By SYLVESTER MWALE –

FORMER Mauritius president Cassam Uteem says Zambia has proved that it is still a beacon of peace in Africa following the successful holding of the presidential election last Tuesday.
Mr Uteem told the Sunday Times in an interview that the country had demonstrated its love for peace and expressed confidence that the 2015 elections would not change the situation.
Tuesday’s presidential elections were necessitated by the death of President Michael Sata who passed away in October last year.
It was the second time that a sitting president had died in the country after Levy Mwanawasa in 2008. It was also the fourth time in eight years that Zambians were voting for a president.
Although the elections were free from major incidences, there were isolated reports of clashes between supporters of the two leading candidates – Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and Hakainde Hichilema of UPND.
“From what I have been given, I am sure that peace will continue to prevail,” said Mr Uteem who led the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) Election Observer Mission in last Tuesday’s polls.
“We have always looked to Zambia as a peaceful country and I am hopeful that even after these elections, the country will continue to enjoy its status as a peaceful country.”
He urged parties that might be aggrieved with the outcome of elections to use the available legal framework in seeking redress unlike resorting to violence.
Mr Uteem said Zambia’s peace was admired by many in Africa hence the need to maintain it.
He also noted that Africa had made strides in enhancing democracy with many countries being able to conduct regular elections to elect their leaders.
Mr Uteem who was also appointed as special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi said many countries in Africa were currently able to elect leaders while citizens enjoyed their freedom of expression.
“I am glad that many countries have embraced plural democracy in the interest of their citizens and people are now able to express themselves, and presidents have two terms only,” he said.