Kofi Annan commends Zambia authorities following release of opposition leader

Dar es Salaam. Former United Nation’s secretary General Mr Kofi Annan has congratulated Zambian authorities for dropping the treason charges against Hakainde Hichilema and his team, and releasing them after one hundred days in custody.

A statement issued to the media by the chairman of the Kofi Annan foundations, the former UN SG says he believes that the release of the opposition leaders is just the first step in a process of restoring dialogue and cooperation between the authorities and the opposition.

“I also want to congratulate the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland, for her role, and the Commonwealth in general for its longstanding engagement,” read the statement in part.

Mr Annan urged both sides to put the 2016 elections behind them and move forward for the sake of the nation. He added that the focus for Zambians should be on creating a political environment, which is built on trust and the rule of law ahead of the next elections.

“The Commonwealth, and other international and regional partners, can help in this process, but at the end of the day, only Zambia’s leaders and the people of Zambia can guarantee a healthy, peaceful democracy in Zambia. It is what Zambians expect of their leaders, and they should not let their people down,” he said in the statement.