Political parties urged to educate cadres against violence

The Christian Council of Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Susan Matale has advised political parties to educate their cadres against engaging in violence.

And Reverend Matale has observed that ferrying party cadres from one place to another creates an enabling environment for political violence.

Rev Matale said peace is an ingredient for development advised party presidents to strongly condemn the violent acts ahead of the forth-coming Chilanga and Mpulungu parliamentary elections set for next month.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka on Friday, Rev.Matale said Zambia needs peace and it should not be deliberately spoiled for the sake of an election.

Rev Matale said political leaders should strongly come out in open in condemning violence perpetrated by their members.

She hoped that the parliamentary elections in the two constituencies in Chilanga and Mpulungu would be held in a free and fair environment adding that the violence that rocked Mufumbwe to the run-up parliamentary elections were unfortunate.
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“ There is no reason for hating or causing harm to each other for a sake of campaigns because this country needs peace. It is our sincere hope that the elections in Chilanga and Mpulungu will be conducted in a free and smooth atmosphere,” Rev Matale said.[/pullquote]
“As a Church, we are asking the party presidents to restrain their cadres from engaging themselves in violent acts. Party leaders should come out in open and denounce violence because this country needs peace

“ There is no reason for hating or causing harm to each other for a sake of campaigns because this country needs peace. It is our sincere hope that the elections in Chilanga and Mpulungu will be conducted in a free and smooth atmosphere,” Rev Matale said.

The CCZ-GS advised political leaders to talk about development as opposed to advancing petty issues based on individualism.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set October 28, 2010 as the date for holding the parliamentary by-elections for both Chilanga and Mpulungu seats respectively.

The Mpulungu seat fell vacant following the death of area MP Mr Chibombamilimo while the Chilanga seat fell vacant after the expulsion of area MP and former Finance and National Planning Minister Ng’andu Magande from the ruling MMD party for gross indiscipline.

Mr Chibombamilimo who passed away in India after an illness was Deputy Minister of Energy and water Development.

Meanwhile, the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) Executive Director Lee Habasonda has bemoaned the lack of implementation to translate the election materials into Braille to be used for people with disabilities.

Mr Habasonda told ZANIS in an interview that ECZ should consider meeting the demands of disadvantaged people in society.

He urged government through the Ministry of Home Affairs to look into the plight of people with disabilities noting that such people are denied secrecy during election periods because their ‘tools’ for reading and writing is usually not available at Polling Stations.

“It is common knowledge that people with disabilities here in Zambia do not vote because of lack of Braille materials. As SACCORD, our concern is the lack of the Electoral Body to translate the election materials into Braille to benefit the people with disabilities,” Mr Habasonda lamented.

According to Mr Habasonda, people with disabilities use other people to vote during elections which he described that the vote is ‘no longer a secret’ because it has been exposed to the second party.
[pullquote]”It is common knowledge that people with disabilities here in Zambia do not vote because of lack of Braille materials. As SACCORD, our concern is the lack of the Electoral Body to translate the election materials into Braille to benefit the people with disabilities,” Mr. Habasonda lamented.[/pullquote]
He further said some of the people with disabilities do not go to vote because they are frustrated in the first instance.

[ ZANIS ]