In a statemenet released to the media, the embassy said that recent events underscore the need for peaceful dialogue between the opposition and ruling party on matters of national concern.
“The U.S. government urges all actors to exercise restraint in addressing differences, to respect the rule of law and electoral proceedings, and to follow the due process Zambians expect from a country with a reputation for political pluralism and peaceful conflict resolution, ” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has said that he will not interfere in the operations of the police.
The President said that the Police and courts of law know their job and should therefore be given space.
In an apparent reference to the incarceration of UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who has been charged with treason, President Lungu said that some people are calling on him to intervene in the operations of the police, but that he will not do.
The President explained that there are defined roles in the Republican Constitution for the Executive, the Judiciary and the National Assembly, and therefore he does not have powers to control all the three arms of government.
President Lungu was speaking to journalists at City Airport shortly before leaving for Northern Province a for a three day working visit.
You need to suspend all aid until hH is released
YOU ARE VERY FOOLISH
Meanwhile…………………. the illegal president continues to drink get drunk and dance to dununa songs!
This party you are going to have in northern province, reminds me of king herod’s party where he told his daughter to ask for anything and his wife advised the daughter to ask for john the Baptist’s head on the platter.
The real criminal is the one sitting in Jail now. Interrupting Democracy for his own good will never take him anywhere except in his Bunker being smoked like Hyenas by the popo! Bye
It looks like USA has issued message largely directed @ UPND to respect rule of law & electoral process. Message for GRZ is to follow due process in handling UPND President’s case. I think President Lungu is simply confirming recommendation from USA that he will not interfere despite competing desires of both PF & UPND to do so. That’s the wisest approach to take. Shall I add that all Zambians need to look to God for His guidance. We are already a blessed nation & we need Him to show us the way & not man. God Bless Zambia!
They did that to Mugabe, Mugabe is still in resistance. That is the bottom line. So be careful when you talk. There is the issue of sovereignty.
This is a fabrication too. There is no way tge US can issue such a statement supporting the thuggery with which HH was arrested.
PF are busy fabricating stories to give international endorement and appeal to their thuggery.
The international community are studying the situation currently and will issue a statement next week.
PF are busy fabricating stories because they are afraid that now people arr ready to ignite it. And if it ignites every body suffers including Lungu the instigator.
I hear Lungu is planning to fly out with his family by monday because the situation has now reached boiling point ready to erupt.
Lungu kaiser and Amos Mwanya.
All those telling US not to intervene must tell chakolwa Lungu to stop stealing donated money so that he stops begging from US or any other donor.
US has every right to intervene in Zambia because they are trying hard to improve Zambians life which seems not to matter for Kaiser Lungu and Amos.
so you don’t know that Trump has stopped all aid to Africa and put America
Vasco da game thinks we are fools. CUT aid and stop this nonsense
The man who refused to step down according to the Constitution, is now talking about the Constitution, how laughable
In poverty stricken African countries, politicians make use of the people’s votes to increase their political power and make more money. So, in other words, democracy in Zed has become a government “of the politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians”.
Lungu makes less sense, Kapyongo even less, Kaizer even below, Kanganja much less, Mumbi Phiri even more lower on the sense scale. This story would carry on with no end. Look I have more important things to do.
We do not care! You can not come to my family and dictate terms to me on how to run my house. I have my own rules and regulations as family though bearing in mind that my family is not an island.
The same difference between Zambia and the USA. Heightened political tension.
Please tell us what we don’t know.
When you are a beggar, you have no choice but to adhere to the rules of the giver.
@HALUSA HALUSA (HH) what house are you talking about, Aren’t you begging from the West and China? Please, sit on the corner if you has no idea on what you are talking about. Thank you
suspend all aid to the treasury till things return to normal..US u know what to do..since when did PF start following the constitution..?
@3, You don’t care yet the American govt is giving you aid even clean water ,drainages and flushable toilets to help you graduate from using the pit latrines behind your shack …
It is their job to give kabili they are rich
Mind your business……Get concerned over heightened Political tension BETWEEN your country AND Russia over Syria??
Democracy and freedom of speech do not mean lawlessness and insulting others with impunity. This hippopotamus called haha has been behaving as though there is no govt in place. He has called everyone ( courts judges, speaker of the national assembly, the police and everyone who does what in his rotten mind is incorrect pf carders. We don’t need him here in Zambia, may be you can take him to America where there is no respect for the rule of law otherwise we are better of with him in detention forever.
I hate people who like saying we, just say I you f o ol.
Is that why Kaizer’s investigation is taking a whole centuary to resolve, because You are too Drunk & hungover to intervene Mr Chakolwa-Chagwa??
GIVE US A BREAK MR DRUNKEN PRESIDO, YOU ARE THE ARCHITECT OF THIS POLITICAL FRAMING & INTIMIDATION!
Why did HH’s motorcade impede the president’s? Seriously nonsense in Zambia is rife. We should talking about science and innovation, not quarreling adults. UPND and PF are the worst parties after MMD to ever exist.
THIS HIGHTENED TENSION IS ONLY IN THE MINDS OF THOSE CREATING IT! Even the US Embassy knows that THERE IS NO TENSION but they wish TO PORTRAY AS IF THERE WAS ONE! IN THEIR CUNNING WAY,THEY ACKNOWLEDGE ONE THING THAT “….all actors to exercise restraint in addressing differences, to respect the rule of law and electoral proceedings, and to follow the due process Zambians expect from a country with a reputation for political pluralism and peaceful conflict resolution”. THE RULE OF LAW and DUE PROCESS ARE: A PRESIDENT SWORN IN BE RECOGNIZED as such,STOP FOR THE PREZ’ MOTORCADE, ALLOW COURTS TO CONCLUDE TREASON CASE,RESPECT ELECTORAL PROCEEDINGS: ACCEPT EITHER LOSS or DEFEAT!Where is HH with respect to these issues!!
Comment:
Mr US ambassador to Zambia: the political tensions in the US under Trump are incomparable to any so – called political tensions in mother Zambia.
Lungu is a liar. He is going to Northern province to consult his Malawian sangomas and he is the master minder of the arrest of HH
@Chitutuma
Spot on. The Americans are the last people to talk about democracy. They have a sitting President who lost the popular vote and if it is in Africa or anywhere else, they would be talking about the “decision” of the majority.
Yeah and they call that democracy? Atase! Clinton won by more than 2 million votes and she is not in state House. How different is that from Mugabe’s loss to Changilayi but Mugabe insisting he is president?
(US) Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz has amnesia. Did he not dismiss the US never considered Zambia to be under a dictator? He dismissed HH”s claims so why now do they seem to be concerned? Sometimes one has to wonder what these agencies really want in a developing nation. Is it to encourage African’s to kill each other so they continue getting AID? While two people go at each other, developed nation’s might just sit back and enjoy the fight. This means more loans and begging from developing nations. We are the stupi-d one’s being lured while they laugh at the bloodshed. What does fighting accomplish? Who is Lungu and who is HH? Do you believe any of these two will develop Zambia? Because they are the distraction and destruction force of Zambia as we speak.
Lets face it, all the nonsense happening has to do with how ‘hearing the petition’ was circumvented using semantics! The so called learned custodians at interpreting the law cheated the ordinary citizens on how they went about the ‘hearing’ procedure and now the argument on ‘hearing’ of the petition before the courts is persistent! Zambians are no longer a naive people and the way things are going is at Zambia’s own peril for there is a lot to be lost in keeping with what the world has viewed the country!
WHY NOT CLOSE THE US EMBASSY FOR GOOD! THERE IS NO POLITICAL TENSION WE ARE JUST SORTING OUT ONE BAD ELEMENT IN OUR COUNTRY WHO HAS POTENTIAL TO BRING GENOCIDE.
BARABAS WE WILL STARVE IF THEY CLOSE THE U S EMBASSEY AND WE WILL DIE IN OUR HOSPITAL FROM LACK OF MEDINES. WE ARE BEGGARS FULL STOP.
Zambia, has a right to remove sources of disruption to good governance. UPND is not a reputable Opposition Party, it’s actions in the last year have not been believable in the role of opposition.
USA, must not intervene in our country, even through silent underlying insinuations on behalf of HH. The onus was on UPND and it’s leader to accept the democratic process that delivered President Lungu as President of the Republic. Any Actant that refuses to recognise the Head of State through its own undemocratic reasoning must be brought to book through our Legal system. There is no room for a disruptive Party or Individual to bring down our long held Peaceful and positive Investor environment.
The law must prosecute without fear or favour. HH is a fully grown man who has chosen his path, one that is unlike any taken by other Political Party Heads. Why is he different?
Yes Upnd is not a formidable opposition I agree with you
Zedman 2017
Very sad how most Zambians watch PF dismantle Zambia’s democracy and actual cheer this.
Think about it. This trend will continue with the next tin pot insecure leader if left to go unchecked.
I can’t believe we have been reduced to post 1991 times.
Pray and fight for mother Zambia
I AM WONDERING WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR LEADERS AND CHIEFS FROM NW, WESTERN, SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND LUSAKA CHIEFS. IMAGINE IF HOW CAN WE SURVIVE WITH THIS PITILESS GOVERNMENT?
TODAY TWO CHILDREN HAVE DIED IN NTAMBO NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE AREA BECAUSE OF FISH CAUGHT IN KABOMPO RIVER WHICH IS POLLUTED BY THE KALUMBILA MINES. THE WHOLE FALANGA VILLAGE ARE ADMIRED IN MWINILUGA HOSPITAL. EDGAR IS BUSY HARASSING INNOCENT PEOPLE WHILE OTHER SO CALLED INVESTORS WHO WERE CHASED BY KATUMBI IN CONGO ARE BUSY POLLUTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND KILLING OUR PEOPLE.
President Lungu has really lost the confidence of alot Zambians and the donor community. Anything he does now is a checkmate for him as far as the legitimacy issue is concerned. The courts just have to hear the Presidential petition which is really the source of all the tension between PF and UPND. Even us PF members are now beginning to think may be Edgar Lungu didnt actually win or get the majority votes, because how else can one understand the delays in simply hearing a petition if at all you won. Zambia will not achieve much economically if illegitimacy issues continue to haunt the President’s victory. Information now doing the rounds is that the UN’s human rights watch has asked ICC to closely monitor events in Zambia and the PF’s involvement
Bernard banda the petition lapsed. And it’s history and it’s good as a dead dog. Laws were formulated for everyone to obey.united party for national Dunderheads asked for the current situation.
Semeki, what you say is true, all this crap with politics is diverting pipo from tbe real concerns in this country.
We need to address poverty, pollution ,economy, health, personal welfare.
US mind your business. Concentrate on building the Mexican wall,deporting immigrants,Russia,ISIS.
USA you have failed uncle MUGABE. BUSH Snr failed, Clinton Failed, BUSH Jnr failed & OBAMA failed. WHY do you want to bring confusion in a Christian nation? What HH did is an acceptable @Mr. US ambassador do u know what u talking about? Despite u not liking Lungu what HH did was an insult to Authority infact it was stupidity to its highest level and if we tolerate such nonsense as a nation then we are destroying the nation our selves and if u can say that I think u should have lost ur mind am not PF but I condone such nonsense believe me if Zambia was other nations those folks must either have been talking from prison or short dead. Think don’t just politically voice out anything if at all you and HH can allow that in your government then you are not fit 2 rule a country
Not a good statement for UPNDonkeys. The US is simply confirming that foreign election monitors confirmed the results of 2016 elections which they declared free and fair.
peace be still