The much anticipated Secretary Generals’ meeting has officially began in Siavonga at the Kariba Inn with all invited parties including the PF and UPND in attendance.
The meeting started with an assurance from the UPND represantantives that they carry the full mandate of the party after participants raised an issue with the opposition party’s sending of proxies to the meeting without a clear explanation from the party as to why their principal office bearers were unavailable.
The UPND have sent their Head of Policy and Research Dr Choolwe Beyani, National Trustee Collins Maoma and their Legal Counsel Mukambo Haimbe in place of their party secretary general Stephen Katuka, his Deputy Patrick Mucheleka and Garry Nkombo who had earlier confirmed their participation.
The move to send proxies by the UPND to the Secretary General’s meeting infuriated participants from other political parties as they described it as “lack of seriousness and disregard for the national dialogue process on the part of UPND.
First Chairperson for the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue-ZCID Dr Katele Kalumba said it was important for all participants to accommodate one another and that it was important for those representing their parties to ensure that the adequate mandate to “whip” their Presidents on issues relating to national dialogue.
Dr Kalumba noted that when the level was not adequate it would be difficulty for the representatives to impress on their presidents on what would be agreed during the meetings.
“I hope the representation from UPND reflects an adequate and highest possible level for whiping their president on issues relating to this summit.
“Previous experience suggest that when the level is not adequate it is difficult to push the agenda within the party but I have heard from the subbmission from our colleagues from the UPND that they have enough authority and mandate to execute that task and I hope that in the interest of our nation and I can tell you all eyes are here in Siavonga as far as Zambians are concerned they know that this meeting is taking place, that there is a meeting of secretary generals and that they will come up with an agenda to start the process of dialogue and reconciliation so I hope that we don’t miss this opportunity.
“We need to give and take a little bit. We understand the handcups of our friends and we accept the assurance that they are here with the full mandate of their party. Its sad that I take my heart out for you the secretary general of the PF who had to leave just after burring his Sister had to come here because he felt this meeting was important for the nation, I really take my heart off to you honourable Mwila. It takes patriotism to do that, a great deal of patriotism,” he said.
And PF Secretary General Davis Mwila expressed concern that the move to send proxies to the meeting would set a bad precedence for the forth coming ‘Presidents Summit’ where others would want to send representatives.
Mwila said the UPND should be categorical and assure the people in the meeting that they will send their president to the presidents summit as it hinges on the continued peace of the country.
He said he had travelled to Siavonga because his party understands the magnitude of what ZCID was trying to achieve and that the process was a cost to the country not to be taken seriously.
Meanwhile a University of Zambia Don Dr Alex N’goma implored the UPND to take matters of national dialogue seriously.
Dr N’goma said there is time for institutions to send proxies but that when time for those in positions are invited they should be honourable enough to avail themselves.
The MMD through their National Secretary Raphael Nakacinda submmited that UPND representatives should assure the nation that they would not be disowned by their party after resolutions have been made.
He said the meeting was for Secretary Generals hence principal office bearers should have been the ones attending and not their proxies hence the need for an assurance from the UPND that they would not be abandoned by their party.
In response Dr Beyani assured the delegates to the meeting that he and his team were equal to the task.
“I carry the wit and mantle of the secretary general of the UPND. The decision I will make here represent the decision and the weight of the secretary general of the UPND so let’s make that very clear,” he said.
The Secretary Generals’ meeting is a prelude to the presidents summit which is expected to take place soon.
The meeting is expected to deliberate on the submissions from the previous ZCID led dialogue process which started with consultations with former Republican presidents, political party presidents as well as eminent persons.
Further ZCID engaged stakeholders from different sectors of society at the National Democracy Stakeholders Summit before holding a one day meeting with political parties outside parliament. ZCID also engaged the Church Mother Bodies on the dialogue process.
Should people meet to discuss the obvious? Late LPM used his power as c-in-c to ensure that no political violence took place. He sat down with his chief of police Ephraim Mateyo and agreed with him that political party zealots be banned from traversing the country during campaigns and it worked. He gave police firm orders not to spare anyone, not even MMD members. When he said the law will visit you, he meant it and everyone knew he meant it and peace reigned.That is what a c-in-c equal to the task does. LPM took those measures so that he could concentrate on real issues facing the country. He protected even those who did not like him.
Who called for the indaba during MMD it was LPM do you think we were not yet born. UPND and HH have already become irrelevant to the majority of the Zambians
No political violence under Levy?? Didn’t Bowman Lusambo and other notorious MMD thugs terrorise people in 2006 elections??? Political violence literally heightened from 2001 under Levy.
What about the Chulumanda and Nsanda gang who assaulted Michael Sata at Radio Icengelo during the Mwanawasa time?
@Chanchima; i agree with you; now i see why ZCID is a wrong vehicle for dialogue with people like chief Katele who is a PF cadre; at least Chief Chitimukulu would have been good for all both sides of politics, ruling and opposition;
Fwanya: Whose job is it to stop political violence, the police under command of the c-in-c or the opposition? The formula was already worked out under a president who was equal to the task of ensuring order in the country. In fact LPM was just about the only one who saw his duty as to protect everyone. Kaunda did nothing to those who beat Kapwepwe, Chiluba did nothing to those who beat his own ministers, RB did nothing to those who tore Magande’s jacket at the funeral of Lameck Chibombamilimo, Sata did nothing to those who killed a fellow PF member on airport road and ECL has licenced PF to harass all and sundry. PF members still drive cars without licence plates; the licence is in form of PF colours they are painted in and police do nothing.
Frankly, upnd hasn’t prepared for this dialogue. They are in a utopia were they think there is dictatorship and all the lies they have conjured up. Thus they need a gullible foreign body who they can use this fora to manipulate to their advantage. It wouldn’t work on normal thinking Zambians who can see through their innuendos. With their recent electoral defeats, upnd are quite frankly in a pickle as their strategy is falling apart and their sponsors are asking serious questions.
I dont know what the agenda was but its a good thing
Zambian Citizen: A violent Bowman Lusambo is a post-LPM phenomenon. Even William Banda would dare not attack anyone under LPM. You can disagree all day long but the truth will not change. There was no violence in the 2006 elections and opposition was free to hold meetings without hindrance. Sata used to be interviewed by Ben Kangwa on ZNBC tv many times under LPM. You don’t want to remember or to be reminded about that because it shames the PF when you look at what they are doing to the opposition. LPM raised the fairness in leadership bar.
Unless you lived in another country. I remember notorious thugs like Shi Mpundu Pankoloko who reigned terror way before RB came to power. Who can forget the MMD cadres who set the precedence for controlling Inter city bus stations and other stations in the 2000s right up to RB??? Wasn’t that right under Levy?? Just like the corruption at Ministry of Lands when thousands were swindled until Sata put up the current Land Management System. All under Levy.
Don’t tell lies. I remember a Zesco employee being fired during Mwanawasa for supporting the PF. Maybe you were not concerned with what was happening to others because of your relationship with Levy. Mwanawasa got rid of “rogue ” DCs like Mutisa but u turned after discovering that he needed such people for his reelection.
The Upnd reps are there without the blessings of their party. Very soon they will be expelled.
LPM you called him chi cabbage when he was alive, now you are glorify him because he died. You are waiting for ECL to die before you can say something good for what is he doing. Lets encourage for any good so that he continue. Some people here on LT need to enrol for the degree in witchcraft at UNZA
I think the meeting in siavonga is a great step foward. Lets all put our differences of past and present and instead look to a beter future. whoever made a mistake in the passed should be judged by what they are doing now, not what they did.
we are all but only human
This is a good start but let all parties continue with the same spirit as in the end it is the whole country that will benefit. But let the talks be sincere and not be hijacked either by ZCID or by ruling party using it’s surrogates.
UPND is a tribal grouping! Don’t worry about his absence! It is a party of “Nos!”
I get shocked when people say fat john was a good leaders.He was good to those who hated the people fat john persecuted in the name of fighting corruption. If any thing, fat john legalized and institutionalised corruption and nepotism. He was the investigator, arresting, prosecutor with the help of his friends,judge and chief justice etc.Analyse issues objectively please!!