By BRIAN HATYOKA –
THE Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has condemned the hacking of a Patriotic Front (PF) supporter in Livingstone by seven suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night within 24 hours after five political parties in Livingstone, which included PF and UPND, held a joint media briefing to denounce political violence and attacks on journalists in this year’s elections.
Mr George Ngoma, 39, of house number 203 in Dambwa Central, was attacked near Leisure Gardens in Dambwa Site and Service by seven suspected UPND cadres who were driving an unknown motor vehicle.
SACCORD executive director Boniface Cheembe said it was unacceptable for party cadres to attack others on an account of politics.
Mr Cheembe said in an interview in Livingstone that that politics must not be used to attack and injure another person.
“We would like to condemn in strongest terms the reported hacking of a PF cadre by suspected UPND cadres in Livingstone. It is such actions that make stakeholders be concerned with the manner in which politics and campaigns are conducted,” he said.
Earlier during the official opening of the public forum at Fairmount Hotel yesterday, Mr Cheembe said that there was need for all political parties and all Zambians to maintain peace ahead of the August 11, general elections.
He said that citizens must play their role in ensuring that campaigns were held in a peaceful manner.
Speaking at the same forum, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) programme manager Kathy Short observed that this year’s general election was very important as it would be held side by side with the referendum.