The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has condemned Saturday’s clash between the ruling MMD and PF cadres during their campaigns in Kasama.
FODEP President, Stanly Mhango told ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday that the foundation strongly condemns the act of political violence adding that it should have no part in Zambian politics.
He said FODEP has always advocated for free, fair and clean campaigns and called on political parties to abide by the electoral code of conducts.
The fight ensued when PF cadres tried to impound a campaign vehicle belonging to the ruling MMD party on suspicion that it was a government vehicle.
Mr. Mhango said it was wrong for the PF to act on a mere suspicion saying they should have followed the right procedure rather than taking the law in their hands.
He said they should have reported the case to the police or the electoral commission of Zambia who could have known what measure to take against the MMD.
He has also advised the MMD campaign team to avoid using unregistered vehicles as this was also the cause of confusion during the Chitambo by-elections.
Mr. Mhango has meanwhile commended police for their swift action in quelling the violence between the two parties.
He has also appealed to both parties and others to conduct issue based campaigns rather than resorting to violence and other malpractices.
Mr. Mhango said he is however impressed with the way campaigns have been conducted in Kasama so far.
He said apart from the tribal remarks uttered by PF candidate, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) that Kasama is for Bembas and this recent incident not many cases have been reported so far.
Mr. Mhango said this by-election has been a good one compared to the previous one as political parties have shown maturity in their conducts.
He has also advised the people of Kasama to choose for themselves a leader who will represent them well and bring development in the area.
ZANIS
This man has no crediblity. I wonder if anyone even pays attention to him.
Abash FODEP and ka Mhango. You are sick!
The main problem we have is a government that does not listen to people’s concerns. They continually use government vehicles and they know what the Electoral Code of Conduct says about it. If Mr. Stanly Mhango was in the position of these opposition cadres i have no doubt he would do the same if not worser than they have done. What is frustrating is the government.You must direct your anger against the government and not the cadres because it is caused by the government. If the MMD behaved themselves, we would not be reading of such bloodbaths. Mr.Stanly Mhango speak strongly against the MMD please.The Election Commission and the Police would never do anything if anyone reported anything to them.This Mr. Stanly Mhango himself knows. So it is better he finds and deals with the root .
Vote wisely come 2011
Aint you tired of saying that Mr Mhango…report to the relevant authorities! Wat do u think the police will do let alone the ECZ? Dont waste our time on such things we the pipo are doing wat we can to stop it for the police and ECZ has exhibited now and again that they are toothless. So cadres…Stop all unregistered compaigning vehicles and ask for an explanation.
GBM of the PF/UPND pact will win confortably becoz he is a bemba from Kasama not becoz he is the right man for the job. Typical zambian politics….what a shame!!!!
# 6, the pact is a dead issue. Let all Bembas from all corners of Zambia, especially those who have grabbed land upon which they have built mansions and “farms”, come to LIVE (and not STAY) in Kasama b’cos it’s theirs. Let them continue fighting one another while we “foregners” in other provinces continue developing, how about that?????