UPND VIOLENCE

THE spate of unbridled violence being perpetrated by UIPND cadres should come to an end as it has the potential to negatively affect campaigns and the subsequent holding of peaceful polls due next month. Marauding UPND cadres are pouncing on anyone, who in their own estimation appears to be hindering their violent crusade. Surprisingly, these opposition cadres are blood-thirsty to the extent that they are turning knives and pangas against fellow UPND cadres. A case in point is the mayhem involving UPND Mazabuka Central aspiring MP Garry Nkombo’s supporters and cadres from the camp of mayoral candidate, Vincent Lilanda. One of the cadres had his abdomen slit open while the other one had his head bludgeoned with sharp instrument over T-shirts. Elsewhere in the North-Western Province, UPND cadres went on an orgy of destruction, damaging two vehicles in Solwezi before pouncing on PF members, who were mounting posters. Such barbaric acts ought to be stopped forthwith because this could be a scheme to intimidate the electorate and to instill fear in the ruling party members. The violence ironically comes on the heels of the Peace Pledge which political party leaders signed at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka last week. Visibly, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema was at the signing ceremony, pacing up and down and taunting opponents at the venue, but now his members have gone guns-blazing with offensive weapons. What could be said of his commitment to peace he made, when within the same week, his members went on an offensive! Zambians want peace as the general elections are just about three weeks away; peace is the prerequisite of strong democracy and national development. Recently, the message of peace and unity resonated across the country and beyond during and after the mourning of the late First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda. All citizens and in particular politicians spoke highly of Dr Kaunda and how he managed to foster peace in the country. Politicians including those in the opposition preached peace and now the country is witnessing the very opposite of what the leaders pledged to uphold. Zambia needs to remain united now more than ever before, because the country goes to the crunch general elections in less than three weeks. Therefore, leaders and citizens alike must embrace unity and also decant any toxic aspersions from their public discourse. Zambia must heal from the political altercations that have the potential to divide the nation particularly at this critical juncture. All politicians ought to realise that public office is meant to serve the people with integrity all-around; it is not for vanity. It is also true that citizens are highly expectant and require quality service from competent and caring leaders. The UPND leadership, therefore, must come out and condemn the violence instead of casually stating that the mayhem in Mazabuka was a “friendly” fight. The opposition party must stop mocking Zambians because the violence in Mazabuka cannot pass for a “friendly” fight. Cornelius Mweetwa, the UPND spokesperson who described the Mazabuka violence as “friendly” is not serious. Violence must come to an end!