Dialogue won’t work because there’s serious witch-hunt by those in authority Chisala

DIALOGUE will never work out because there is a serious witch-hunt by those in authority to abuse their powers, says All Nations Church Overseer Bishop Timothy Chisala. Bishop Chisala said this is a time when the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue can at least show its relevance by stopping the ongoing witch-hunt. In an interview, Bishop Chisala said Zambia was slowly deteriorating into a failed state.

“How can we talk of dialogue when there is serious political witch-hunt by those in authority who are abusing their powers to silence others? he asked. This issue of dialogue will never work out unless those in authority know and respect divergent views in a democratic state. What is going on in this country is so shameful. We seem not to have leaders but thugs that want to abuse their powers.”

Bishop Chisala said it was time the ZCID became active.

Let them speak against the injustices that are going on towards the opposition parties. We are saying this not that we are opposition or anti-government, no! We support the government of the day. But as a Church, we have a role to speak that which the government does not want to hear for the interest of the people. Those that are close to the powers, please tell the powers that be the truth,” he said.

Bishop Chisala said the recent occurrences in the country were shameful. He said Zambia needed to be united more than before.

“Look just recently, those with power abused their powers and accused Ndola pastors of having political meetings when it was the budget that was being discussed, Bishop Chisala said. Today, this week, we are in so hot [situation] especially here on the Copperbelt and Ndola to be specific. You know what will happen here. All this what does it point to? We need to find out why people react in the manner they do. We need to be more united. But lawlessness is the order of the day because somewhere, someone is abusing his powers. If this is left unchecked, it will not go down very well. People are upset and what they want to hear is hope from those with authority and not arrogance. So our role as a Church is to speak that which is of interest to our people.”

Bishop Chisala said the Church should now wake up and speak against any injustices in society. On Friday, police in Ndola summoned Hichilema to report himself for investigations at Copperbelt Division headquarters this Wednesday.

“You are requested to report yourself to Zambia Police Copperbelt Division headquarters, Ndola, on 14/11/2018 at 09:00 hours for the purpose of investigations. You will not be kept longer than absolutely necessary, ” according to the callout signed by Gloria C. Mulele, deputy division Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO).

There is growing machinations, albeit veiled, by the State to arrest Hichilema, alleging that he incited some Kitwe residents to riot last week to protest the supposed sale of Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO).

On Wednesday, chief government spokesperson Dora Siliya said the government had observed with great concern a new trend by: Opposition political party leaders and in particular the UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema to package innuendoes, to package untruths simply lies as a way to gain popularity.

And also an agenda to incite the citizens of this country to rise against a duly elected government. That is very much against the Penal Code of Zambia where in Article 57 and 60 it also extends to others such as the media that you are not supposed to publish information that will bring a duly elected government into contempt unless you believe that information to be true, Siliya said.

The warning from government is that following the riots in the Copperbelt over ZAFFICO, relevant government wings are going to carry out a thorough investigation on those who were inciting and even those who have the opportunity to re-broadcast this inciting. I want to be clear [that] government is not against the opposition; in a democracy the majority will get their way but the minority must also be heard.

Asked on what thorough investigations the police would be carrying out when Hichilema had already been named as the culprit, Siliya responded: Clearly, there are procedures within government, particularly Ministry of Home Affairs. We will leave it that they are experts and they know what they are doing.

Siliya challenged Hichilema if indeed he had any proof that ZAFFICO and ZNBC had been sold, I’m prepared to resign.