16 May 2008
Ndola — PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors attending the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) say the reconciliation between President Mwanawasa and their party president Michael Sata should also help address the outstanding issues regarding the NCC.
And the MMD is happy that Dr Mwanawasa and Mr Sata have reconciled.
Spokesperson for the MPs and councillors, Peter Machungwa said the reconciliation was welcome but would only prove to be useful if it addressed the constitution making process.
Dr Machungwa said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that peace and reconciliation in any country were important as they produced harmony.
"If there are conflicts, there is no development. But this does not mean that the role of the opposition of being a watchdog must be compromised, it is important and political parties must continue with the role," he said.
Dr Machungwa who is Luapula MP said the NCC was an important national matter that affected all the citizens.
Dr Machungwa said it was for the same reason that his group tried to persuade the PF to participate in the NCC.
"If the president of our party may now see the importance of the exercise of the constitution making process, he is welcome," he said.
He said the Government needed to accommodate other stakeholders that had stayed out of the NCC by addressing some of the concerns that they had raised prior to the commencement of the conference.
Dr Machungwa said the Government should embrace the church mother bodies so that the process was all inclusive.
"If this reconciliation means the Government and the PF coming together to address certain issues that were raised then it is good for the country. Let's wait for the meetings to be held to see the outcome," he said.
MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba said the party was happy with the reconciliation of the two leaders.
Mr Tetamashimba said in Lusaka yesterday that the National Executive Committee (NEC) was appealing to all levels of the party to accept the statement from Mr Sata that all that happened in the past between Dr Mwanawasa and him was history.
"The statement from President Mwanawasa on accepting the statement of Mr Sata should be commended by all well wishing politicians especially those in the opposition," he said.
He said the party was happy that in the spirit of reconciliation, Dr Mwanawasa had allowed the opposition leader to keep the passport which had been withheld by the Government pending investigations.
Christian Coalition national chairperson Charles Mwape said in Lusaka yesterday that the reconciliation of the two leaders should show African leaders that the opposition and governments were not enemies.
Dr Mwape appealed to the PF leadership through Mr Sata to allow the PF MPs and councillors to participate in the NCC and use the participation as clear testimony of the party's commitment to national development.
Operation Young Cheetah Movement national coordinator Macleod Lunkoto also hailed the reconciliation of the two leaders.
Mr Lunkonto said the reconciliation of Mr Sata and Dr Mwanawasa for the benefit of all Zambians was phenomenal and the genesis of a good and sound political dialogue.
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