By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –
THE United Church of Zambia (UCZ) has condemned the current political violence by cadres in the ongoing Presidential election campaigns.
The church has appealed to political party presidential aspirants to advise their cadres to refrain from any form of violence as the country goes to the polls on January 20.
UCZ general secretary Peggy Kabonde said provocative actions should not be condoned but that parties should uphold the principal of love and tolerance towards one another as a Christian nation.
She said this at a Press conference held at UCZ St Paul’s Kabwata congregation in Lusaka, where she announced the commemoration of the church’s Golden Jubilee to be held from January 16 to 18 2015 at Heroes stadium.
She urged all political parties to abstain from any form of corruption that would affect the citizens from making informed choices.
“The church is the mother to the citizens of any country, and elections were the tools which citizens used to elect or decide who their leaders should be and therefore our role and importance in voter education cannot be underestimated,” she said.
Members of the UCZ have been encouraged to participate in the elections and urged to avoid all forms of violence.
Staying away from voting would mean allowing someone to make decisions for them and disadvantaging the candidate of their choice.
Acting President Guy Scott is expected to be guest of honour at the commemoration of the Church’s Golden Jubilee which would attract various people from different countries across the globe and over 40, 000 members from all the provinces of Zambia.