“It is important for all Zambians who are worried and concerned about this difficult period the country is going through to unite and confront these challenges together.” – OCIDA
By Emeritus Archbishop Mpundu.
Lusaka, Feb. 13 – Our Civic Duty Association (OCIDA) has noted the formation of a coalition of several opposition parties named the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA). As Minister of Local Government, Hon. Gary Nkombo, recently stated, the country is experiencing socio economic challenges that cut across political party affiliation, social identitics, or geographical boundaries.
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These cross cutting national issues include the need to find work, secure meaningful economic activities, eat, drink safe water, secure affordable shelter or find the moncy to pay rent, respect our democratic freedoms, and find correct medicines in the hospitals.
It is important for all Zambians who are worried and concerned about this difficult period the country is going through to unite and confront these challenges together. This need for a united front to resolve our common problems applies to those in goverment, in civil society, in churches, in academia, organised labour, and indeed in the political opposition.
In this regard, we commend opposition parties for recognising the necessity to overcome their differences and unite for a national cause. We hope that UKA would not be overly motivated by the narrow pursuit of political power but to galvanise the country, work with the government and other stakeholders in the spirit of national unity and cooperation to find solutions to the many common challenges that the majority of Zambians face.
In the same vein, OCIDA would also like to praise the Government, represented by the Minister of Information Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, for pledging that they will not obstruct the registration of the United Kwacha Alliance.
This is a welcome departure from the conduct of past governments and a significant turn towards deepening the promotion of a mature political culture that recognises the important role that opposition parties and mass movements play in a constitutional multiparty democracy.
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We encourage the government to go beyond this commitment by meeting regularly with leaders of the UKA to discuss issues of common or national interest. It is time for the statesperson in our politicians – be they in Government or in the opposition – to come to the fore, to rise above narrow party interests, and confront the national issues that are affecting everybody, irrespective of which party they belong to.
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