Zambia must find a credible, neutral convener if Hichilema’s proposed national dialogue is to be taken seriously —Banda

Former Kasenengwa Member of Parliament, Sensio Banda, has called for a neutral body—such as respected religious groups or traditional leaders—to spearhead national dialogue, following President Hakainde Hichilema’s renewed call for engagement during the funeral of late opposition leader Edith Nawakwi.

President Hichilema, speaking at the funeral of the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president, reiterated the United Party for National Development (UPND) government’s openness to dialogue, describing it as a vital tool for resolving conflict.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor, Banda welcomed the President’s call but stressed the need to involve impartial facilitators.

He suggested that regional institutions such as the African Union (AU) or the Southern African Development Community (SADC) could help establish a credible platform for dialogue.

“Given the widespread distrust in state institutions, impartiality is key to bringing all parties—especially the skeptical ones—to the table,” he said.

Banda added that the country’s fragile political environment, marked by rising polarization and eroding governance institutions, made national dialogue not just desirable but necessary.

“Rebuilding trust requires action. Dialogue is no longer optional—it’s an urgent necessity,” he said.

For the process to be credible, Banda argued, it must be grounded in trust, fairness, and inclusivity, especially amid allegations of opposition persecution, shrinking civic space, and growing public suspicion of government intentions.

He called for political will from all actors—government, opposition, and civil society—urging commitment to meaningful engagement over rhetoric or repression.

Read More: ‘Sincerity would be judged by action,’ Civil society groups task Hichilema to be transparent on call for political dialogue

“The choice of convener is critical,” Banda emphasized. “We must confront the country’s political and governance crises directly.”

He proposed key confidence-building measures including the release or protection of political detainees, halting politically motivated prosecutions, safeguarding freedoms of expression, assembly, and the press, and guaranteeing the safety of all dialogue participants.

Banda also insisted that the dialogue must reflect Zambia’s full political and social spectrum, including exiled opposition leaders, ruling party dissenters, youth, women, civil society, and marginalized communities.

“Excluding critical voices will only deepen public cynicism. The process must have clear objectives—ranging from electoral and judicial reforms to media freedom and institutional strengthening—especially as we approach the 2026 general elections,” he said.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.