HRC commends President Lungu for commitment to dialogue

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has commended President Edgar Lungu for demonstrating commitment to the spirit of dialogue as demonstrated by his gesture of meeting with the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Commission Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga says this is a clear indication that President Lungu is willing to engage in dialogue with the UPND leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr. Mwandenga says it is encouraging that President Lungu is willing to provide the required national leadership to facilitate political dialogue in order to bring to an end the continued hostile political environment.

He says the Commission believes that such a landmark decision may result into a peaceful resolution of the current political conflicts and enable the country to focus its energy and resources on improving socio-economic rights of citizens.

Mr. Mwandenga has noted that the continued political hostility is endangering the maintenance of peace, law and order as well as grossly undermining the promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

He says Zambia, like many other great nations, has in the past relied on political dialogue to avoid slumping into political instability.

The Commission Chairperson has emphasized that it is therefore encouraging that President Lungu has expressed commitment to keep Zambia’s long standing tradition of engaging in dialogue and recognizing the befitting role of the church in brokering peace in this country.

In a statement made available to Q-news, Mr. Mwandenga has since called upon various stakeholders, including the media fraternity, to desist from making statements or publications that have the potential to jeopardize the impending dialogue.