CHURCH SLAMS POLITICAL VIOLENCE

By KETRA KALUNGA THE Church has condemned the political violence that has been reported in some parts of the country with the recent one being the fracas in Lusaka involving the PF and UPND barely a month after the beginning of elections campaigns. And the Church has urged political players to apply restraint no matter the provocation by the opponents to avoid bloodshed during the election campaigns. Bible Gospel in Central Africa (BIGOCA) Overseer Archbishop Dr Peter Ndhlovu said in an interview that the church is saddened that political parties have resorted to shedding blood and damaging property for the sake of the elections. He said political players should realise that any form of violence that has the potential to bring about political tension in the country during this election period would be costly to the nation. Bishop Ndhlovu said politicians should show maturity and ensure that they conduct issue-based campaigns based on their party manifestos for the electorates to make informed decisions.  And Bishop. Ndhlovu urged the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party to show leadership by retraining themselves when provoked by the oppositions because that is what leadership is all about. Other political parties should not think that by being violent, they could usurp power, it does not work like that, he said.