HH Supports Dialogue To End Violence

UPND Alliance presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema has expressed his support for calls for dialogue to end the growing problem of violence ahead of the August elections.

“We wish to acknowledge the call for dialogue, in order to end escalating levels of violence, as proposed by the United Movement for the Kola Bemba Kingdom,” HH states.

“Calls for dialogue by various stakeholders such as the Commonwealth of Nations, the Church Mother Bodies, the Catholic Church, Law Association of Zambia and ordinary citizens have been made in the past. In all these instances, the UPND has conveyed its unflinching commitment in the process of constructive dialogue,” he continues.

“The UPND's commitment to an unconditional roundtable national conversation around issues of national importance is well documented and has always been well defined, unequivocal and with a sense of urgency,” he explains.

“We therefore wish to reiterate our long-held position of our willingness and total commitment to the process of dialogue. This must be done in an atmosphere of mutual respect, total commitment, transparency and well-defined goals for progress to resolving outstanding matters, that will bring peace to our country and facilitate for free and fair election,” HH concludes.

HH has previously pledged to end thuggery if elected into office in the upcoming elections and has also criticised the wearing of military fatigues by alleged PF cadres.

“With a resolute, decisive and determined leadership of the country, this thuggery can end in one day. We promise to end this alien behaviour of impunity and violence once we are given chance to serve, so that we all live in peace and unity,” the UPND Alliance candidate wrote on social media.

“All our processions have been sanctioned by law enforcement agencies, so then why are these PF thugs following us to disrupt peace and cause violence on our peaceful roadshows? It is because, someone somewhere benefits from this thuggery and violence. The UPND in government will not tolerate this behaviour,” he continued.

Campaign roadshows have since been banned on public health grounds.