‘STOP CHARACTER ASSASSINATION’

By MUKWIMA CHILAL SOME Petauke residents are disappointed that instead of getting the empowerment they were promised, people were being used to stage a protest bordering on character assassination of  an aspiring candidate. The residents were promised mealie meal and cash among others being were surprised to see posters denouncing other candidates being displayed, Elyon Tembo a supporter of Petauke Central Constituency aspiring candidate Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda,  has said. And speaking to the Daily Nation, Mr Banda expressed disappointment with the development saying  President Edgar Lungu had guided on the need for candidates to be civil in their campaigns. There is need to put to a stop to politics of character assassination ahead of the adoptions for the 2021 general election, Mr Banda said. And Mr. Tembo notes that politics of character assassination have been on the rise during the campaigns for adoption on the Patriotic Front party ticket in Petauke. He notes that all the participating parties have had an opportunity to campaign on the ground and hence it is imperative that the party gets to choose only a popular candidate. He says  that there is need for people to respect the wishes and desires of the people of Petauke and  adopt only popular candidates. Mr. Tembo says people of Petauke cannot be hoodwinked through character assassination as they had the wisdom to make their own informed decisions by choosing only those that are capable of bringing development to the people. ‘’We are saddened by an alleged organized procession  in Petauke  to try and discredit  someone. So in this case we are trying to call for a stop to politics of character assassination because all the participating parties have had a fair share of time to sell their candidature to the people of Petauke ,’’ Mr Tembo said. Yesterday, a procession of youths staged a protest against what they termed criminality and insulting characters vying for adoption.