‘No unity without justice,’ Kateka insists Zambia must confront alleged abuses during polls

She said that common cause was centered on representing the interests of Zambians. According to her, the coalition that formed around Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu was not about personalities, but about responding to a public demand.

“It is important to note that the coming together of various political players around Mundubile and Makebi, had very little to do with Mundibile and Makebi themselves and everything to do with the fact that they, and no-one else, represented a rallying point to which most Zambians related to and gravitated towards,” Kateka said.

She claimed that voters rejected other opposition candidates who went ahead to contest, describing it as a message that was ignored.

Kateka referenced early results before what she called interference with the vote tallying process.

She also raised concerns about detentions and the judiciary, asking whether the closure of courts during the petition period was appropriate.

Kateka argued that ignoring these matters would amount to complicity.

“By choosing to unite with whosoever, without dealing with the various elephants in the room, is tantamount to burying our collective heads in the sand,” she stated.

Kateka said healing requires accountability first and stated that pressure should be placed on those in government to acknowledge divisions and address them, rather than expecting the opposition to concede.

“Mundubile, Makebi and others are unjustly incarcerated in filthy dungeons, a people’s vote has been stolen, lives have been lost and the constitution abrogated as a result of the closing of the courts. Can one then go ahead and ask the victims to congratulate and unite with the villains!” she 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