President Edgar Lungu has directed the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and the Police force to frequently check on the roads, and ensure that all broken down vehicles are cleared from the roads, as they pose a danger to other motorists.

“RTSA and Police must develop a culture of clearing roads of vehicles that have broken down. It’s sad that people perished because a truck was left on the road for a long time,” the President said.

This follows the accident involving a broken down vehicle on the road which led to the deaths. President Lungu expressed sadness over the death of Catholic Choir members who perished in a road traffic accident along the Kitwe Chingola road yesterday.

The President who described the death as tragic and disturbing has since sent a message of condolence to the bereaved families and the entire Catholic fraternity.

The Head of State has further extended a message of goodwill to families of those who are nursing injuries and has since wished the injured a quick recovery.

And the President Lungu has sent a message of condolence to the family of Patriotic Front (PF) member, Petronella Bowa who died on Monday, after an illness.

Dr Lungu said Ms Bowa was a dedicated member of the party who will be missed for her commitment and contribution to national development.

“Ms Bowa was a hardworking and passionate woman who died at a tender age. She was a good party mobiliser who will be greatly missed,” the President said.

This is contained in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President Press and Public Relations, Isaac Chipampe.

President Edgar Lungu has directed the Zambia Police Service to ensure that civilians found in possession of firearms in Kaoma District in Western Province, are punished before elections are held on Thursday, October 10th, 2019.

The President has also warned that he will not allow the repeat of what happened during the Sesheke by-elections, as well as the happenings that occurred during the Kuomboka traditional ceremony a few years ago.

President Lungu said he was aware of the presence of the Opposition leader in Kaoma District respected the situation, adding that he, however, called for respect of the law.

President Lungu was speaking at Kaoma airstrip as he addressed scores of residents who welcomed him.

The President added that Zambia will remain a peaceful country, for as long as he was in charge of the country, adding that he will not allow the country to degenerate in lawlessness.

Meanwhile President Lungu reiterated that the Patriotic Front remains a peaceful party and he will endeavour to ensure that it remains so.

The President called on Kaoma residents to reject violence and embrace peaceful campaigns.

And President Lungu further urged the police to ensure it extensively investigates the recent incidence which happened in Kaoma and bring the culprits to book.

The President called on the police command to also ensure that order is maintained, and fairly address all matters reported to the department.

The President is in Kaoma District, where he is this afternoon expected to address two public meetings in Mangango constituency, to drum up support for PF candidate Ngebe Ngondo, who is contesting in the Council Chairperson by-election slated for October 10, 2019.

The other contestants include United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Austin Muneku, as well as United Peaceful and Prosperous Zambia (UPPZ) candidate, Chuulu Maseka.

By Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member

Yesterday, President Edgar Lungu again went on the record in his usually muted, badly choreographed Statehouse Press Statements; in which he practically made the problem of armed violence in the political arena a “problem for all Zambians”, as opposed to taking absolute responsibility that this is fundamentally a Patriotic Front (PF) creation, which now has the main opposition UPND having to make a decision around whether or not such barbaric, militia tactics by the PF should be repaid with the force it deserves.

Of course, in the UPND, the consensus is such that once, if, when and should our constitutional liberties to assemble, associate and speak freely come under such unsolicited attack at the hands of a heavily weaponized, armed, gun wielding PF militias, we will and shall defend our rights without reserve BUT have committed to doing so with caution, restraint and with such utter respect for the rule of law and human life – including the lives of our adversaries.

As a party, the UPND and it’s leadership have always held, that the primary responsibility to maintain law and order, and that of keeping all of us safe, irrespective of our political affiliations, rests with the police. And this is why we have kept on reminding our men and women in uniform to guard against executing political orders that fly in the face of constitutionalism, the basis of our collective nationhood.

Military grade, armed political violence under the Patriotic Front (PF) and the Presidency of Edgar Lungu has not only surged. It has also found institutional legitimacy and protection.

The level of armed militia tactics being employed by the PF to routinely intimidate members of the main opposition UPND and it’s leadership cannot be executed without the blessing and financial backing of Statehouse. These have become highly sophisticated, organized and bold.

The militiamen are acting for and on behalf of Statehouse and President Edgar Lungu’s illegal bid to remain in power post 2021.

Zambians must be reminded, that the UPND has been in existence for many years. And before the PF came into power in 2011, there was never heard of or seen the level of big money, assault weapons based political violence in Zambia. Never.

Zambia has lost more young men to political violence in the period 2011- 2019 than it did in the 20 years post the rebirth of multipartism in 1991. This is not a coincidence and records are there for all of us to tap into and verify.

The main worry in the UPND is that political violence on the scale we are witnessing under the PF always distorts national conversations and the erodes the credibility of our national elections as more and more people choose to keep away and stay alive, than lose their lives at the hands of what is evidently a criminal gang of corrupt, power hungry degenerates mascarading as political leaders.

And as has been warned by various respected international research organisations, the focus of the PF regime has invariably moved away from realistically and logically serving the Zambian people. Their conversation has moved towards consolidating their power base for themselves at the expense of Zambians.

This is why they are unapologetic about commiting the country to a mountain of public debt we can never pay, because in the short run, it allows them to artificially hoodwink the public into submission.

Except, not anymore.

Zambians will and shall not be cheated.

Zambians will and shall rise to the challenge and defend the integrity, unity and togetherness of our shared nationhood until we get the sound political leadership we deserve.

Zambians do not want guns in politics.

Zambians want ideas for INCLUSIVE development, ideas that will help us resolve the corruption question, growing income and wealth inequalities, joblessness, pensions insecurities, poor education standards, the land question, substandard public healthcare and restoration of the rule of law and our constitutionalism.

This is the Zambia we want, and this is the Zambia we all should and must fight for and defend.

Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Mwila has advised party members to ensure that campaigns being carried out are issue based.

The PF Secretary General has further extended the same message to other political players, adding that issue based politics yield positive results as opposed to acts of violence, which only hinder on national peace and security.

Mr Mwila, who was speaking when he addressed journalists in Kaoma District this morning says political campaigns have continued to bare a wrong tag, due to some members who are not following the right channels.

Mr Mwila said that the incidence that happened in the area on Sunday, October 6th, where a cadre was killed is very unfortunate, and must be dealt with, with the urgency it deserves.

And Mr Mwila has dismissed stories suggesting that the PF clashed with the UPND, adding that there was no occurrence of such nature.

He said it was important political parties based their campaigns on issues that affect the entire nation, as they prepare for the 2021 General elections, adding that it was cardinal at this stage to refrain from all forms of violence.

This week on Thursday October 10, 2019, the people of Kaoma District will vote for a Council Chairperson, in a by election, where the incumbent UPND’s Bindundu Mutti resigned to join the Patriotic Front in July, this year..

Heavily armed police officers in Kaoma are blocking UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his entourage from campaigning ahead of Thursday’s elections in the area.

The electorate in Kaoma will vote for a new Council Chairperson on Thursday.

This morning, Mr Hichilema was blocked by police officers from proceeding with his campaign programmes in the area because of the presence of Vice President Inonge Wina and President Edgar Lungu who is expected to join the PF campaigns later.

“As usual and under instructions from the PF, heavily armed State Police are blocking us from heading to our campaign areas approved by the Electoral Commission of Zambia. For the record, the Kaoma Council is a vast area covering two constituencies, being Kaoma Central and Mangango Constituencies,” Mr Hichilema said.

“It is therefore unreasonable that the entire province can be shut down because of another competitor, in total disregard to the approved ECZ campaign programme that allows us to be in a completely different place.”

“It is absolutely uncalled for and like always, we want peace and no one should provoke the people from standing up for their votes,” he said.

The PF must remember that a wound against one Zambian is a wound against all of us, so stop it. This country belongs to all citizens regardless of political affiliations and all of them have a right to associate and assemble freely.”

President Edgar Lungu has described the death of a UPND Member in Kaoma and the wounding of others amidst political violence as numbing and detestable.

Commiserating with the family of the deceased and the wounded, the President said no Zambian deserves to die for Politics.

The President has since directed Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja to take full control of the Mayoral election in Kaoma and other areas where the elections are taking place.

President Lungu is concerned that political activists suddenly are carrying guns and has directed that all the armed should be disarmed and all the culprits of the Sunday’s ugly events must be apprehended and prosecuted regardless of their political affiliation.

The President said Police should also get ready for the General elections in 2021 saying people should respect democracy and let popular candidates take the day instead of intimidating people to vote for their candidates.

He said all Zambians should be concerned about frequent violence each time elections are held.

And Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya says Government says it regrets the loss of life in Kaoma District of Western Province, where election campaigns for council chairmanship are taking place.

In a statement issued to Hot FM News, Ms Siliya urged members of the public to reject violence in all its forms in maintaining the country’s status as an oasis of peace.

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has commanded his party members to defend themselves physically if attacked by PF cadres saying that is the only language PF understands.

Speaking in the wake of the murder of a UPND member identified as Lawrence Banda in Kaoma, Mr Hichilema said UPND members should no longer be scared.

“Fear not, your vote is your weapon to kick out the corrupt and violent unruly PF thugs led by Mr Edgar Lungu. If they come to attack you physically, kindly defend yourselves because that is the only language they understand,” Mr Hichilema said.

Mr Hichilema charged that Zambia is fast degenerated into a gun culture society brought by the PF but advised that they remember that if one lives by the sword, they will die by the sword.

“We hate violence and seeing citizens being killed by the PF-funded militia groups. As commander of our party, I will not sit silently while PF lie to the Zambians. No citizen should be cheated by the PF lies that they are Christians because if they were, they would not be killing others.”

He added, “Typically, the PF has continued asking citizens to close their eyes in prayer while they steal public resources and kill in cold blood but not anymore. If it means any of you who trust us to deliver development to remain with one eye watching over their evils, then be it so.”

“And remember: the darkest hour comes before dawn and no one should stop any citizen from enjoying their democratic rights.”

Mr Hichilema stressed, “Always remember that a wound against one Zambian by the PF thugs, is a wound against all of us.”

Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya says the government deeply regrets the loss of life in Kaoma District of Western Province, where election campaigns for council chairmanship are taking place.

Ms Siliya says President Edgar Lungu has made it clear that he does not condone violence, whether perpetrated by the ruling party or the opposition parties.

She called on the Police to investigate the killing, without fear or favour, and bring the perpetrators of the violence and the killing to book.

Ms Siliya said the police command is further called upon to intensify searches to ensure that no civilians are moving with guns and other offensive weapons in the area.

She reiterated the government’s position that time for election campaigns is a time to compete with ideas and not with violence.

Ms Siliya said violence is not a way of solving any problem.

She has called on members of the public to be on high alert and help the police by reporting any civilian who will be seen with a firearm or any other offensive weapon in the area.

Ms Siliya further urged members of the public to reject violence in all its forms in maintaining the country’s status as an oasis of peace for which it is renowned world over.