Zumani urges Mundubile to recognize Hichilema as Head of State
Zumani urges Mundubile to recognize Hichilema as Head of State
TONSE Alliance founder Zumani Zimba has urged losing National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile to recognise President Hakainde Hichilema as head of State.
Dr Zimba, who is NRPUP secretary-general and chief presidential adviser, said such a recognition will pave the way for any dialogue and reconciliation following the August 13 general election.
President Hichilema won the election with 60 per cent of the vote, while his closest rival, Mr Mundubile, came second with 38 per cent of the ballot.
The opposition leader, his running mate, Makebi Zulu, and 16 others are in detention and charged with treason.
Some stakeholders have been calling for dialogue and reconciliation in the aftermath of the general election, which Mr Mundubile wanted to challenge in court.
But Dr Zimba said the best way to expedite dialogue is for Mr Mundubile to recognise that Mr Hichilema won the election and is the Republican President.
He said in a statement that supporters of Mr Zulu also need to recognise President Hichilema as leader of Zambia.
“How can HH be motivated to dialogue or reconcile with people who don’t recognise him as President?
“The fastest way to get HH’s attention to dialogue is for BM to publicly recognise HH as the sitting President, regardless of what happened in August. For BM and MZ supporters, the idea of attacking, insulting or denouncing HH will not and will never help to resolve the problem of BM and MZ, either today or tomorrow,” Mr Zimba said.
“Accepting HH as sitting President and respectfully appealing [not demanding] for dialogue with his government is the best way out for the freedom of BM and the team.”
Mr Zimba said accepting that Mr Hichilema was declared winner by Electoral Commission of Zambia is critical to expediting dialogue, national unity and healing.
“We must note that whenever a Republican President is recognised, regardless of how he won, by his competitors, he/ she feels comfortable, free and confident to be engaged in any national political discourse.
“This attitude helps to create meaningful dialogue between the government and the losing opposition or contending actors.”
Credit: Zambia Daily Mail