ZCID cannot ably mediate between PF and UPND- CARITAS Zambia

CARITAS Zambia says the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) cannot ably mediate between two of its members who in conflict, especially when one of them is the party in government.

In a statement on the need for genuine and inclusive national dialogue, Caritas Zambia Executive Director Eugene Kabilika says the power play between them will be beyond the moderation of the current ZCID leadership on the matter arising from the disputed 2016 elections.

He says the reservations expressed by some stakeholders such the church mother bodies,CSOs and opposition political parties with regards the lack of capacity, track record and impartiality of the ZCID were confirmed by the fact that three church mother bodies, the UPND and several other civil society organizations shunned the recent ZCID summit.

Mr Kabilika says Caritas Zambia is of the considered view that the church has not only the moral authority but also the convening power, needed impartiality and the undisputed track record of mediating national political conflicts.

He states that while the effort made by the ZCID to hold the national democracy stakeholders’ summit is appreciated, this should not and must not replace the Commonwealth in initiative.

Mr Kabilika explains that while the Commonwealth initiative is aimed at dealing with specific issues emanating from the 2016 elections and the subsequent arrest of the UPND leader, the ZCID summit was organized based on the desire to promote dialogue as a mechanism to influence policy decisions and reforms among government actors and stakeholders.

He says this is why the ZCID summit should not be confused with the Commonwealth led national dialogue as the two have different objectives.