Former President Edgar Lungu has expressed his readiness to meet with President Hakainde Hichilema, as long as the discussions focus on key issues such as restoring democracy, ending opposition harassment, and reinstating the rule of law.
According to a statement from Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Raphael Nakacinda, following a central committee meeting, Mr. Lungu harbors no personal grievances. He hopes that any meeting with President Hichilema will address these critical topics.
Mr. Nakacinda also mentioned that Mr. Lungu has urged President Hichilema to prioritize the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Zambia.
“In his opening remarks, President Lungu said he had received numerous calls from national stakeholders, including the Church, urging him to engage in dialogue with President Hichilema,” Mr. Nakacinda stated.
He further highlighted Mr. Lungu’s concerns about what he described as the government’s aggressive stance towards the PF, accusing it of trying to dismantle the party by replacing legitimate officeholders with imposters and surrogates.
“Mr. Lungu pointed out that the exclusion of the Patriotic Front from by-elections has severely weakened democracy and damaged Zambia’s multi-party system,” Mr. Nakacinda said.
Mr. Lungu also instructed the party to intensify its mobilization efforts and prepare for his visits to various provinces.
In addition, the Central Committee has set up an ad-hoc committee to review the party’s alliances with other political groups.
Mr. Nakacinda explained that the committee will evaluate the PF’s partnership with the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) and develop conditions and guidelines for such alliances. The committee’s findings and recommendations will be presented at an urgent Central Committee meeting scheduled for the next two weeks to address these and other pressing issues.
Source: Mwebantu
