UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has assured NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili that he will be by his side to offer solidarity as he appears at Luanshya Central Police because there is need to demonstrate unity of purpose.

On Tuesday, police in Luanshya summoned Kambwili to appear for interviews today. But the Roan PF member of parliament has since deferred his appearance to next week saying he has a court appearance on Friday.

Speaking at Lusaka Magistrates’ Court where he had gone to offer solidarity to his supporters who were charged with being in possession of offensive weapons, Hichilema vowed to be by Kambwili’s side.

“There’s a call out for our colleague Chishimba Kambwili in Luanshya. I will be in Luanshya tomorrow. I will be by his side because that’s the way it should be. At this stage, we need to demonstrate unity of purpose. We need to make sure that we bring our country together. Our country is too divided and therefore we are digressing from issues of importance, serving our people first before we serve ourselves. Whatever charge they give him, he’s got out solidarity,” Hichilema said.

And when asked whether he would forgive EEP president Chilufya Tayali following his apology, Hichilema said he didn’t want to be contemptuous because the matter between the two was still in court.

“We are working on that. We have heard what he has said. We will get back to him very soon. As you know, the matters with me and him are in court, we don’t want to be contemptuous. We want to make sure that we do things properly, in a sensible way so that we don’t offend the court, we don’t offend anybody along the way,” Hichilema said.

Meanwhile, on SANAC executive director Gregory Chifire’s six year sentence for committing contempt of court, Hichilema said the party was studying the matter to see how they could help.

“We are looking at that matter as well. We have been sitting with our lawyers to look at it carefully because personally I didn’t follow that case. And when the ruling was made I was shocked. We have asked the lawyers to now follow through the matter, how we will proceed, how we can help in any way,” he said.

Hichilema also said after his meeting with President Edgar Lungu recently, people should expect dialogue to commence.

“You should expect dialogue to commence in earnest. It’s in public domain that that meeting was about dialogue so that we can bring our country back to normal,” he said.

Meanwhile, his vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba expressed concern over delay by the judiciary in determining matters.

He urged the judiciary to find a way of executing their matters in good time.

“I came for my matter, the throat matter. But it has been adjourned to May 24, next year because the prosecutor prosecuting this matter is unwell. Even that same matter, I don’t want to say much, I don’t think it’s going anywhere because in as far as I’m concerned, I didn’t commit any offence,” said Mwamba.

“It’s the matter of concern. We don’t know what the judiciary can do to step up these matters. Justice delayed is justice denied. Why should you be coming to court over one simple matter for six years? That’s not fair to the person who is the accused because he’s traumatised in a way. To be on police bond for so many years, that means you are not free. The judiciary should find a way of executing their matters in good time.”