By Merlyn Mwanza
President Hakainde Hichilema said he acknowledged that his predecessor Edgar Lungu was following proceedings of the memorial service for the late former president Rupiah Banda.
The late president Banda’s bother James, had earlier called on the President to initiate dialogue with president Lungu as they wanted to see the two of them in talking terms.
In his memorial address at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, President Hichilema acknowledged Lungu who was absent from the event.
It is not clear where president Lungu was but a video captured on an unknown date showed him doing physical exercises somewhere.
PF was represented by its senior most leader, vice-president Given Lubinda alongside Dr Chitalu Chilufya and Chishimba Kambwili among others.
“I know my colleague is watching, the 6th president of the Republic of Zambia. We recognise you,” President Hichilema said.
Earlier James Banda had through retired Brigadier General Nerbert Phiri urged the President to initiate dialogue with his immediate predecessor.
President Hichilema said the message from James was true and was ringing in his head every time he was going out to market the country.
He wondered how difficult it was for president Banda to firm himself to concede elections to late president Michael Sata following his 2011 loss.
President Hichilema said he interacts with his fellow heads of state and the fear of leaving office is what grips most presidents.
He said at a time when the country needed him, president Banda was there, first when the nation lost a sitting president in Levy Mwanawasa in 2008 and after the 2021 general elections.
He said after organising two meetings between himself and president Lungu which yielded nothing, president Banda did not give up and succeeded to have the two meet at the third time of asking.
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