Promote violence free campaigns in Chifubu, Luena-Anamela

The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has called on political players in the Chifubu, and Luena parliamentary by-elections to promote violence free campaigns.

ZCID Spokesperson, Njekwa Anamela said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Zambia Police, and other security agencies together with other political players should ensure that they all do their part in calling for clean campaigns.

Mr Anamela told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that all stakeholders must ensure that they promote peace in the run up to the two by-elections adding that political parties should also abide by the electoral code of conduct.

“We urge the stakeholders in the electoral processes, political parties, ECZ, police and all security agencies to ensure that they promote violence free campaigns. We also call on our members, the political parties to go about their campaigns in peaceful manner and follow the electoral code of conduct” he said.

He has meanwhile described as peaceful the on-going campaigns in Chifubu and Luena.
[pullquote]“We urge the stakeholders in the electoral processes, political parties, ECZ, police and all security agencies to ensure that they promote violence free campaigns. We also call on our members, the political parties to go about their campaigns in peaceful manner and follow the electoral code of conduct” he said.[/pullquote]

He stressed that political parties should stick to their promise to condemn violence during campaigns which they pledged during the meeting with ECZ prior to the announcement of the by-elections date.

Mr. Anamela has meanwhile described as robust the current political situation in the country.

He said political parties have gone into full force in their campaigns and consolidating their parties ahead of the 2011 general elections.

He also challenged political parties to sensitise their supporters on the need to register as voters in the on-going voter registering exercise.

Mr Anamela said parties should encourage all their supporters and the public especially first time voters to register for next year’s elections.

[ ZANIS ]