Tonse Pamodzi Alliance Leaders must face the law before dialogue- Simuuwe

1 Views The United Party for National Development (UPND) Media Director Mark Simuwe has warned against using calls for political dialogue to shield individuals facing allegations of criminal conduct. In a statement issued to the media, Simuwe said Zambians must be careful not to confuse genuine political dialogue with attempts to avoid accountability. “You have […]

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The United Party for National Development (UPND) Media Director Mark Simuwe has warned against using calls for political dialogue to shield individuals facing allegations of criminal conduct.

In a statement issued to the media, Simuwe said Zambians must be careful not to confuse genuine political dialogue with attempts to avoid accountability.

“You have people who are facing serious allegations of criminal conduct pushing for what they call ‘dialogue.’ We must be careful not to confuse genuine political dialogue with attempts to use dialogue as a shield for criminality,” Simuwe stated.

He added that individuals accused of serious wrongdoing must first face the law.

“A person accused of serious wrongdoing must first face the law and account for their actions before anyone attempts to use political dialogue to wash away those concerns.”

Simuwe further stressed that a criminal act cannot be legitimized by framing it as a political dispute.

“A criminal act cannot become legitimate simply because it is packaged as a political disagreement. Dialogue is important in a democracy, but dialogue must be anchored in peace, honesty, accountability and respect for the law. Where there are credible allegations of violence or other serious crimes, the proper institutions must be allowed to investigate and determine the facts.”

He warned that normalizing such conduct poses a danger to the country’s legal system.

“The danger of normalising criminality is that it can create a culture where those who break the law believe that political negotiations will always provide an escape route. Once that happens, the country risks replacing the rule of law with a dangerous cycle where wrongdoing is rewarded with political accommodation.”

The UPND Media Director called for a clear distinction between political dialogue and dialogue used to legitimize criminal behavior.

“We should therefore distinguish between political dialogue and dialogue used to legitimise criminal behaviour. Zambia needs dialogue that protects citizens, strengthens democracy and preserves peace—not dialogue that gives cover to violence, intimidation or criminality.”

He concluded that the safety of citizens must come first.

“No political objective is more important than the safety of Zambians. Those who genuinely want dialogue should demonstrate their commitment to peace, accountability and the law. The message must be clear: political differences can be discussed, but criminality must be confronted through lawful institutions.”