Commonwealth Special Envoy to Zambia Professor Ibrahim Gambari has announced the formation of the steering committee to lead and direct the dialogue process.
Prof. Gambari has disclosed that the steering committee which comprises of eminent and respected Zambians will be launched on the 26th of March this year in Lusaka.
He said the formation of the steering committee will mark the commencement of the National Political Dialogue which he has talked about for a long time since the visit by the Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland.
Addressing journalists at Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka today, Prof. Gambari said all the stakeholders and the International community representatives will be invited to witness the launch of the steering committee.
He said the process will include the establishment of a working group including three sub-groups which will examine the issues of the constitutional and institutional reforms, electoral reforms and tolerance and civility in public life.
Prof.Gambari stated that the main objective of the dialogue process is to promote peace, national cohesion and political tolerance and reconciliation in Zambia.
He said the process also aims to contribute to reforms and to support the strengthening of institutions in order to promote good governance and peace.
The professor stressed that Zambians have committed themselves to national political dialogue which will end political violence, ensure respect for the separation of powers between the three branches of government and put an end to tribalism, regionalism and all forms of discrimination among others.
The Commonwealth envoy noted that there is a shared commitment to be open minded, to act with good faith and ensure that the process is truly Zambian led and owned.
He disclosed that between September 2017, and March this year, he has paid four visits to Zambia in which he has discussed a strategy for a national political dialogue with the republican President, the leader of the UPND, leaders of other Political parties and the House of Chiefs.
Prof. Gambari further stated that during his visits, he has also discussed with the Church leaders, Law Association of Zambia, Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue as well as Civil Society organisations.
When asked by journalists whether the act by the commonwealth is not interfering with the sovereignty of the country, Prof. Gambari said Zambia is a member of the commonwealth adding that, the whole process will be driven by Zambians.
He said the commonwealth is merely facilitating the process to ensure that it is done and agreed by all the stakeholders.
That will be expensive. Wait and see the allowances…
If I am not nominated to that committee then that Common-fimo-fimo will be as useless as Edgar’s commission of Political Violence Inquiry. He is still paying them every month.
If as a country we have issues to dialogue emanating from our political theater, such dialogue, agenda and its direction should be internalized in Zambia with an agenda of all Zambian political parties period. There is no reasons to abdicate our responsibilities to a club of nations whose membership some have worse off political chaos compared to our mere competitive practices. What will Gambari tell us when his nation of Nigeria is in turmoil? I recall the failures of Ambassador Gambari, then serving as Nigeria’s representative on the UN Security Council during the Rwanda Genocide. He failed then, he has failed on the Chiboko girls and the burgeoning Zambian democracy should not abdicate any mandate to him.
We will be setting a very bad precedence should we abdicate our institutional responsibilities of our democratic Zambia to Gambari and cohorts. What will stop any Zambian party player if waken up from the left and run rogue aimlessly besmirching the country and our burgeoning democracy, then ask another club for a similar meeting in Zambia? Let all political partys if need be send in their District Party officials to meet and dialogue with him if not Ward officials. Keep the Presidency busy on core issues that matter to mother Zambia.
Just find out from Kenya how best this can be done. No need for job/allowance creation. What will be the qualification of the people appointed? This is ‘a chase after the wind’!
Waste of time and money. Commonwealth (just like AU) is a powerless toothless cosmetic entity. Let us just pray for HH to one grow up and stop dividing the country.
Thanks
HOPELESS…..STOP INTERFERING IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS…..WE HAVE OUR OWN CREDIBLE INSTITUTIONS THAN CAN ABLY HANDLE THAT…..
The only dialogue we want now is development ,healthcare ,jobs for our youths and economic development. All this other self serving nonsense from HH & Lungu should wait for 2021.
Why are they so bent on Zambia? There are so many other countries where political dialogue is more urgently needed.
exactly @ Nine Chale. I suggest Prof. Gambari and his commonwealth colleagues find something better to do. I do not get it. What is there to dialogue about? Please do not tell me that this is about 2016 elections. Give us a break and get a life. As far as I can tell what is prevailing in Zed is the normal politicking characteristic of any multiparty democracy. Whatever ‘perceived’ tension there is can be handled internally. What a waste of resources it will be to embark of this needless task.
Zambia has a constitution in place and if Mr Gambari is feeling lonely he should engage the Boko Haram.
Some people should be declared prohibited immigrants and deported immefiately for promoting conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. The whole scenario is very provocative. Its like we dont have a government in place. An arrangement like this one is best suited in a country like Nigeria where boko haram is causing havoc. Not in Zambia where we are enjoying relative peace and tranquility.
Boko Haram is a terrorist group and not a political party.
Political or not Boko Haram have caused so much pain and that’s where this Nigerian should be directing his energies for dialogue.
We dont need some foreigners mediating in our midst, look what foreign mediation.caused in Vietnam, Korea, Germany and recently Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Sydan. Please Gumbari, leave us alone, and bring back our girl(Zodwa).
Is he talking about bena Vernon Mwaanga and Telesphore Mpundu as respected Zambians? Why beat about the bush? Just remove Hichilema from our politics and all will be well, he’s the axis of evil and major sponsor of political violence
DIALOGUE OVER WHAT?
Very shameful that an outsider and a Nigerian for that matter should be telling us how to run our country. In Kenya the opposition won the case and because their concerns were not addressed they boycotted the election. But 2 months the opposition leader who if he decides can cause havoc in the nation decides to recognize government and calls for national unity. What so special about the lizard called HH, has promised these foreigners something? Who ever accepts to sit on the useless committee will only do so because of money because there’s nothing to dialogue about. God will punish those who will receive the blood money.
Rubbish ifyabupuba atase.
Agreed with everybody above.
I am particularly concerned at the picture in this story, seems to confirm the concerns of interference in our internal affairs raised by compayriots above. Why in the name of Christ is Prof Gambari flanked by his compatriot the Nigerian High Commissioner at a purely local event that has nothing to do with Nigeria? Why why why, if not Nigeria trying to show superiority when they have bigger issues?
But all this is the fault of h.h who thinks foreigners will solve Zambia’s internal problems. While Gambari h.h wants Maimane to solve our problems. Compared to the countries of Gambari and Maimane does Zambia have political problems? Economic problems we have yes and that is why we want external assistance with funding and technical assistance.
This h.h, what…
But all this is the fault of h.h who thinks foreigners will solve Zambia’s internal problems. While Gambari is away, h.h wants Maimane to solve our problems. This h.h, what kind of Zambia would he run if by some unforeseen big blunder he were President? I bet he would have a level two Cabinet of Gary, Mwiimbu, Mwamba Gbm headed by h.h, and a level one Cabinet of Gambari, Maimane etc headed by Patricia Scotland to supervise h.h’s cabinet of local tongesters. That is how daft and devoid of skill, strategy and confidence h.h is.