UKA asks Hichilema to despatch ex-president Lungu to Zimbabwe in bid to resolve diplomatic face-off

The United Kwacha Alliance (UK) has called on President Hakainde Hichilema to appoint former President, Edgar Lungu, as an envoy to Zimbabwe to address perceived challenges straining relations between the two countries.

The Alliance expressed concern over President Hichilema’s absence from Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration ceremony and the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Harare.

Speaking on behalf of the 16 political parties at a media briefing in Lusaka last Friday, Citizens First (CF) Party leader, Harry Kalaba, urged President Hichilema to set aside political differences with Lungu and send him to Zimbabwe for dialogue with President Mnangagwa to resolve any perceived tensions.

“When Zambia had issues with China, then-President Michael Sata sent the late first republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda to hold bilateral meetings, which were successfully concluded.

Similarly, President Hichilema should consider using former President Lungu as an envoy,” Kalaba stated.

He added: “If there are any issues with President Mnangagwa, go and sort them out. We have said this before.”

Kalaba emphasized that Lungu was ready to travel to Zimbabwe and could be the key to settling any differences with neighboring countries like Zimbabwe.

Furthermore, Kalaba raised concerns about Zambia’s democracy under the UPND government, noting that only five rallies had been allowed in the last three years.

“How do you explain the increase in abductions and extrajudicial killings at the hands of the police? How do you explain the arbitrary arrests under this government, which we never saw during the MMD’s 20-year rule or the PF’s 10-year tenure?” he questioned.

Kalaba criticised the government, attributing its failures to an inability to uphold the rule of law rather than a heavy-handed police force.

“Mr. President, how do you justify all these arrests of opposition leaders while expecting people to celebrate you as a peace builder?” Kalaba asked.

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