FODEP condemns harassment, beating of civic leaders in church

The Livingstone district Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has strongly condemned the harassment and beating of Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA ) congregants by suspected PF cadres on Friday 31st May 2013 in Lusaka.

In a press statement made available to ZANIS today, District FODEP Chairperson Gideon Musonda said it is extremely unfortunate that despite FODEP’s tireless efforts of promoting the evolution of a political culture based on civic responsibility of both leaders and citizens at national and local levels, there is still a rising level of intolerance and violence especially among political party cadres.

Mr Musonda said the thuggerly behaviour that was exhibited at a place of worship must be condemned by all well meaning citizens and should never be entertained in a democratic society that all have accepted to embrace.

“Political leaders and their cadres must be reminded that in a democratic society basic fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, expression, information and freedom of the press, Freedom of
assembly and association must all be respected,” said Mr Musonda.

“People with divergent views especially on policy issues must be accommodated and violence should never be a solution to an argument” said Mr Musonda.

Mr Musonda said FODEP’s appeal was for the government to open up and earnestly allow citizens to debate its policies saying this is one of the cardinal ways in which citizens participate in the social,political and economical affairs of the country.

He said the footage shown on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) was clear and should help police to expeditiously arrest those behind the act.

And Mr Musonda said the organization has done a survey in Livingstone over their reaction to the removal of subsidies saying people’s major concern was not the removal of subsidy but the drastic removal devoid of explanation on how the government was going to cushion the immediate effect resulting from the measure.