HH CAN END TENSION
…Releasing opponents could restore peace, unity – chiefs
By Thandizo Banda
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has the power to ease the current tension in the country by releasing political detainees facing various political charges, Chief Mabumba of Mansa has said.
The chief was speaking on behalf of Chief Kalaba and Chief Mpepo after visiting detained opposition leader Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and 16 others at Mukobeko Maximum Security Correctional Facility in Kabwe on Saturday.
Chief Mabumba said Hichilema could choose peace, love and unity today if he wished.
He said the chiefs were deeply disturbed after several failed attempts to visit the detainees since September 14 when they were turned back at the prison gate after driving more than 500 kilometres from Mansa, Luapula Province.
“We were left with no doubt that at this stage, President Hichilema can bring peace, love and unity by releasing the detainees and starting dialogue for further healing of our country. He’s the current head of state and father of the nation as things stand,” Chief Mabumba said.
He likened the moment to the biblical story of Pontius Pilate and Jesus.
“Even though we are chiefs, we appeal to President Hichilema. He is the king who loves this country, and we beseech him to do the right thing given the powers he has of pardon and forgiveness,” Chief Mabumba said.
“Even when Jesus the King was insulted he said, ‘forgive them, God, for they do not know what they are doing’. We agree with the President that we must move toward economic prosperity. But it cannot happen without dialogue and healing and peace in a deeply divided nation,” he said.
Chief Mabumba urged both Mundubile and Zulu to avoid anger and continue praying for peace and unity in the nation, even are in detention.
“We implored Hon Mundubile and the rest to avoid anger and take everything in stride because jails existed even in the Bible but justice always prevails. We pray that President Hichilema does not wash his hands of this matter as Pilate did,” he said.
Mundubile, Zulu and 16 others have been languishing in detention since mid-last month on the charges of treason and sedition following the august 13 general elections that ushered Hichicilema into the second term of office.
The result of the presidential vote is still highly contested by the opposition citing serious irregularities in the handling of the process, violence and deployment of soldiers in polling stations and tallying centres.
During a joint security operation in which soldiers, police and intelligence officers stormed the private home of Mundubile in Kabulonga, Lusaka, former minister of transport and communication Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot dead.
The country is still engulfed in post-elections political tension with many stakeholders, including opposition leaders, legal fraternity, civil society, the church, the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and other international organisations demanding an independent investigation into the killing and release of all the 18 political prisoners.
