitution? Because me I thought thats what these dialogs was about, not tu no violence what what. We need to agree to change this constitution chapwa!!!!
No constitution bill change to appease animo farm who opposed it earlier. Please NEVER give animo farm loopholes to make the dung play in the holes later. They vehemently opposed changes until they found they were wrong now they are asking for the same! NO BILL CHANGE!
Please don’t waste time with a terrorist organisation. He is desperate for power! It is not about dialogue, it is about “How can I be President?”
In africa and world over the democratic elections should be that an incumbert President who is contesting elections should hand over power to a neutral body i.e the speaker or the chief Justice and when it happens that he has won elections he can be handed back the instruments of power, chapwa. If he looses power straight away goes to the winner .
There is always a crisis when a sitting president looses…even the results are always delayed to be announced.thats were the problem lies. In soccer, you cant be a referee and at the same time be a player.
Good move, if only the almighty cadres are fully agreeable