The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has observed that it is possible for Zambia to hold peaceful elections, but all stakeholders have to play their role fairly and objectively.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe said it is encouraging to note the appeal made by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson, Justice Esau Chulu, on the need for all political players to be allowed to campaign freely without intimidation.
Mr. Cheembe however noted that some political stakeholders have complained over intimidation and lack of a free space to conduct their campaigns and called political players to be more tolerant to one another.
He said it is of paramount importance that the people of Zambia, who during this campaign season are masters, are given an opportunity to listen to messages, ideas and manifestos that their various political leaders are putting forward.
He said that the Public Order Act (POA) must allow for peace and facilitate for the enjoyment of basic freedoms of assembly, association and expression.
He also said ECZ Chairperson must be commended for calling on the Police to apply the Public Order Act fairly and ensure that all perpetrators of political violence irrespective of political affiliation are prevented from disturbing the peace.
MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba has warned President Edgar Lungu to stop abusing and mocking the name of God by hoodwinking Zambians to fast and pray against political violence when he is the chief culprit in fueling the vice and had recently publicly announced that he had summoned senior police officers to State House and to ordered them to ‘sort out’ the opposition. A few days after that a UPND rally in Chawama was cancelled at short notice and the crowd dispersed using live bullets resulting in the death of a female UPND cadre.
“He is instigating and fanning violence at night by using the police to harrass the opposition and in the morning wears a desceptive humble face to ask the country to fast and pray. God cannot be mocked and does not initiate violence but President Lungu does…