LUNGU READY FOR ‘GENUINE’ DIALOGUE

By SIMON MUNTEMBA PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says genuine dialogue is the only way to resolve disputes and differences among Zambians as the country heads towards elections. He said there was need for political players and the church to work together to ensure Zambia remains peaceful before, during and after the general elections. Mr Lungu said this yesterday after a closed door meeting with the three Church mother bodies at State House. Leaders of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zamba (EFZ) and the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) were at State House to underscore their commitment to dialogue and working with Government for the benefit of Zambians. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, President Lungu said they had a candid, frank, and brotherly chat on various issues of concern particularly on the need to maintain peace ahead of the August 12 general elections. He said the government, church and political players have all got a role to play especially against violence. “So we had a detailed chat on a number of issues but all centring on the need for us to do the right thing, to hold together as One Zambia and One nation in peace, of course with the love of Christ, and we would like to believe that this will continue as we go into the future because dialogue is the only way you can resolve disputes and differences,” Mr Lungu said. “Sometimes, because you are at a distance you might  not appreciate that your colleagues have a valid issue and if you interact with them you get to know that they mean well after all,” he said. President Lungu also said the country has perfected its electoral processes and assured the Zambians that the forthcoming elections will be transparent. Meanwhile, EFZ chairperson Bishop Paul Mususu said the leaders from three mother bodies decided to meet with the President as elections were approaching. Bishop Mususu noted that this year’s elections would be tricky because they would be under the Covid-19 restrictions. Among the church leaders at the meeting were ZCCB president Archbishop Ignatius Chama, and CCZ president Bishop Sauros Phaika. Others were CCZ vice president Bishop Charles Nsemani, CCZ secretarygeneral Emmanuel Chikoya, Bishop Andrew Mwenda, and EFZ executive director, Fr. Cleophas Lungu, the ZCCB secretary-general.