By RABECCA CHIPANTA and STEVEN ZANDE –

PRESIDENT Lungu yesterday held a closed-door meeting with Ndola Diocese Bishop Alick Banda to build on the messages of peace ahead of the August 11 general elections.
Recently, the Catholic Church presented a brief concept to propose ways of how political parties should get involved and deal with political violence.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda told journalists in Ndola yesterday that Mr Lungu’s meeting with the Bishop was meant to further discuss how best political violence could be prevented with the involvement of the Church.
Mr Chanda was speaking after the President held the meeting with Bishop Banda.
He said the Catholic bishops had since convened a meeting with other Church mother bodies to invite political parties and discuss the way forward in curbing violence.
He said a concept paper had since been distributed to all the political party leaders who would meet next Tuesday.
“The purpose of the President’s meeting with the bishop was to further build on the messages of peace and also for continuous collaboration with the Catholic Church to lead the campaign against violence ahead of this year’s general elections,” he said.
Mr Chanda said apart from discussing matters related to peace, the Head of State also discussed the Catholic Church’s active role in the education, health and social development sectors.
Bishop Banda said the Church was happy that the Head of State was concerned and involved in finding a lasting solution to curbing political violence.
He said the Church would give the President the support to ensure violence was halted.
Bishop Banda appreciated the President’s visit.
“It is great that President Lungu came through to visit us and hear our concerns about violence.
“As we are advocating peace, we will encourage him and back his stance on preaching peace and fighting violence in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Lungu said the Patriotic Front (PF) was still awaiting a response from the MMD on the possibility of forming an alliance between the two parties.
Mr Lungu said the PF was not desperate for an alliance, but that the party would want to strengthen its forces ahead of the general elections this year.
The President said this yesterday when he arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from his trip to the Copperbelt.
He said the planned alliance had delayed because the MMD still had intra-party matters to deal with, adding that the partnership could only be decided once the in-house squabbles in the opposition party were resolved.
“We are not desperate, our position is that we want to talk to a united MMD, but so far indications are that they are still talking to each other. When they are finished, they will get back to us,” the President said.