Whilst the landmark meeting between President Edgar Lungu and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema facilitated by  three Church mother bodies is indeed commendable, we are deeply concerned that the Church did not offer wise counsel to the beleaguered   opposition leader for suspending the  Kafue Council Chairperson  for allegedly attending a function  officiated by the Republican President.

The UPND recently suspended the Kafue Council Chairperson for allegedly attending a clean-up exercise where President Lungu was a guest of honour.

However, is it right for Hichilema to meet President Lungu and not any other UPND officials to meet to the Head of State?

Whilst it’s not in Zambian DNA‘s interest to meddle in the political party’s disciplinary code of conduct, it’s our view that UPND should lift the suspension of the said leader with immediate effect as a gesture of reconciliation towards national dialogue process.

More so, we expect the clergy to prevail on Mr Hichilema so that UPND lifts suspension of the said leader in an effort to facilitate the much-anticipated national dialogue process in a peaceful atmosphere.

Further, we advise UPND leader that the suspended Kafue Council Chairperson did not commit any offence by taking part in the clean-up exercise where President Lungu was a guest of honour.

Equally, Mr Hichilema did not commit an offence when he met the Republican President.

In view of the foregoing, we advise UPND leader to immediately lift the suspension of the said leader if indeed the meeting he held with the head of State was in good faith.

Issued by Spuki Mulemwa

Zambian DNA Spokesperson