The Electoral Commission of Zambia says the onus of having a credible and peaceful election lies on all political stakeholders.

ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac says the success of any election depends on political players and not the commission alone.

Ms. Isaac was speaking during the official opening of the ‘Elections Indaba’ at Olympic Youth Development Center-OYDC in Lusaka on Tuesday.

The two day indaba under the theme ‘ Say NO to Electoral Violence’ has brought together provincial youth coordinators from different parts of the country.

And Youth, Sport and Child Development Permanent Secretary Teddy Mulonga has called on youths to uphold their resolve not to ‘be used as tools of violence.

Earlier, a youth representative Bertha Kalongelwa said youths want to make the campaign for a free and peaceful election, a reality.

And Infotainment Movement Executive Director Mutauka Yeta says the future of Zambia is in the hands of young people and therefore they must resist being manipulated by politicians.

Meanwhile, More civil society Organisations have condemned Patriotic Front -PF- Secretary General Wynter Kabimba for urging party members to fight back when they are attacked.

The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes -SACCORD- has described Mr Kabimba’s directive as irresponsible.

SACCORD Information Officer Obby Chibuluma says politicians should ensure they follow the right channels provided for under the constitution when they feel provoked.

And Foundation for Democratic Process -FODEP- Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says politicians should preach the message of peace even when they are under immense provocation.

And AVAP President Bonnie Tembo says people must report to the police if they feel aggrieved.

Meanwhile, Committee of Citizens Executive Director Gregory Chifire has lodged a formal complaint with the Zambia Police over Mr Kabimba’s statement.

Mr Chifire says Mr Kabimba made utterances and threats of Violence on Sunday 21st August 2011 at a public meeting in Lusaka.

He wants Police to institute investigations into the matter to avoid civil unrest in the country.

And the Zambia Episcopal Conference is disappointed that some political parties are glorifying violence and inciting people to hate each other.

ZEC Secretary General Father Cleophas Lungu says the church has observed with sadness messages of hate coming out of some political campaign rallies.

He told ZNBC News that the three church mother bodies have since called a meeting for all political parties before the end of this month to dialogue and iron out all electoral issues surrounding the September 20 elections.

Father Lungu says the church wants to meet with political parties to promote and uphold Zambia’s democracy.

He says the meeting with political parties will be held in the spirit of love.

Father Lungu was reacting to the directive by Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba to his party members to hit back hard when they are provoked by their opponents.

Mr Kabimba issued the directive at a rally in Lusaka on Sunday which was characterised by machete wielding cadres who patrolled Independence Avenue near the freedom statue, the venue of the rally.

Other cadres where armed with catapults

ZNBC

The Civil Society Organisation, NGOCC, has  criticised the decision by the PF to instruct its members to use violence against people that provoke them.  NGOCC Chairperson Beatrice Grillo says it is unfortunate and wrong for the PF to instruct its members to hit back when they are provoked.

Mrs Grillo told ZNBC News in an interview that it is important for political parties to exercise tolerance as the country goes to the polls.  She says the directive by the Patriotic Front to its members to fight back whenever they are provoked by political opponents will only create more problems.

On Sunday, the Patriotic Front-PF instructed its party members to fight back whenever they are provoked by their political opponents.   PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba told a rally in Lusaka that he did not want to hear reports of PF members complaining that they had been harassed as if they had no hands.

The rally was aimed at introducing candidates for the local government elections in Lusaka District.  Mr. Kabimba further directed that the PF members should hit back hard because they were dealing with criminals.   He accused the Zambia Police Service of doing nothing to protect political party members who are harassed by cadres from the ruling party.

And PF Lusaka Provincial Secretary Grace Ngulube challenged the Zambia Police Service to take action against MMD cadres who allegedly removed PF Leader Michael Sata’s campaign posters in Lusaka’s Kanyama Township.    The PF rally was characterised by machete wielding cadres who kept vigil on Independence Avenue near the freedom stature the venue of the rally.   The youths were also armed with catapults.

And Forum for Leadership Search Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo says it is important for politicians to understand that Zambia does not expire after the elections.   Mr. Lifwekelo says politicians should avail their party manifestos instead of inciting violence.    He has urged the Zambia Police Service to arrest anybody brandishing catapults and machetes at public rallies.

And Leadership in Development Executive Director Moses Kalonde says his organisation is disappointed that Mr. Kabimba who is a lawyer by profession can be inciting violence in the country.   Mr. Kalonde says political parties should preach love and peace as the country goes to the polls.

ZNBC

A University of Zambia (UNZA) political analyst, Phineas Bbaala has said the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) is waning in its popularity by constantly fighting President Rupiah Banda in the courts of law.

Mr Bbaala also said that such moves only show that the opposition party is not ready for the September 20, tripartite elections.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka during the week Mr. Bhaala who is a lecturer in the school of political science and administration, said the PF was making desperate efforts to have the elections pushed to another date so that they could prepare adequately.

“As things stand right now, the PF is not ready for elections and want to cause confusion so that the date is pushed further ahead. ” Mr Bbaala said.

He said the PF was engulfed in internal problems and was trying by all means to divert the electorate from querying the thorny issues in the opposition and had resorted to schemes that would ensure their reputation was not affected.

Mr Bbaala said the schemes by the PF would only work against them in the outcome of elections and they were only laying grounds to cry foul on their anticipated loss.

“The PF was not ready for elections as evidenced by what they are doing now, trying to fight the president in the courts, this will not win them any votes and they are wasting a lot of time. They were asking the President to announce the date but it is clear that were not ready,” he said.

He said the poor adoption process by the PF had worsened the credibility of Mr Sata who he said should not take the electorate for granted.

He said that among the presidential candidates, only President Banda had engaged in serious campaigns and was showing the people what he was able to deliver if voted back into office.

He urged the voters to carefully scrutinize various party manifestos and not pay attention to political schemes such as the ones by the PF that aim to create confusion ahead of elections.

Mr Bbaala said another factor affecting the PF and other opposition parties’ campaigns, was that they were failing to tell the people what they would offer because all this had already been undertaken by President Banda’s government.

“From the start, I didn’t expect the opposition to engage in issue based campaigns because they have nothing to tell the people, all issues have been covered by President Banda and he has shown that he can do it and people believe in him than they would in the opposition’s promises, so it is going to be difficult for them to convince the electorate on real issues.” he added.

[Times of Zambia]