THE US WANTS PEACEFUL POLLS

By ROGERS KALERO THE US embassy will love to see a peaceful environment ahead of the August elections to guarantee free and fair elections accepted by all the parties. Embassy public affairs officer, Sean Mclntosh, said as the country heads to the polls in August this year, it was imperative that Zambians embraced peace and unity, before, during and after the elections. Mr Mclntosh was speaking in Kitwe. “The USA would love to see free and fair elections as well as a peaceful environment created during the whole process. “As Zambia goes to the polls this August, the embassy would love to see free and fair elections as well as a peaceful environment created during the whole process, Zambians must embrace peace and unity the country has enjoyed,” Mr McIntosh said. Mr Mclntosh said the USA’s mission in Zambia was to strengthen the country’s democracy in governance and ensure that the country managed to maximize its resources to achieve inclusive economic prosperity. “This would also see the country advance and promote security within itself and throughout the region especially if security, peace and unity was maintained,” he Mr Mclntosh said economic development was an important part in any country’s growth on both the democratic and political side. He also said journalists should not be intimidated but to be left to do their job effectively so that the mases were well-informed. “I mean journalists should be protected during the elections as they conduct their day-to-day activities. journalists must not be harassed but given an opportunity to conduct their work in a peaceful environment without any form of harassment or intimidation,” he said.