Saccord urges government, opposition to dialogue

Saccord urges government, opposition to dialogue
By Kombe Chimpinde
Mon 11 June 2012, 13:24 CAT

SOUTHERN African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes says the state of affairs regarding the country's governance have not gone down to levels that warrant foreign intervention.

Reacting to the opposition political parties' resolve to petition the donor community over their fight with PF and President Michael Sata, Saccord information officer Obby Chibuluma said Zambians can resolve problems among themselves as citizens through dialogue instead of bringing in the donor community.

The opposition political parties have, in an open letter dated June 6, 2012 addressed to the donor community, contested several highlighted events that had taken place under PF which they claim have contributed to a rapid erosion of public trust across all of Zambia's institutions of government, "resulting in a crisis of confidence".

"We do feel that solutions to whatever problems our political parties may have between themselves, can only be resolved through them sitting down and dialoguing," Chibuluma said.

"We do feel the situation is not so bad that we require foreign intervention regarding the concerns our leaders in the opposition have. Rather, we do feel that there is a lot of room for the parties themselves to engage with the government."

He called on the government to provide room for dialogue so that those that felt aggrieved with its manner of leadership can be heard.

"Also on the part of government, they probably need revaluate the way they are doing things. The reaction of the opposition could be a result of the government not providing that platform for them to engage with the opposition," he said.

Chibuluma said the time for politicking had elapsed and that this was time for stakeholders to put issues of development as priority through constructive criticism and dialogue.

"If we continue with the seeming stand-off between the government and the opposition, it is more likely that some people will truly believe that there is a problem in the country when there is nothing," said Chibuluma.

"The perceptions that are being created as a result of the seeming stand-off are not good for the country's unity…Those in leadership must ensure they provide the platform to engage with the opposition leaders."

In an open letter addressed to the donor community written and signed by the party leaders and Robert Amsterdam, the lawyer engaged by Rupiah Banda and his son, Henry, they contested several highlighted events that had taken place under PF.

"The developments outlined below, which have taken place under the Patriotic Front administration of President Michael Chilufya Sata, have contributed to a rapid erosion of public trust across all of Zambia's institutions of government, resulting in a crisis of confidence," the letter dated June 6, 2012 reads in part.

"Providers of foreign aid can no longer trust the Zambian government at its word to observe the law or fulfill its promises, and steps must be taken to monitor and ensure that these critical resources are not diverted away from their intended purposes."

The opposition political party leaders who included Pastor Nevers Mumba, Hakainde Hichilema, Charles Milupi, Sakwiba Sikota, Edwin Sakala and lawyer Amsterdam, stated that it was their concern that continued unconditional donor support to the PF administration would further the disturbing trends that represented a sharp departure from the laws, norms, traditions, and constitutional culture of the country.

According to them, President Sata had engaged in a concerted effort to install family members and friends in all key positions of the country's economic management; assaulted the independence of the judiciary, and; systematically eliminated democratic rights of the political opposition and freedom of expression, among other things.

"Given the alarming circumstances related to the deterioration of governance in Zambia, we are calling on the donor community to closely monitor compliance of programmes by the state, and where possible, work directly with recipient groups to ensure against diversion of resources by unaccountable state officials. In these circumstances, it is reasonable for the donor community to ask basic questions concerning the intentions and motives of the Patriotic Front government," the letter stated.

But PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba said opposition political party leaders were not showing any allegiance to the country.