Veteran Politician Vernon Mwaanga has called for dialogue among political leaders and civic leaders in the country.
In a statement issued to the media, Dr Mwaanga said recent developments including the disputed 2016 general elections and the handling of the subsequent Presidential Petition has left the country deeply divided hence the need for dialogue among stakeholders.
He said divisions of this nature have the potential to saw seeds of ethnic and political divisions which our country can do without .
“For many years now, I have been calling for dialogue among our political and civic leaders . This became more urgent after the disputed Presidential election of August 2016, and the shambolic manner in which the Constitutional Court handled the Presidential Petition . It is undeniable that all these developments have left our country very deeply divided as never before,” Dr Mwaanga said.
He said Zambia has always promoted dialogue among warring ethnic and political formations in the region and beyond , with salutary results which have contributed in no small measure to regional and international peace.
He wondered why political leaders have now failed to build instruments of dialogue among themselves.
Dr Mwaanga said a Centre for Inter Party Dialogue which was set up with the support of the Netherlands Institute for Inter Party Dialogue was meant to enable political leaders to meet regularly but that the institution has now become moribund.
He also wondered why the country should be in the forefront promoting dialogue in other countries when Zambians are not talking to each other.
“What is the point of promoting dialogue in other countries if we as Zambians fail to talk to each other and reach out to each other as brothers and sisters who are committed to developing and building a better Zambia for all ?
He said the centre was set up that Centre to strengthen leadership capabilities, create an infrastructure of peace building, creating capacity for implementing whatever agreements are reached, promote trust among our leaders, and institutionalise the culture of meaningful dialogue.
Dr Mwaanga said real dialogue would go a long way in promoting political, economic,and social stability in the country.
“Our country faces many challenges such as energy, governance, weak institutions, lack of trust among political leaders,the electoral process, human rights abuses, low economic growth, threats to press freedom which have led to a clamp down of some private media houses as never seen before, falling educational standards in our institutions of learning, un-inclusive appointments into government and the public service,and mining policy.” He said
The Veteran politician noted that the use of unpalatable language by leaders against each other, state church relations, application of the public order act, political violence, agricultural policies, the role of NGOs , hate speeches, health facilities, youth unemployment , among many difficulties the country is going through.
He said the dialogue plays a huge part in facilitating consensus, prevents election,and political violence.
Dr Mwaanda pointed out that the the contribution of dialogue in promoting peace and harmony in the country should not be trivialised or underestimated as it an indispensable role in facilitating consensus , strengthening peace , building trust among leaders, preventing election, and political violence.
“Experience in many parts of our globalized world has shown that although dialogue does not always guarantee success, there is sufficient evidence to show that the impact of dialogue always leads to lowering of tensions at different levels of society . When citizens see their leaders talking, it breeds relief and confidence that all is well in our country,” he said.
He said though dialogue is not always able to address all the variables and the potential for conflict in a society, it lays a solid foundation for seeking solutions to given problems.
“Complex political problems and deeply embedded patterns of distrust and hostility, such as what we are witnessing on our country , cannot be solved through one off dialogue events, but through a sustainable and continuous process. Ultimately, we should work towards building a political culture that resorts to dialogue as the first response to rising tensions and misunderstandings.”
Dr Mwaanga also called on stakeholders to invest in institutions that assume responsibility for dialogue and that enhance the potential for the success of dialogue.
“It is the duty of all of us as Zambians and particularly political and civic leaders to invest in institutions that assume responsibility for dialogue and that enhance the potential for the success of dialogue. We should as a country encourage our leaders at all levels to treat each other with respect even when they disagree and to learn to sit down in a calm and thoughtful manner to discuss and find solutions to the many problems facing our country ,” he said.
He further said SADC leaders also have a duty to help promote dialogue.
“SADC leaders also have a duty to help promote dialogue, using the existing early warning systems, help to bring leaders together and encourage them to embrace building blocks for peace . Blaming each other, using threats and name calling will not bring peace, but only entrench hatred,” he said.
BA MWANGA, What are talking about? You have worked in all most every government what have you contributed to the nation that you can point to. Is it not you who left this big problem of youth un employment among other issues. Talk the true you are a christian. There is no one who has refused to accept president Lungu except you and your fellow friends who thinks this country is yours alone to manipulate everything but not others. Since they have not appointed you to work in this government they become enemies. Learn to appreciate others who are working tirelessly to ensure that democracy is prevailed.
Mwanga is right.
This Mwanga is the biggest failure of them All!
We do not want one party state. There is no need for dialogue, let the opposition continue putting pressure on the government.
Yaba!!! People always have a way of telling on themselves if you just listen to them long enough or you just let them rant long enough. Here is what VJ is telling on himself “… un-inclusive appointments into government and the public service, and mining policy.”
Translation: Do really know who I am? I am VJ for crying out loud!!!!!!!! I have been part of GRZ from inception, every government has been “inclusive in appointing me to something” but ECL has been un-inclusive to me. I have no job at all.
Okay, if that fails … allow me to bring everyone together. The Netherlands created the Centre for Inter Party Dialogue, I can get paid through Donor funding, I just need to be the chairman when you boys and girls gather around.
What part of this don’t you understand???? I…
Continued …
What part of this don’t you understand???? I am broke, I need some money … I thought Hakainde would win this time around that’s why I supported him this badly but the Constitutional Court ate my lunch, bane … now that we cannot do anything with this case, help me to eat nalafwa kusala please.
So, let me break it down for you one more time when I went and woke FTJ up, me and Aka knew we were the king makers. We made FTJ President and he looked after me, Aka fell out of favor and because I was okay, I didn’t need to dialogue with anybody whether you were UNIP or Agend for Zambia (Aka).
That was not necessary but now it is very necessary, do you read me??
Just come out in the open instead playing around with words. Who doesn’t know which side of the coin you prefer.
Mbanje Khaki – ars.ewhore that feeds on rats and caterpillars! Put that sh.it back in your ar.se!!
This does not sound like an enerst call for dialogue rather another double tongue slur. Vernon sounds bitter and shows that he is still taking sides. Therefore, Mwanga is not the correct person to call for dialogue because he sounds aggrieved. He shows that he still does not understand Democracy. Even with his massive experience of Deplomacy, the ergo of his Party has taken its tore. Mwanga fails to avoid insulting the institutions of this Country every time he speaks these days. I personally cannot differentiate GBM from Mwanga. Please pardon me but Mwanga is not a freedom fighter but a carder.
Unlike most dull bloggers here, am happy you Ken could read between the lines…that’s called discerning. VJ wants dialogue because HH did not win the elections. What a load of trash from this fossil!
Vernon Mwaanga is just calling for dialogue which I don’t see any problem with. Simple and straight forward logic meant to unite us as Zambians
But why the name calling ” and the shambolic manner in which the Constitutional Court handled the Presidential Petition”? If one wants proper dialog, they always make sure they refrain from name-calling… So badaala just say you are biased towards one party against the other. Do pretend to be fair and wise in your utterances.
Fake Hakaiide – Didn’t you see the shambles? It is because of the same “shambles” that the case was not heard! Ars.ewhore!!
No No dialogue Mr. Mwaanga with due respect. Let the speaker of the National Assembly take over and then we pick it from there. I refuse to recognise him and he will never force me.
The 50+1 who voted for him have a better say than you…name of the democracy game baba. No matter how many minga you grow on yourself it will have no effect on the 50+1 who voted against HH & GBM(GBV)
Fake Hakaiide – you mean stolen democracy you filthily dirty piece of sh.it
People only realise Vernons words when it’s too late. Kabili, in Zambia people have chosen arguments over sense. Which ever side Vernon may belong, calling for dialogue must be supported by all sensible Zambians
Dialogue with whom and between which ones? Look there is already dialogue in this country. The only people who are not participating in this dialogue is UPND period: How? They have refused to accept the outcome of the results and they say the country has no government. So how can they participate in dialogue? Poverty, unemployment, disease, hunger and others are global difficulties that are not only isolated to Zambia. There is no country that has a 100% employment rate with zero poverty levels. Even Singapore has at least 4.5% water loss. That is the least in the whole world and this shows you that these issues are global. Efforts can yield better results if the country is thinking as one and not in our situation.
I think Ambassador Mwaanga is making a valid point. Instead of us readers hurling insults at him let us defend his right to air his views. We need to build a culture of tolerance even if we disagree.
The time to reckon with is near.We have been quite for too long now we back.Lungu watch the space.
Mr Mwaanga must first direct his words to his fellow tongas who have vowed to continue being bitter until HH wins.Zambians in 6.5 provinces are ok with ECL and its you in 3.5 provinces especially in southern who see none upnd members as enemies!!!HH’S KIND OF POLITICS HAS DIVIDED ZAMBIA BADLY BECAUSE HIS CAMPAIGNS SINCE 2006 WERE CENTRED ON TRIBALISM!!!LATE MAZOKA WERE ACCEPTED BY VOTERS IN ALL 9 PROVINCES AND NOT HH.out of his 1.7million votes which HH got in 2016,above 1.4million votes came from 3.5 provinces only.HH got less than 500 000 votes from 6.5 provinces.so i wonder how HH could have ruled Zambia with his head high.HH MUST BE BANNED FROM TAKING PART IN ZAMBIAN POLITICS FOR OUR COUNTRY TO UNIT AGAIN!!
Why do some people want to live in denial? Even a child knows that the August 2016 election results were and are in dispute. VJ is just stating the truth. A dubious 100k difference between the two major parties even in the midst of all benefits of incumbency leaves a lot of unanswered questions, which sadly the shambolic ConCourt failed or deliberately refused to address. Some die hard pundits of PF believe the notion that UPND only won on 3 provinces,but if that be thw case, how fo you explain yhe paltry difference.So going forward, dialogue is the best option to heal the wounds
Merger: And with this language you expect to dialogue? This is the problem we have. You are busy talking about vote difference. Who told you that the difference cannot be 100k votes? The continued refusal by a certain group of people to accept the outcome of the election is the cause of lack of dialogue. The rest of the people are busy in dialogue and finding ways to improve the economy but this group is busy refusing to participate in national development. That is the problem and let’s leave dialogue out of this issue. People are just greedy
HH won and we shall soon what belongs to us.No negotiations.
There goes another stup!d blogger in the name above!
Dialogue is not about HH.Again, stop misdirecting YOURSELVES. It’s not about Tongas or Mazoka. Dialogue is always good which ever side you belong to, people must be talking to one another. It is basic
We agree and are ready. But you cannot be calling people to your table while you insult them.
Njimbu take your dullness else were all Zambians including HH have a right to stand for presidency.Why are scared of HH?Try him umwana ushenda atasha banyina ukwipika ubwali.
Somebody calls for a sensible thing like dialogue, the next thing you see is attacks on HH. What type of thinking is this?
@Matilda Mutale
Zambia is not called a docile nation (read Stup!d) without reason. You just alluded to it in your post. That’s the problem. They know Lungu is a thief, a drunkard, not intelligent, but, like the Jews who demanded Barabbas, Zambians chose Lungu!. These problems are self-inflicted.
VJ is a very corrupt politician, he is the one nearly every previous government used to steal the votes from opposition parties, a lot of things he did was out of self interest, and that’s why it is very difficult for the people who know the political history of Zambia very well are finding it hard to believe the good things he is saying right now. I also assume that if VJ was given recognition under the pf, he would as well keep quiet. As long this is not a case, he has always felt very much sidelined and not respected. In the past he used to be a very key player in rigging elections.I guess the people who are sympathizing with his statement are either young people who do not clearly understand his political history or are doing so on political partisan. As for me, I do not agree with…
While Dialogue is important Courts are there for a purpose. HH & GBM filed a Petition against the Election of Lungu and that Petition must be heard,determined and the Winner declared by the Court. After Zambians know the Winner of the 2016 Presidential Election then the process of uniting and reconciling Zambians can begin and the Healing process can thereafter start. We do not want a situation where a Victim apologises to a thief who has just stolen the property from the Victim. The Thief must first return stolen property to the owner then dialogue can start.
@mumba. You are very wise person. That is my person stand. Many who are hypocritical want the victim to apologize to the thief. It will not work. Let the stolen property be returned first. Then we can pick it up from there.
This is a healthy calling…let him who has wisdom adhere to this calling….but pride, resentfulness, arrogance, in-sensitiveness will elude our leaders both in government and at party level including civil society groups…. bug ups ba VJ
Dialogue with his tongue in the cheek! And timing it when Edgar is in southern province. Come on Upnd read the entire article with impartial minds.
MR MWAANGA SIR, YOUR SENTIMENT IS GOOD BUT THE REAL DIALOGUE WOULD BE THE CASE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PETITION TO BE HEARD PROPERLY AND FREELY. AFTER THAT IS DONE THERE WILL BE NO MORE TALK OF DIALOGUE BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE HEARD IT ALL.
@14 Mumba, Dialogue is important Courts are there for a purpose, which courts are you talking about? Are these courts abroad or may be in Malawi? The same courts you are referring to are they not the same courts who ruled over the same presidential petition you still want to hear so what now? Just respect the ruling and every thing will be ok, if you did not hear what the ruling said ask those who know the law to interpret it for you otherwise you dreamers stop dreaming of going to court again wake up 2016 is long gone we are even nearing half of 2017 and you are still sleeping, can some please poll water on these guys for the to wake up before they are buries alive.
Perhaps the kind of DIALOGUE Ba Mwanga has in mind is meant for Leaders of UPND to talk and resolve the new leadership Team at a Convention. The majority of Tongas have been seriously traumatized after the August 2016 elections. They are inwardly ashamed of HH’s lack of leadership qualities. Let UPND convene real dialogue to resolve their inbuilt political stresses. When all parties resolve to uphold democracy, then inter-party dialogue will make sense.
Mr. Mwaanga’s hostile attitude towards non-Tongas was really frightening after the General Elections.
The biggest source of disunity in Zambia is the Disputed 2016 Election Results and the Petition. PF supporters are naive to think that the 2016 Election is over and people can just move on and wait for 2021. That will be the greatest mistake becoz the 2021 Elections will be rigged in the same way as the 2016 Election and by the same Election Riggers unless the Petition is heard and disposed off. To avoid another disputed Election in 2021 there must be major changes at ECZ,CONCOURT and other depts dealing with electoral processes. These changes must be stractural and include changes in Personnel. A clear message must go out to say that those who are caught rigging elections will be punished and sent to jail. Stealing Elections must not be rewarded. It should be a crime which is jailable.
MULONGA THANK YOU WE SEEM TO THINK THE SAME. MOST BLOGGERS TAKE IT PERSONAL YET IT INVOVLES THE WHOLE COUNTRY DESPITE OUR PARTY AFFILIATION. THE PETITION SHOULD BE HEARD SO THAT WE CLOSE THAT CHAPTER AND ISAACS AND CHULU SHOULD BE TRIED WITH HIGH TREASON IF FOUND WANTING AS THEY SOLD OUT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
My dear friends the petition shall be heard, the Constitution clearly states that the Constitutional court SHALL hear the petition within 14 days, the 14 days elapsed fine, but was the petition heard, NO, whose fault the constitutional court, how? There incompetence to handle the case within the stipulated time, automatically means they infringed on the rights of the petitioners to be heard, i repeat SHALL be heard, not MAY be heard, if pf won fair and square their pf kadalishiluz would have been in the forefront to protest in streets and awaken judges at 02 hrs in a bid to silence and shame HH for good, forget about the 3.5 provinces and 6.5 provinces and 14 days elapsing Mirage, it does not hold any water, it’s just pure stupidity.
Reading the comments from the likes of chilyata tells you the mindset of the United Dunderhead camp. I bet chilyata is their intellectual representative! Chilyata ba guyi continue showing the world you and your fellow blood thirsty animals thinking capacity which is limited to the two words your parents gave you at birth “ar.se and “wh.ore” Sad!
The only camp that looks stupid is yours,because most of the time it only responds to our camp, we don’t respond to your junk, just go watch deadNBC news now and see who is responding to who. Please don’t respond to my comment and don’t put a negative vote on it, knowing how stupid pf cadres are you will do it.
@deride and f0.0l but are you not responding to my comment? Did you not press the reply button and type that comment addressed to me? Yes you are then why deny it? Hopeless dull cre.tin. Just stick to making baseless comments to appease your own inner frustrations and shortcomings in life young chap you and your Dunderhead camp are suffering from serious depression bordering on dementia.
Kikiki i knew you will do it koswe iwe.
There is no reconciliation without the thief returning what he stole from Zambians, over 3.5 million people who voted does not recognise Chakolwa. How can peace prevail? Apart from stealing he starts to persecute innocent people. He won’t have it easy without repentance, he may pretend but it will haunt him because he can’t run away from God. God’s eyes runs to and from all the earth.
The best thing the “Veteran Politician” can do is to tell Hazaluza Hagain to behave and recognize the President.
This Zambian generation looks like it’s ready to build the bridge to the future.
Give them opportunity you’ll be proud of them. They’re not afraid of giving constructive criticism.
Never in our history as a nation you have seen this, for me, I welcome this with open hands.
Dialogue is most welcome! Hearing the Petition is part and parcel of Dialogue. No Petition Hearing. No Dialogue. Let illegitimate Lungu stew in illegitimacy. The Petitioners will Never get Justice from Lungu controlled Courts. Now that 6 months is coming up the Petitioners should take their Petition to ICJ. Let Lungu,SADC and AU embarrass themselves. They claim that they want African Solutions to African Problems and yet SADC is doing Nothing about the Petition. Ecowas would have intervened by now and solved the Petition problem. SADC is controlled by Dictators and is therefore protecting Trainee Dictator Lungu. Bravo to Ecowas and Shame on SADC.
You UPeND guys never cease to amaze! On one hand you are calling for ”your” petition to be heard in the courts and on the other calling the same courts rotten, corrupt and Lungu-controlled bla bla bla! What a bunch of spoiled and directionless miscreants! Just go for a convention and elect other saleable leaders not your afro boy without any aura whatsoever! ICJ….my foot!
Ndeloleshafye. Please fellow Zambians in almost all elections held in various African countries are disputes hence to bring peace dialogue is vital. We cannot rely on SADC to sort out political wrangles as though we have small brains than SADC.The veteran politician is right and it seems people who are negative about VJ’s concerns are short sighted and are not fit to be part and parcel of a peaceful solution to the political tension Zambia is experiencing. When you become prey to this misunderstanding you will be quick to react and complain. Let’s show political maturity and promote the hard won freedom we got from colonial masters by resorting to dialogue as a sure way of bring lasting solution to tribal tension and other misunderstandings. Let’s be positive in bringing peace rather…
Africa is very much backward because of uncivilised behaviors like these postings have read today. We lack tolerance and in most cases we are allergic to peaceful situations always insults and name calling is the order of the day. We belong to this planet and therefore humanity is above all the living beings which God created. We have the ability to eradicate this poverty mentality thinking or the unbecoming wild behavior which always does not bring results in any political setting. Political well-being goes hand in hand in with social well-being so is economic well-being.Political stability is the engine that drives economic growth which we must strive to uphold irrespective of our political affiliations. Let’s support our veteran politician in his effort to promote peace to all…
Vernon was invited for breakfast by Kalaba foreign Minister, hence his call to dialogue maybe he has another invitation nalyamo big time.
Looking forward to 2021 campaign, you will see new leadership emerging in Zambia, and Zambians are going to contribute funds to the candidate of their choice.
The emerging leadership is going to represent all Zambians no matter of their creed, the only thing Zambians wants is safe playing ground.
That’s why they’re going to vote by their Wallet this time around.
No free T-shirt no free chitenges, not even a ngwee from any candidate to the people, because this time around we want to have the voice.
We want a leader who puts Zambian people first before the party.
Those of you who always see a tribe in everything ought to have your heads checked. go through some tertiary education, you will begin to see that someone’s tribe is not a factor & politicians have deliberately been using this to benefit themselves in the short term. they know very well that there are those who are retarded in thinking & would easily fall for this trick.
Without resolving the 2016 Election Petition the 2021 Elections are as good as rigged. ECZ will mismanage the 2021 Elections and Concourt will do exactly what they did under directives from Lungu. Hearing the Petition will show us how these Elections were rigged and who rigged them and corrective action can be taken to ensure future Elections are not disputed. Those who rigged the Elections must be punished to deter future Election Riggers. Rigging Elections must be made to be a serious crime and jailable. We need changes at ECZ,ZPS, CONCOURT and other Electoral Depts. We must restore confidence in our Electoral Institutions otherwise there is No point in voting in future Elections if the Will of the People is not respected and enforced.
Dialogue is very very important but not at the expense of others and only when it suits you.Bitterness will keep on eating you up like leprosy!Abemba anena kuti konza kapansi kakumwamba katsike.How do you dialogue with ECL when you dont recognise him as presido.Since you have refused to recognise him as such,please stop even mentioning his name,when you call for dialogue dont invite him bcoz to you he does not exhist.BITTERNESS,BITTERNESSSSSSS will consume YOU.
Vernon Mwanga has called for dialogue. He has not mentioned anybody, so how do you start saying how can you have dialogue when you don’t recognise somebody. The fact that you don’t recognise somebody that is the more reason why there should be dialogue. If you can’t think at least pretend you are thinking
Even if Dr Mwanga never mentioned names but dialogue with who,the person you dont recognise?Even if you cant think at least pretend you can, just on this one pleaaaaaaaaaaaaase.
The biggest problem in Zambia after poverty is dullness. How do you honestly demean a noble call for dialogue?
For me this would have been a noble call if it was not laced with a ”tongue-in-cheek-tone! Sounds like the man was a bit bitter!
The levels of greediness and self-cent-redness in our politics in the country is on the rise.This is the more reason why we should call for the strengthening of our institutions of governance,as these will protect the interests of the general citizenry.The danger under the current situation is when rogues stumble and start controlling instruments of power,as is the case now,anything starting from genocide,ethnicity and massive plunder of national resources become the order of the day.
Am no longer in support of old politicians. They have caused us more harm than good. I have noted that some have misguided this Nation.
Especially this fit-for-the archive drug baron!
He is saying, “I will tell HH to recognize a duly elected President of Zambia by the Zambian people!”