• President Edgar Lungu (third from left) talks to Lusaka Catholic Diocese Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu (second left) as he posed for a photograph with senior Patriotic Front (PF) officials, members of the clergy, opposition party leaders and their representatives at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka on Tuesday.

By CHILA NAMAIKO –
POLITICAL party leaders have called for firm implementation of the modalities agreed upon to end political violence ahead of the August 11 general elections.
During an inter-party dialogue at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka, 18 political parties agreed on modalities to help stop the violence that had been reported in some parts of the country.
According to a communiqué read out by Lusaka Catholic Diocese Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu, among other modalities agreed upon was the use of the existing leadership structures in the various political parties to encourage members to desist from violent acts.
This was during a seven-hour meeting convened by the three Church mother bodies in Zambia and attended by 18 political parties on Tuesday night.
The leaders were of the view that implementing the modalities would help unite Zambians despite having divergent political views.
Forum for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi, who described the meeting as worthwhile, called for an end to political violence.
She said the meeting brought calmness among political leaders and was optimistic that it would help foster peace and unity in the country.
“This is a good gesture; we don’t want violence, but the challenge is for us leaders to ensure the modalities agreed upon are implemented.
“There is no need for finger-pointing and hate speech, we are one people,” she told journalists in an interview shortly after the meeting.
Ms Nawakwi challenged the journalists to play a key role of uniting the masses and not reporting in a manner that could bring about divisions among political leaders.
United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema said the meeting was significant, but would only comment more at an appropriate time, while his Christian Democratic Party counterpart Danny Pule urged Zambians to support the President who would win the election.
MMD leader Nevers Mumba said hate speech should end and called for team work among Zambians to develop the country. In attendance at the meeting were President Lungu, who is also the Patriotic Front (PF) leader, and was accompanied by party deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri and party deputy spokesperson Frank Bwalya.
Others were National Restoration Party vice-president Charles Maboshe, Forum for Democratic Alternatives president Ludwig Sondashi, and National Revolution Party’s Cosmo Mumba.
Tilyenji Kaunda of the United National Independence Party, Zambia Direct Democracy Movement president Edwin Sakala and Fred Mutesa of Zambians for Empowerment and Democracy were also in attendance.
The conveners of the meeting, which started at 14:30 hours and ended after 21:00 hours, were Zambia Episcopal Conference general secretary Cleophas Lungu, Council of Churches in Zambia general secretary Suzanne Matale and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Pukuta Mwanza.
Others were Bishop Joshua Banda of Northmead Assemblies of God and Bishop Joe Imakando of Bread of Life International Ministries.