MUSHIMBA DEMANDS NATIONAL DIALOGUE
…..OPP leader backs Truth Commission idea
By DAVID KANDUZA
THE Organised People’s Party (OPP) president Brian Mushimba has called for an urgent national dialogue and reconciliation process to heal Zambia’s deep political divisions and pave the way for a new Constitution.
Speaking on Radio Phoenix, September 15, 200026, Dr Mushimba admitted he was wrong to previously dismissed structural reconciliation efforts.
He publicly apologised to former NAREP leader Elias Chipimo for once calling his proposal for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission ‘crazy,’ acknowledging that Dr Chipimo was simply ahead of his time.
To move the country forward, the OPP leader outlined a vision for a comprehensive national overhaul inclusively bringing together political parties, traditional leaders, civil society, students and workers to confront difficult national issues.
Dr Mushimba urged President Hakainde Hichilema to champion the initiative, stating it could become the defining legacy of his presidency.
He called for immediate forgiveness and a review of cases involving ‘political prisoners,’ warning against using State institutions to settle partisan scores.
Dr Mushimba proposed that this dialogue naturally transition into drafting a legitimate, broadly consulted Constitution addressing economic, legal and social concerns.
“It has been messy,” Dr Mushimba stated, emphasising that genuine dialogue and healing were the only ways to reduce political tensions and create lasting rules for governing the country.
Criminal suspects carry out dialogue in courts of law.
Why do you want to settle matters of TREASON outside court ?
What are you afraid of?
If the suspects are innocent, the court process has the final say. We can not sweep a crime that threatens to destroy our nation under the carpet of “dialogue” or “reconciliation”. The court process is what will heal this nation.
Not dialogue outside court.
Treason is not Arson. The treason charge is serious in nature because it boarders on national security. Settling matters to do with treason outside a courts is not only reckless but dangerous. A life was lost in the process and without due court processes, the state will be held accountable.