Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
State House says President Edgar Lungu still remains ready to take part in the National Dialogue once the process has been agreed upon by the mediators.
Spokesperson Amos Chanda says President Lungu wants an harmonious working relationship between the Church and the Zambia Center for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID).
Mr. Chanda states that the Church and the ZCID therefore ought to have an harmonious position in order to mediate the dialogue process properly.
He has told QTV News by telephone that President Lungu cannot however involve himself in the standoff that is there between the two mediators.
And Mr. Chanda has justified why President Lungu has not given a position on the recently reported alleged systematic torture of civilians by authorities in Zimbabwe.
The State House spokesperson states that as chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Lungu operates within the regional body’s rules.
He says given that SADC through established organs has engaged Zimbabwean authorities, it will be undiplomatic to comment on the alleged torture of that Country’s civilians.
Mr. Chanda notes that in addition to this, Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa has already instituted criminal investigations into the alleged torture of civilians.
He says this is the more reason it is inappropriate for President Lungu to give a position on a domestic matter that is receiving appropriate domestic attention.