‘DON’T MOCK CITIZENS OVER VIOLENCE’

By KALOBWE BWALYAIT is a mockery of citizens for President Hakainde Hichilema to assure that the upcoming polls will be peaceful and fair when political players are being brutalised on a daily basis, a Lusaka clergyman, Reverend Moses Lungu has said.Rev Lungu said President Hichilema had failed to crack the whip on unruly cadres to ensure that sanity was restored in the country.He said making assurances of peace amid reports of pandemonium was a mockery of the Zambian people.Rev Lungu said the nation expected President Hichilema to end political violence immediately after he took over office, but that nothing tangible had been done to curb the vice.He said the political arena had been infiltrated by criminals who were now causing confusion with impunity in the countryRev Lungu said if President Hichilema does not take firm action to end political violence, the country would be in a bloodbath.He said the President should not forget that after five years, he would still go back to people and ask for their vote.He said the head of state should not condone barbaric behaviour because it would cost him in 2026.President Hichilema has assured the nation that there would be no violence in the areas where elections will be held tomorrow.And Zambian DNA spokesperson, Spuki Mulemwa said it was unfortunate that there were reports of political violence by suspected UPND cadres on the National Day of Prayer for reconciliation.Mr Mulemwa said Zambians were supposed to reconcile with God and each other on that day.“We are alive to President Hichilema’s directive that political violence should come to an end,” he said.Mr Mulemwa said the Police were expected to curb acts of political violence in line with President Hichilema’s directive as it was their mandate to maintain law and order.Ends……………………