By FRANCINA PHIRI –
.Lubinda
THE motion to impeach President Edgar Lungu initiated by the United Party for National Development (UPND) will not affect its normal functioning or its commitment to the national dialogue, Justice Minister Given Lubinda has said.
Mr Lubinda said while the Government did not know the motive behind the motion, the process did not have any bearing on its operations or its commitment to the political dialogue.
Mr Lubinda said this when Information Minister Dora Siliya held a meeting with him yesterday.
The minister also said the Commonwealth delegation had not informed Government or the Patriotic Front (PF) on the need to select members to be a part of the steering committee on dialogue.
Two weeks ago, the Commonwealth announced that a steering committee comprising members nominated by stakeholders would be unveiled yesterday to spearhead the national dialogue.
This was a departure from its initial position that the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) would lead the dialogue.
Mr Lubinda said the meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday with the Commonwealth Special Envoy to Zambia Ibrahim Gambari did not take off and the ministry was not informed on the cancelation of the meeting.
He said President Lungu, however, remained committed to the process of inclusive dialogue which would involve all relevant stakeholders.
Mr Lubinda said the Government would continue relying on the ZCID which all political party stakeholders agreed would be the channel through, which they would be engaging in political discussions in Zambia.
“We are not any way attaching the impeachment motion to the national dialogue as that the two are separate matters and Government is committed to the process of dialogue,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said that he would wait to hear from Professor Gambari, who among others was trying to encourage dialogue in the country.
And Ms Siliya said that whether there was an impeachment motion or not, the agenda for national dialogue would continue as it was very important for the Government as a stakeholder on behalf of the Zambians.
She said that President Lungu was not moved by the motion adding that dialogue was more important for the Zambian people than the impeachment motion.
