STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MOVEMENT FOR MULTI PARTY DEMOCRACY (MMD) AT THE INTER PARTY DIALOGUE ON ESCALATING POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Mission Statement
The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) wishes to put it on record that we are committed to Zero Tolerance on Electoral Violence and all its off shoots of thuggery, insults, unpalatable language, politics of name calling and character maligning.
We are victims of political violence in the recent past which left our party secretariat badly damaged. We all can speak with a measure of knowledge about the ills of this vice. Violence represents for the most part, if not always a failure to reason intelligently, reasonably, and respectfully. Violence is a desperate act which happens when we are not sure about our chances in the competition. Violence is arrogance caused by a crisis of estimation in terms of our true stature/profile
1. On our part, the president of the MMD with his National Executive Committee has repeatedly called for civil engagement in politics. We have on several occasions and at different fore made public statements to condemn politically related and motivated violence
2. There is no one who can deny the fact that an unprecedented level of violence has been unleashed into our politics. The scenes are frightening; they are disturbing and indeed worrying. Our children are being made to witness these horrors. The youth are being encouraged to accept that, their place in the political process is that of being vehicles of violence. Society at large is being forced into accepting that this culture will be part of the political process for Zambia.
The answers to this problem are within this room today. They are not out there somewhere. We are all commanders of our cadres. If we talk honestly and openly, we in the MMD have no that we shall not just experience a de-escalation of violence but will certainly eradicate it.
Among us, are leaders of the two political parties who have been at the center of the recent spate of violence namely the Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND)? From you fellow leaders, more is expected. You need to send clear messages to your cadres that you detested political violence. You have to speak firmly about how you will not support those who practice violence. You must tone down on your public posturing with those “militarized” youths in Military attire.
It is our hope that this indaba will achieve on its main objective. Going forward we propose these deliverables.
1. A professional Police Service that will uphold the rule of law in maintaining public order without bias to the ruling party.
2. As we get closer to elections, we call on all candidates and representatives of political parties to refrain from the use of language or actions that risk inciting violence.
3. The electoral code of conduct must be respected by all participants.
4. A commitment be signed by us all to pledge our zero tolerance to violence and a communiqué be generated and read by the conveners
If this Indaba does not achieve the above, we will have wasted the ecclesiastical efforts and time of our esteemed bishops who have spearheaded this Indaba
We are convinced that, delivering a free, fair, safe and credible election is important to Zambia’s democracy and international reputation in light of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation.
I thank You.
Nevers Sekwila Mumba
MMD President
Nanga aba ba Mumba, was he in the meeting with the other leaders last night? Why he didn’t use that meeting to tell Lungu and HH these sentiments since they are directed at the two? And wasn’t there a common agreement among all leaders to end violence? This statement sounds like the meeting last night yielded nothing and Nevers is taking it upon himself to preach non-violence
Seriously? Did you seriously just say that? He being a president of a party is required by moral conscience to inform the public about his and his party’s take on the held meeting.
Of course MMD is now not violent. How possibly can a bully continue his violent behaviour on his death bed? Agony is, even when MMD, NAREP, 4thR, or FDD would want to be violent, they have no members or capacity to do so. It is not that they are non-violent, they do not have man-power for that. On the other hand, even when PF and UPND would like to be non-violent, there are overzealous dimwits among them who act without being commanded just to show their petty existence. The onus is on the police to be truly committed to ensuring peaceful assembly by curbing counter-ideological convergence at gathering. E.g. If PF has a meeting, ensure no-go area for UPND members and vise versa.
Moise-read the headline and the contents before commenting. That statement was issued at the interparty dialogue which means both those leaders and others in attendance head it
Says the one man and his party…really laughable…just enjoy your buy off!!
….Pay off!
@ Jay Jay
Which one? Or both?
I admire Nevers Mumba’s articulate way of presenting matters, i hope some day we will find a better place for him to contribute to the governance of our country. He is a great leader but like each one of us needs some help.
nusosa mune!
Nevers is courageous to have pointed at the two leaders HH and EL as the main culprits of violence in this country. Donchi Kutina!
Agony is, even when MMD, NAREP, 4thR, or FDD would want to be violent, they have no members or capacity to do so. It is not that they are non-violent, they do not have man-power for that. On the other hand, even when PF and UPND would like to be non-violent, there are overzealous dimwits among them who act without being commanded just to show their petty existence. The onus is on the police to be truly committed to ensuring peaceful assembly by curbing counter-ideological convergence at gathering. E.g. If PF has a meeting, ensure no-go area for UPND members and vise versa.