The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has condemned Saturday’s clash between the ruling MMD and PF cadres during their campaigns in Kasama.

FODEP President, Stanly Mhango told ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday that the foundation strongly condemns the act of political violence adding that it should have no part in Zambian politics.

He said FODEP has always advocated for free, fair and clean campaigns and called on political parties to abide by the electoral code of conducts.

The fight ensued when PF cadres tried to impound a campaign vehicle belonging to the ruling MMD party on suspicion that it was a government vehicle.

Mr. Mhango said it was wrong for the PF to act on a mere suspicion saying they should have followed the right procedure rather than taking the law in their hands.

He said they should have reported the case to the police or the electoral commission of Zambia who could have known what measure to take against the MMD.

He has also advised the MMD campaign team to avoid using unregistered vehicles as this was also the cause of confusion during the Chitambo by-elections.

Mr. Mhango has meanwhile commended police for their swift action in quelling the violence between the two parties.

He has also appealed to both parties and others to conduct issue based campaigns rather than resorting to violence and other malpractices.

Mr. Mhango said he is however impressed with the way campaigns have been conducted in Kasama so far.

He said apart from the tribal remarks uttered by PF candidate, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) that Kasama is for Bembas and this recent incident not many cases have been reported so far.

Mr. Mhango said this by-election has been a good one compared to the previous one as political parties have shown maturity in their conducts.

He has also advised the people of Kasama to choose for themselves a leader who will represent them well and bring development in the area.

ZANIS

Government has maintained that the law will take its course on any person trying to destabilize the peace of other members of the public.

Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani says there is need for people in the country to desist from activities that are likely to disturb and bring confusion in the country.

Mr. Mangani told journalists in Lusaka yesterday that, the police have the mandate to ensure that peace prevails in the country including the roads at all times.

He noted that people planning to use the roads to cause confusion will be dealt with by the police adding that they also risk being arrested.

Mr. Mangani further cautioned that unnecessary honking and whistling on roads is an offence and any person found wanting will be arrested.

The Minster was reacting to the decision by 18 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) who have vowed to continue honking and whistling against Dr. Chiluba’s acquittal.

Last week a consortium of 18 CSOs devised various strategies such as honking and whistling as a way of protesting against the acquittal of former President Chiluba.

And nine motorists among them two Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament have since been arrested and charged with conduct likely to breach public peace and unnecessary hooting contrary to the laws of Zambia.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has arrived back from the United States of America (USA) were he had gone to attend the 64th regular United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

The plane carrying President Banda who was accompanied by first Lady Thandiwe touched down at the Lusaka International Airport at about 10: 00 hours.

And the President was received at the Airport by Vice President George Kunda, Defense Minister Kalombo Mwansa, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani and Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha.

Others were Sports and Youth Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu, Energy Minster Kenneth Konga and Deputy Ministers, senior government officials and some MMD party cadres.

Apart from attending the UN General Assembly Mr. Banda and other African Heads of State also attended the 2nd summit of heads of State of Africa and South America in Caracas Venezuela.

From Venezuela Mr. Banda proceeded to Cuba for a three day state visit at the invitation of his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro.

While in Cuba Mr. Banda investitured former resident of Cuba Fidel Castro with an Award of the Order of the Eagle of Zambia first division for his meritorious political, social, and economic services rendered to the people of Cuba and other countries in the world before addressing Zambian students.

Mr. Banda was accompanied to USA by his wife Thandiwe, Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala among others.

ZANIS

The New General Party (NGP) has called on government to expedite the enforcement of the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) regulations to bring sanity in the organisations.

NGP President Humphrey Siulapwa said in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today that it has become necessary to regulate the operations of NGOs in the country following their conducts in the past few months.

He said NGOs in the country have lost direction and their original concept of supplementing government efforts in contributing to national development and instead become anti –government.

Mr. Siulapwa charged that the NGOs have decided to be anti-government while showing their allegiance to the donors who are funding them

He said it is therefore important for the government to quickly enforce the new NGO law to regulate them before they can bring confusion into the country.

He has further called on government not to allow the civil societies who are planning to demonstrate go ahead saying the country should not see a repeat of the Copperbelt University demonstrations where people hijacked and become violent.

Mr. Siulapwa warned that if demonstrations are allowed, people could take advantage to destabilize the country.

ZANIS