UPND SLAMS VIOLENCE

By SANFROSSA MANYINDA THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has condemned the escalation in violent incidences linked to political activities in the country. UPND presidential spokesperson Anthony Bwalya yesterday said there was need for collective efforts to put an end to political violence. ” We are deeply saddened at what seems to be an …

UPND SLAMS VIOLENCE
By SANFROSSA MANYINDA THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has condemned the escalation in violent incidences linked to political activities in the country. UPND presidential spokesperson Anthony Bwalya yesterday said there was need for collective efforts to put an end to political violence. ” We are deeply saddened at what seems to be an escalation in violent incidences linked to political activities in our country. ” We are therefore issuing a renewed and earnest appeal to all citizens, especially political actors to immediately refrain and stand down from the use of violent force as a means to assert their political standing or differences,” he said. Mr Bwalya said there was need for all political players to collectively take responsibility for the problem and work together to ensure that the problem is solved. He said it was important that the political environment of violence and violent intimidation was gotten rid of for the sake of peace. Mr Bwalya said it was also important that the country returned to its long held and cherished culture of peace and unity, even across the political divide. He  told the Daily Nation that the UPND rejected the misplaced idea that political differences could be a catalyst for violent tensions in the country. Mr Bwalya observed that any form of violence and violent intimidation, took away from and did an injustice to the spirit of unity and cohesion which Zambia had been enjoying for so many years. He said now was not the time to point fingers or assign blame on one another but to find solutions to the problem.