Kalaba Urges Hichilema To Heal Zambia, Free Mundubile

Kalaba Says Hichilema Holds Key To National Healing, Urges Release Of Detainees Citizens First President Harry Kalaba says President Hakainde Hichilema alone holds the key to calming a nation still divided after the August 13 general election. He has renewed his call for the…

Kalaba Says Hichilema Holds Key To National Healing, Urges Release Of Detainees

Citizens First President Harry Kalaba says President Hakainde Hichilema alone holds the key to calming a nation still divided after the August 13 general election. He has renewed his call for the release of opposition leader Brian Mundubile, lawyer Makebi Zulu, and retired Anglican Bishop Trevor Mwamba, 68, currently held at Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by Emmanuel Mwamba, Kalaba said Zambians needed to abandon the language of victors and the vanquished. “We must stop banding Zambians into two camps, the victors and the vanquished. We are one Zambia, one people, and election is just an election, not a war,” he said.

The Citizens First leader disclosed that he had quietly written to Hichilema appealing for compassion over Mundubile‘s detention. He described the opposition leader as a childhood friend, recalling that the two once planned to form a party together in 2004 after leaving the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy.

“To heal the divide is to stop settling scores by victors. Brian is my childhood friend. Now he sits in Mukobeko. That is not how democracy works. I love the brother and all detained to be released to start healing,” Kalaba said.

He also spoke of his grief following the sudden death of former minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, who died days before his 50th birthday. Few mourners gathered at Kafwaya‘s home, Kalaba said, a reflection of the fear he believed had spread through the country.

“Kafwaya was like a brother. When he died, I was gripped with deep grief. At his house, I found few mourners. Zambians were afraid to gather and mourn, living in fear,” he said. Kalaba added that he personally called Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa to convey condolences to the family on behalf of government.

Citizens First now holds 51 councillor seats and two parliamentary seats following the election, Kalaba said, though he noted with concern that some party members had been arrested since polling day.

Drawing on Zambia’s political history, the CF president cited several precedents of restraint between opposing camps. Levy Mwanawasa never arrested Anderson Mazoka after a disputed poll and self-declaration of victory. Kenneth Kaunda handed power to Frederick Chiluba peacefully in 1991. Michael Sata took over from Rupiah Banda without reprisals. Edgar Lungu conceded to Hichilema smoothly in 2021.

“If I were President, I would visit the home of Hon. Mutotwe Kafwaya. I would talk to foes in jail such as Brian Mundubile and Makebi. The nation needs to heal. Zambia will continue long after politicians are gone; we are mortal, the country is immortal,” Kalaba said.

He drew further comparisons with contested elections abroad. Al Gore‘s dispute with George W. Bush in 2000 was resolved through the courts. Kenya‘s 2007 contest between Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki descended into violence. Malawi‘s 2019 election involving Peter Mutharika was annulled and peacefully re-run.

Kalaba said he has withheld congratulating Hichilema because a key constitutional step was skipped. “Mr Hichilema missed an opportunity to validate his own election. First, you vote, then a winner is announced, then seven days are given for petitions. That step was skipped. I have not yet congratulated him because the election cycle was incomplete,” he said.

He called for moderation in political rhetoric and appealed directly to First Lady Mutinta Hichilema. “I want Brian to provide checks and balances from outside detention with his family, not from Mukobeko Maximum Prison. I have appealed to the First Lady Mutinta to put herself in the shoes of Bishop Mwamba’s wife, of Brian’s wife, of Kafwaya’s widow, the wives of all jailed men,” he said.

“We must be ashamed of ourselves to have friends in jail 62 years after independence. The person key in getting Brian and Makebi out of detention is President Hichilema. He has the key,” Kalaba said.

Reports suggest as many as 400 detainees, possibly more, remain in custody following the election period, though government has not commented on the figure. Kalaba, a former long-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he intends to personally visit the two men to explore how peace can be reached.

The August general election drew criticism from the United Nations, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the European Union, Amnesty International and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Kalaba said Hichilema should apply the principles of jurisprudence to secure the detainees’ release, then turn attention to reforms that prevent a repeat of the current tension.

“People need to be released for talks to start the healing. My plan is to visit Brian and Makebi as soon as possible to see how peace can be reached,” he said.