Five political parties in Kapiri Mposhi district have signed a peace and unity declaration binding them to conduct non-violent campaigns in the 2016 August 11 general elections.
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and opposition political parties that included United Party for National Development (UPND), United National Independence Party (UNIP), Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and Rainbow Party have pledged to uphold peace and unity before, during and after the elections.
During the signing ceremony anchored by the church at Lukanda Secondary School grounds yesterday, the political parties collectively condemned the increased incidences of political violence in the country and vowed to desist from violent activities.
PF District Chairman, Bwalya Nkula said there is no need for political parties to engage in violence because Zambia was already an independent country.
Mr. Nkula said political violence was necessary before the country gained independence in order to remove foreign powers from administering the affairs of the country.
“It is shameful that even after 51 years of independence we are fighting amongst ourselves, politics is about differences but these differences should not make us engage in violence. Violence was justified when we were ruled by aliens,” Mr. Nkula said.
He said it was sad that some PF and non-PF members alike were not willing to heed President Edgar Lungu’s call for peace and to refrain from political violence in the country.
Mr. Nkula warned that his party will not shield any of its members from prosecution if they are found perpetrating political violence.
And UPND Zambia Ward Vice-Secretary, Pearson Kagwamina challenged the ruling PF not be above the law since they were in power.
“The PF is our parent because they are in power but they should take responsibility so that they do not abuse the authority because as opposition political parties we follow the behavior of our parent (ruling party),” Mr. Kagwamina said.
Meanwhile, MMD Constituency Chairman, John Zulu said the former ruling party was interested to see continued peace and unity in the country stating that there is need for people to unite for one cause of development adding that political violence had negative effects on development.
And UNIP Constituency Chairman, Bright Ngambi said the former ruling party wanted to see the people in Zambia live within the motto of “One Zambia One Nation”.
Rainbow Party representative, Claudius Musoma advised political parties to be united in line with Zambia’s declaration as a Christian nation.
Meanwhile, Pastors’ Fellowship District Chairman Bishop Morgan Kalyondo who presided at the peace and unity declaration signing ceremony urged political parties in the country to embrace love and unity in the midst of political differences.
Bishop Kalyondo observed that the declaration will be sustained only when political parties learn to co-exist and commit themselves to correct the past legacy of political violence which is being recently witnessed in the country.
He urged politicians to learn to accommodate divergent views and choices and desist from forcing others to agree and submit only to their viewpoints.
“We must turn political differences which have divided us into a source of strength and commitment to embrace one another as patriotic citizens of this country. Peace and unity can only be achieved where there is mutual love and respect for one’s opinion,” Bishop Kalyondo said.
Bishop Kalyondo called on politicians in other districts across the country to emulate their colleagues in Kapiri Mposhi adding that the move will go a long way in cementing Zambia’s reputation as a peaceful nation.
He advised other political parties that did not take part in the signing of the peace and unity declaration to denounce violence and declare their commitment to upholding peace during and after the 2016 general elections.
District Commissioner, Peter Mwiinde, representatives of church mother bodies and the general public witnessed the signing ceremony.
Good move. We hope the PF at the national level will also be sincere and signed an agreement with oppositions parties that they wont abuse police and cadres to cause violence.
Good leadership from the Kapiri PF team – these are the people who should be at provincial and even PF central committee
PF won’t adhere to this agreement, the are wolves in humble sheep’s skin.
I agree with my friend when he says Larry mweetwa has a decomposed brain.since morning I ve been waiting for a political tornado but up to now nothing. Unless he was referring to Kelly walubita,mwaliteta and namulambe.namulambe mwisho even his farm workers in mpongwe can’t vote for him,walubita has only 5 supporters country wide and mwaliteta Ka G 12.is this what you call a tornado.sorry ba HH you ve tried.teyabana.
PF’s hypocrisy is alarming.
Let’s all keep the spirit of this momentous agreement! Maybe we can just laugh online while waiting for first to break it!!