By RABECCA CHIPANTA, KASONDE KASONDE and MELBOURNE MUSHITU –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has won accolades for various pronouncements, including the need for civil servants vying for political office to disengage from the public service and calling for a meeting to decelerate levels of violence.
The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) praised the President for directing that civil servants wishing to take part in the August general elections should resign.
CSAWUZ secretary general Joy Beene said the organisation’s position had always been for civil servants to be non-partisan, as it could compromise service delivery.
Mr Beene said the President’s directive was timely and commendable.
“Our position has always been not to be partisan. We believe once we become partisan and involved in politics, it will compromise our work. Our message to our members has always been that if they want to be involved in politics or stand for any political position, the best they can do is to leave the service,” he said.
Citizen Coalition Zambia president Gregory Chifire shared similar sentiments on the President’s directive.
Mr Chifire said in a statement that the move was progressive and demonstrated the President’s resolve to weed the civil service of partisan activities so that it remained professional.
“The Westminster system which our civil service is fashioned after stipulates that politicians come and go, but the civil service must be permanent and constant, as it was designed to service the Government of the day irrespective of political complexion,” he said.
Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga praised Mr Lungu on the call for the Church to chair a peace dialogue involving opposition political leaders.
Dr Mwaanga said dialogue was an essential instrument for peace and that it should be institutionalised as the country headed for elections.
He said in a statement that the Church had a commendable record of making and building peace as demonstrated in 1990 and 1991 when they mediated between UNIP and MMD.
“Dialogue is an essential instrument for peace and it must become institutionalised as it was prior to the 2011 elections. It has served our country well in difficult times, but for it to find true meaning, there’s need for dialogue among political party leaders,” Dr Mwaanga said.
Others that echoed Dr Mwaanga’s views were the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolutioh of Disputes (SACCORD) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ).
SACCORD executive director Boniface Chembe said the proposed meeting with other political leaders had been long overdue.
“We welcome the President’s call for dialogue with other political parties over the persistent political violence that has been taking place in the country.  We believe that this political violence is a danger and if not addressed, we risk jeopardising our peace. We hope other political leaders will agree to discuss and find an end to the violence,” he said.
EFZ executive director Pukuta Mwanza said the call for dialogue was critical to ensure there was a strong commitment by all political parties to end violence.
“The message of peace should flow down to the grassroots and ensure that cadres engage in peaceful campaigns on behalf of their candidates. The recent violent attacks during the Youth Day celebrations in Lusaka are unfortunate and should be condemned by every peace-loving Zambian,” he said.