The Zambia Centre for Inter-party dialogue (ZCID)spokesperson Langton Sichone has condemned the violence occurring in the ongoing Solwezi By-election campaigns in Northwestern province.
Mr Sichone said ZCID is concerned with the way political violence has rocked the political landscape during recent by election campaigns and the current one in Solwezi.
He said it was disheartening to note that the perpetrators in the on going violence were members of the ZCID who were all witnesses during the formation of the electoral code of conduct.
He said ZCID expects all political parties to display high levels of political maturity and tolerance in relating with one another in the country.
Mr Sichone said this at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
He said there was need to adhere to democratic ideals and not to judge any member on a party’s position on any issue, but rather to seek deeper and better understanding of what happens in the political arena.
Mr Sichone urged ZCID members to desist from abrogating their own trust deed which requires them to conduct political activities within the democratic framework.
He said ZCID encourages various political parties to open debates where each party would have a chance to make suggestions on the best way of bringing development in the country. He further encouraged political parties to have a culture of consensus and to have mechanisms for consensus –building.
Meanwhile Mr. Sichone has said the violence that rocked the Solwezi by elections could have been prevented had the police acted expeditiously.
He has since urged the Zambia Police to deal with matters professionally because their conduct has always been a source of concern.
He further appealed to cooperating partners who consolidate democracy in the country to come on board and assist ZCID with resources to form the inter party liaison committees as a permanent feature of every election.
ZANIS
Let me be clear – no one is above the law. Not a politician, not a priest, not a criminal, not a police officer. We are all accountable for our actions.
Why cant you say MMD are thugs? Police cant do any thing as they are getting instructions from MMD-thieves.
whenever they are losing, they make so much violence while hiding behind the police, and then they blame opposition. MMD you are losing because of your arrogance. Learn to listen to the people and act positively when the time is right. Not when the time is too late.