ADD president Charles Milupi says the hand shake between President Edgar Lungu and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema during Daniel Munkombwe’s burial of late was a good omen because being political opponents does not mean enmity.

In an interview, Thursday, Milupi observed that there was tension in Zambia resulting from political differences.

“What we have in Zambia is tension. Let us accept that there’s tension resulting from the way we carry out our politics. We have turned politics in Zambia as a matter of life and death. That is why certain political parties want to win at any cost. Whether it is ward elections, mayoral elections, MPs or presidential election, we have made politics so desperate. As a result of that it is translating into the tension that we see in this country. Some of the statements that we have seen both sides (UPND and PF) have heightened the tension that is in the nation,” he said.

“What I’m saying is if you look at the results of 2016, those indicate that Mr Lungu represents slightly over half the people, Mr Hakainde also represents almost half of the people. So when the two create tension through their statements, through their actions, this tension radiates all levels of society.”

He said the handshake between President Lungu and Hichilema in Choma on Wednesday was a good omen because being political opponents did not mean they were enemies.

“So yesterday’s meeting at Mr Mukombwe’s funeral and then pictures came out that they shook hands, it’s a good omen. That sends a message that life is not a matter of life and death. The fact that you are opponents on policy issues, does not mean you are enemies. You can still shake hands, you can still be civil to each other,” Milupi said.

He hoped that the two leaders would become civil with each other.

“I hope it will go beyond the handshake. I hope that the two will begin to be civil about each other. So that we as leaders of political parties can show our members that not only are we human beings, but we also treat other political leaders as human beings. And when we do that, it will mean that our members can go into government offices, they can go into this and that and be attended to as citizens. Being a Christian nation, we must not only talk about us being a Christian nation but we must live in Christianity. We must all show the Jesus that is living within us,” said Milupi.