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.

By Hon Davies Mwila

The American civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr made a heartfelt plea:

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”

I believe that Zambia is confronted with ‘the fierce urgency of now’, in which  ‘apathy or complacency’  by any Zambian poses a serious danger to our democracy as well as to everything that defines the best of who we are as Zambians, including our values, our brotherhood, and sisterhood, our humanity, our nationhood. While the majority of us still profess and act in a manner that is consistent with our national creed of  “One Zambia, One Nation”  under God, there are some among us who make a living by driving a wedge between us along with tribal, regional, the opposition party and ruling party lines. These people who practice these politics forget the toxicity that their modus operandi bring to our politics, which in turn hamper poverty reduction and development efforts. These practitioners of toxic politics – who are still my brothers and sisters – forget or seem not to realize that we are Zambians first and foremost, and therefore, we must all focus on what is of benefit to all Zambians be they opposition, ruling or non-partisan, and regardless of tribe and region. It is with the above wider perspective, accompanied by a deep sense of the _‘fierce urgency of now’_, that we must work collectively as a people to move Zambia forward; first and foremost, by uprooting the ugly scourge of toxic politics, which hampers the achievement of unprecedented levels economic development anywhere in the world.

In view of the above, this deep sense of urgency should be focused and directed at addressing the faults lines which want to deeply engrave themselves in our body politic.

Chief among these faults is the unwelcome and dangerous indulgence in toxic politics by some politicians in Zambia. I brand them as  ‘toxic politics’  because such politics are cancer that eats away societal values of humanity, unity, and solidarity; which in turn breeds apathy, instability, violence and hopelessness; and which ultimately breeds poverty and underdevelopment. As we know, poverty and politics again start feeding those earlier symptoms, resulting in a  ‘vicious circle’.  This cannot and should not be our society and destiny. Zambia deserves better.

Therefore, as Zambians, partisan or non-partisan, we all have a shared responsibility to actively participate in completely uprooting the scourge of toxic politics in Zambia which is manifested through fake news; exalting regionalism and tribalism; being violently disagreeable; agitating polarization (zero bipartisanship) and deliberately choosing to be blind to any good done by Government, as well as an acute case of being unable to offer any credible alternative national development policies but instead, they have majored in “NO” to anything and everything no matter how good it is for the citizens such as roads, schools, airports, hospitals.

Definitely, this is toxic politics and there is nothing noble in them at all. As a Christian Nation, Scripture categorically commands to forsake ill-will, toxicity and indecency in everything we do include politics, when it says: “with goodwill (not ill-will) doing service (doing everything), as to the LORD, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:7).

We must remove toxicity in our body politic which is manifested through violent conduct and language, and vain endeavors to paint development (roads, hospitals, schools, etc.) as corruption or something bad.

Doing so will bring about development-oriented politics and give Zambians the development promised to them in the Vision 2030. This development which is being ‘black’ or something akin to evil is not development for the PF Party, it is development FOR all Zambians – partisan and non-partisan, young and old, and Zambians everywhere.

This fight and commitment to completely uproot the scourge of toxicity out of our body politic involves every Zambian at every level and in every place. This is because, this will accelerate the attainment of Zambia’s inclusive development as espoused in the 7NDP and Vision 2030; but also, this will enable all of us – partisan, non-partisan, civil society, investors – to “live peaceful and quiet lives”, to borrow from scripture (1 Timothy 2:2). This is one important aspect of sustainable development, an environment that ensures peace, stability, harmony, unity, collective effort, honesty, decency in the practice of our politics.

Zambia has to do this now; it cannot wait for tomorrow. For, Zambia is now facing the fact that ‘tomorrow is now today’.

In this sense, ‘patriotism’ in present-day Zambia has taken a far deeper meaning, which among other things, should mean that all Zambians should not act indifferently to toxicity in our body politic which manifests itself through falsehoods, tribalism, regionalism, violence speech and conduct, and an acute failure of offering credible policy alternatives or commendation to Government where it is due by some in the opposition. No patriotic Zambia should indulge in apathy or complacency by tolerating and feeding on fake news which labels development as corruption, or the toxicity of politics which points our people to the dangerous trappings of regionalism and tribalism.

Part of patriotism in today’s Zambia also means the citizen should understand the roles and responsibilities of leaders of political parties, and demand that from them. Part of patriotism should also mean the citizen remains aware that ‘leadership is not merely positional’, but more about ‘influence’. Therefore, the patriotic citizen ought to ask him/herself what norms, ideas, vision, behavior, worldview is a particular leader ‘influencing’ or ‘inspiring’ in our body politic? Is sh/e inspiring peace, stability, unity, collectiveness, and development?

A patriotic citizen must understand that a leader can positively influence, which I call ‘positive leadership’. Also, leaders can negatively influence, “negative leadership” also known us reactionary leadership and negative forces. Much of our current opposition find unanimity in the class of reactionary and negative forces; a gang of reactionary forces who, like Frantz Fanon said, belief in  “using the people against the people”  to achieve their selfish, narrow-minded goals. These opposition leaders who practice and bring toxicity in our body politic are those the Holy Scriptures describe as,  “having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? (Mark 8:18)”.  These opposition leaders have forgotten or turned a blind eye to the terrible outcomes of bringing toxicity in a body politic in any country, as it brings about stunted development, poverty, instability, violence and misery. But does toxicity care if this were to happen? Or, is this the outcome which toxicity of the larger part of Zambia’s opposition wishes upon the Zambian head? Preaching and practicing toxicity by the opposition is not punishing PF, it is punishing the decent Zambian father and mother, and the child.

Just as leaders have responsibilities, so does the ‘followers’. As patriotic citizens first and foremost, followers should look at what and who benefits Zambia as a whole – not their party, region or tribe. Zambia First and Only. For a follower; it starts with knowing and understanding his/her society and where his/her society is headed based on concrete programs clearly espoused in a Party Manifesto, which large opposition parties such as the UPND has not managed to put together until now. The follower as a patriotic citizen should seriously ask, if not by mere rhetoric, what guides the UPND’s agenda? How do they hope to “develop” Zambia without an articulate plan through a UPND Manifesto? How does their so-called “fix-it” plan lookout without a plan defined in a UPND Manifesto? Without saying much, it has been said that “failing to plan (a Manifesto), is planning to fail”. In this sense, UPND failing to put up a party manifesto means they are planning to fail Zambia! That is not the alternative any follower as a patriotic Zambia should support regardless of tribe or region!

Yet, these reactionary forces and toxic politicians would still dare trivialize the relevance of a Party Manifesto. But, this follower as a patriotic citizen must by right expect his/her opposition leader to bring about the best of who we are as a people – ‘One Zambia, One Nation, under God’.  A society that does not glorify negative and reactionary forces and leaders. A society that collectively has no stomach for tribalism, regionalism, violence, hate speech and painting development as evil and corrupt. If the follower as a patriotic citizen finds that his/her opposition leader stubbornly continues to indulge in toxic politics of divisions, fake news and violence; then the follower has a responsibility to act against such negative opposition leaders and forces, and heed the Scriptural admonition and  “leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit”  (Matthew 15:14, NIV).

*When Development Is Called An Evil: The Destructive Effect of Toxic Politics and Intransigent Forces*

Although unconscionable, toxic opposition politicians and other intransigent forcers hope for and at times, actively campaign for, the entrenchment of poverty, misery, hopelessness, violence, tribalism and divisions in Zambia. These negative forces in opposition have an unconscionable narrow-minded goal to cause and/or hope for mass suffering and stalled development, then use that as stepping stones to attain their self-centered ambitions: power for the sake of power. This raises serious ethical questions because humanity demands that no human being should hope or work to see poverty, stalled development and divisions in society just to score cheap political points. It is this same power-hungry and a reactionary lot that has formed an unholy alliance to relentless a crusade of lies and antonyms, where development means underdevelopment, and good becomes bad. Such cannot be called an opposition especially if they consistently fail to offer any objective criticism by offering credible development policy alternatives. Yet, our opposition fails in this and instead start dealing in antonyms of calling development as underdevelopment, and progress as retrogressive. By so doing, Zambia’s opposition has succumbed to toxic politics, and failed to heed Jorge Luis Borges’ admonition that,  “do not talk unless you can improve the silence”.

Blinded by their poverty of ambition which hopes to gain political mileage out of people’s suffering; these toxic opposition politicians – who are still my people – have a method behind this. It is said that there is always a method to the madness. And the method behind this madness by the opposition is their hope that by calling development as underdevelopment, and progress as bad; then the PF Government will surrender and stop implementing its Developmental Agenda as articulated in the 7NDP and Vision 2030. By hoping for misery and poverty, these toxic politicians forget that they are essentially branding themselves as missionaries and lords over misery and poverty – classic prophets of doom!

By labeling development as underdevelopment, and progress as corrupt and bad; these reactionary forces inadvertently make themselves the chief enemies of development and progress in Zambia – the enemies of progress!

To the above, the questions which must be asked are:

1. How should the ‘followers’ of these negative opposition leaders as well as the general public respond to this opposition-inspired toxicity in our body politic?

2. How should the ‘followers’ of these negative opposition leaders as well as the general public respond to this opposition-inspired campaign of antonyms to call development as underdevelopment, and progress as bad – all in the evil hope that PF Government will be discouraged to implement the Developmental Agenda espoused in the 7NDP and Vision 2030?

The followers of these negative opposition leaders and other reactionary forces must heed the Scriptural warning, and immediately _“leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14, NIV).

The Author is the Ruling Patriotic Front(PF) Secretary-General

Police have confirmed the death of one person, a UPND member only identified as Gadhafi in the shooting incident which happened yesterday involving PF and UPND.

Zambia Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says initial investigations revealed that suspected UPND cadres who were on a UPND branded motor vehicle had attacked people believed to be Patriotic Front cadres who were in a white Toyota Hilux using stones which led to the one of the occupants identified as female Namataa Lubasi Brumo aged 51 of Yeta Compound also a District PF Chairlady of Mongu to jump off the motor vehicle in an attempt to run to safety.

Mrs Katongo said when officers reached the scene, they found a man in his 40s laying on the ground in a pool of blood, with a ladies handbag by his side.
She said Officers picked him and rushed him to Kaoma District Hospital for medical attention but later died in the process of evacuating him to UTH.

Below is a full statement

Yesterday, 06th October, 2019, as Police Officers were attending a briefing at Kaoma Trades School organized by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, they received information from concerned citizens that there were some gunshots heard and immediately officers were dispatched to verify the information.

It then came to the attention of the officers that supporters of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and those of the Patriotic Front had clashed in Site and Service area in Kaoma

When officers reached the scene, they found a man in his 40s laying on the ground in a pool of blood, with a ladies handbag by his side. Officers picked him and rushed him to Kaoma District Hospital for medical attention but later died in the process of evacuating him to UTH.

Initial investigations revealed that suspected UPND cadres who were on a UPND branded motor vehicle had attacked people believed to be Patriotic Front cadres who were in a white Toyota Hilux using stones which led to the one of the occupants identified as female Namataa Lubasi Brumo aged 51 of Yeta Compound also a District PF Chairlady of Mongu to jump off the motor vehicle in an attempt to run to safety.

It was reported that Namataa was followed by unknown suspected UPND cadre only identified by his nickname Gadhafi who gave chase and grabbed her hand bag but Namataa managed to run to safety.

It is alleged that one occupant on a white Toyota Hilux pulled out a pistol and shot at Gadhafi who died in the process of evacuation to UTH.

Another report was received in which Mbololwa Nayoya aged 51 of Mongu, a suspected member of the Patriotic Front also of Kapolota Village in Chief Mushemi of Senanga District was assaulted by suspected UPND members and sustained a deep cut on the left side of the head and general body pains as a plank is alleged to have been used in the act and in the same fracas a PF Toyota Hilux had its wind screen shattered.

This occurred yesterday 06th October, 2019 at about 1100 hours when members of the Patriotic Front were issuing out some campaign material and some foot stuffs to their members and this raised suspicions among the UPND who suspected them to have been buying votes.

In the same fracas, a male adult identified as Joseph Muzaza of Mulambwa Compound in Kaoma believed to be a Patriotic Front cadre was also assaulted and sustained a deep cut on the left leg. No arrest has been made in this case however investigations have been instituted.

In a separate incidence, two motor vehicles suspected to be carrying Patriotic front Cadres are alleged to have been pursuing a UPND District Youth Chairperson for Kaoma identified as Chola Simwawa aged 38 of Falkland, Kaoma who was riding a motor Bike in Site and Service area . In the process of running to safety, he decided to run into someone’s yard and the motor bike hit into a tree and he fell to the ground. He is alleged to have pulled out a gun (pistol) and fired at the suspected Patriotic Front Cadres reported to have been pursuing him and injured one identified as Gift Simangolwa who sustained a bullet wound on the right thigh and right arm. He has been evacuated to UTH.

Chola Simwawa is currently detained in Police custody and a pistol with three rounds of ammunition recovered. Investigations in this matter have continued to bring all perpetrators of the violence to book. Calm has returned in Kaoma as patrols have been intensified in all hotspots. Investigations in all the reported incidences of violence have continued with a view of bringing perpetrators to book.

We reiterate the earlier call by the Inspector General of Police that all leaders of campaign teams for all Political Parties taking part in the Kaoma by – election should take up responsibility of ensuring that their cadres avoid any form of violence.

ESTHER MWAATA KATONGO

ZAMBIA POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

By: Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has ALWAYS been categorical, that he does not want; neither will he allow the blood of innocent young men and women to be spilt all in his name, or indeed the party has led since for many years, in the name of politics.

Recently, HH has been spending a lot of time with young men and women from all backgrounds, encouraging them to participate in constructive national conversations that affect them; reaffirming his commitment to investing in their futures.

The Premeditated Political Violence, which must STOP, is not what he espouses. It is not party of the UPND’s agenda for social and economic reform.

This young man should never be dead right now, however he has died.

This culture of militarized politics has never been seen in this country until the PF came to power. We are now witnessing the degeneration of our national politics on an unprecedented scale because we have an unpopular incumbent government that will deploy any method to hang on to power.

This is the culture of violence, intolerance, breakdown in the rule of law the Economist Intelligence Unit have been warning us about as our country edges towards 2021.

Our politics have become dangerous, wasteful, toxic, unproductive and counterproductive.

With a host of PF government Ministers in the area of Kaoma, acting for and on behalf of PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu and his quest to remain in power, the life of this young man should have been most safe, and yet it is patently clear that their presence in Kaoma did little to promote a peaceful election’s environment, much more than it promulgated deathly violence.

If we do not collectively act, particularly the youth, and refuse to be a part of a political gun subculture being openly perpetrated by the PF, where assault weapons are openly carried, brandished and used in full view of an immobilized police contingent, then we must brace ourselves for worse as the General Election season dawns.

The youths in the PF who have killed this young man have done so in the name of PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu and his quest to win the 2021 General Election.

UPND youths must commit and vow NEVER to spill blood for PRESIDENT HH and the party, principally because HH has refused to sacrifice the lives of the young and energetic for political latitude.

This is NOT the politics the party espouses.

The UPND is very clear around the principles we stand for. Propagating violence is not one of the reasons we exist.

If PF youths will spill blood for PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu, HH will preach restraint – maximum restraint; even when the need to defend their own lives arises while the police fail in their duty, UPND youths will and must do so while exercising maximum restraint.

We must get back to civil, productive, intelligent politics.

The PF and PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu must provide the requisite leadership