The British government says it supports the political dialogue process in Zambia, which is being spearheaded by the Commonwealth.
British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet said this in a statement availed to ZNBC news in Lusaka.
Mr Cochrane-Dyet said the dialogue process will lead to a road map of reforms, ahead of the 2021 general election.
He has explained that the recent visit to Lusaka by the Commonwealth Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Zambia, Ibrahim Gambari marked a significant step forward.
Mr Cochrane-Dyet has since commended President Edgar Lungu for his commitment to engage in the dialogue process in the interest of Zambians.
He has further encouraged all the parties and stakeholders to engage in an open, consultative, respectful and forward-looking dialogue process, to foster political tolerance and reconciliation in the proud tradition of the country.
lungu is a non-believer in democracy. Dialogue is a meaningless word to him.
Looking for countries to colonize again after Brexit ka?
In a country with 2 former presidents, KK and RB, it had to take the former colonial masters to mop up the misdeeds of on Edgar’s incompetent govt. Very embarrassing if you ask me.
THESE GUYS ARE BEING CHEATED. THERE IS NO DIALOGUE GOING ON IN ZAMBIA. IT IS ALL A FALLACY. ONE GUY IS AN ETERNAL LOSER OF ELECTIONS WHILE THE OTHER IS AND WILL FOREVER WIN THESE ELECTIONS EVEN IN 2021.
The British High Commissioner Mr Cochret-Dyret is not genuine is his sentiments representing the Commonwealth views on dialogue among the political players in Zambia. Mr Cochret is a well known supporter of Lungu and his Pf government. Evidence exist from his conduct in his agitation for HH to recognise Lungu as president of stolen election results. During incarceration of HH Cochret was quiet and consented to pf regime that there wasn’t any political tension in Zambia. If Commonwealth did not intervene Cochret would have continued with his incomplacence towards pf dictatorial rule. Cochret-Dyret has been reported to the British government over this master. He can not be trusted over his fake sentiments about political diologue in Zambia.
You are quiet right. This crotchet once even said to ECL that the Mongu incident by HH was provocative and he sympathized with ECL for it. How does one provoke another sitting in One’s moving car? Wasn’t that contempt of court? Commenting on matters that is still b4 the court with impunity. Crotchet clearly takes sides openly.
IS THERE SUPPOSED TO A DIALOGUE TO COMFORT A LOSER (OR LOSERS), ANYWAY? CAN’T A LOSRE OR LOSERS JUST GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO STRATEGISE? IS IT NOT JUST WASTING TIME FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT? GUYS, LET’S NOT WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON TALKING SHOPS. WE NEED TO BUILD STATE-OF-THE-ART ROADS, BRIDGES, AIRPORTS AND HARBOURS ON OUR SEA-LIKE LAKES FOR CARGO AND HUMAN TRANSPORTATION AND AS INFRASTRUCTURES FOR TOURISM, FARMING AND INDUSTRIALISATION.
Frankly, I think Mr. Cochrane-Dyet is a realist.He recognises that the opposition in Zambia is useless and may never ascend to power in its current form. So he chooses to work with winners and not pessimistic cry babies who can’t prove any of their allegations. Stolen elections?? I think the British have a renowned intelligence sysytem that advises their leaders, including Mr. Cochrane-Dyet, on what transpired on the ground. I doubt they would take the noise coming from disgruntled opposition supporters posting vile ambiguities on social media seriously!! I mean, just take a look at the composure of parliament: opposition-54 seats in a 160 seat total?? And you say the elections were stolen from you???
…sorry, composition of parliament….
What do the Brits know about political dialogue? They famously used divide and rule tactics to colonize and rule us against our will.
This Envoy is a hypocrite. Mr Cochrane-Dyet recognized Lungu as the Legitimate President after the 2016 Election. He urged HH to recognize Lungu as a Legitimate President and now he is singing a Dialogue Tune.This Envoy took a partisan approach on the Mongu Motorcade Incident and blamed HH for it. The root cause of the Crisis in Zambia is the Disputed and Petitioned 2016 Election. Without hearing that Petition the Dialogue is doomed.The Lesson from Kenya is that Foreign Election Observers should desist from pronouncing Elections free,fair and credible until the Electoral Court passes its Verdict. The primary role of an Electoral Court is to hear,determine and pass a Verdict. Foreign Election Observers’s opinions or validation of an Election is irrelevant as shown in Kenya. The decision…
Please send meaningful election observers in 2021 and do their own counting. Not just tourists.
…observers are not mandated to count any elections in Zambia. It would be unconstitutional, it is the job of the ECZ. Are you aware that the ECZ allows every political party to have their agents in the polling stations??? The upnd had its agents all over the country and ran a PVT alongside the ECZ. What is surprising is how they believed the election was rigged when they were present when everything was happening, even the church group, CCMG PVT tallied with ECZ’s (yes…Telesphore Mpundu and EFZ were part of CCMG!!!). So it puzzles a lot of people where you got the rigging theory from; Remember the truck carrying the “stuffed ballots” impounded by upnd thugs only to find tables and chairs???
This British Envoy owes HH and UPND an apology over his comments on the Mongu Motorcade Incident and the Presidential Petition. Mr Cochrane should tell Lungu to allow the Petition to be heard in Court. ECZ and Concourt committed numerous irregularities and illegalities during the 2016 Election.By hearing the Petition only then will we able to list the wrongs committed by these Electoral Institutions and then reform them so that 2021 Elections will not be disputed. Foreign Election Observers must take a cue from Secretary John Kerry and the Carter and apologize for their wrong assessments of the Kenyan Electios.Where Elections are Petitioned Foreign Observers must not rush to declare Elections free,fair and credible b4 the Electoral Court makes a Ruling. Electoral Court Ruling takes…
kikikikikikikikik ayoweeee ati upnd wake up and smell coffee.
President Lungu should not take part in these foreign shenanigans. How dare they start preparing for 2021 elections. Just the nerve to suggest they have power to order our elections. That embassy should have its staff reduced.
They should be more concerned of Brexit and their political party fallouts. Do we see EU, telling them not to squabble amongst themselves and appointing ambassador does to plan their elections?
Firstly, all the trouble with UPND was caused because of Western govn’ts dinning with HH, before the elections, and practically suggesting he was expected to win. They fave him a big head.