By Staff Reporter
Our Civic Duty Association (OCIDA) has commended opposition political parties for recognising the necessity to overcome their differences and unite for national cause.
In a statement, OCIDA chairman Emeritus Archbishop Telepshore Mpundu stated that it was important for all Zambians who are worried and concerned about this difficult period that the country was going through to unite and confront challenges together.
Archbishop Mpundu stated that as recently stated by Minister of Local Government Garry Nkombo that the country was experiencing socioeconomic challenges that cut across political party affiliation, social identities or geographical boundaries .
He stated that these cross-cutting issues included the need to find work, secure meaningful economic activities, eat, drink safe water, secure affordable shelter or find the money to pay rent, respect for democratic freedoms and finding correct medicines in the hospitals.
Archbishop Mpundu stated that the need to unite to resolve common problems applied even to those in the government, in civil society and in Churches.
“In this regard, we commend the opposition parties for recognizing the necessity to overcome their differences and unite for national cause. We hope that UKA would not be overly motivated by the narrow pursuit of political power but to galvanise the country to 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,” read the statement in part.
He stated that the decision by the government not to obstruct the registration of UKA, was a welcome departure from the conduct of past governments and a significant turn towards deepening the promotion of a mature political culture that recognized the important role that opposition parties and mass movements played in constitutional multiparty democracy.
“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 our states person in our politicians, be they in the 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,” stated Archbishop Mpundu.
