YET again the issue of political violence is making headlines in the media to the extent that some political parties have now even been branded as ‘rival camps’.
Very wrong! The line in a political battle field should be drawn at the point where if the ‘best man’ is declared winner, the losing candidate must concede defeat with a vow to do better next time around.
What transpired in the run-up to the Solwezi West and Lubanseshi Constituency by elections is nothing to write home about and one wonders where this culture of entertaining violence during by-elections has come from.
Zambia has been a beacon of peace for 51 years and this is the status quo globally as any other country envies to share the peace and harmony that speaks for our nation.
To think that this reputation is being thrown down the drain by unruly political party cadres has prompted me yet again to ring the bell on the call to promote peace during elections.
On departure for his campaign trail of Luwingu and Solwezi for the just held by elections, President Edgar Lungu told journalists at City Airport of his worry that political violence had become fashionable whenever there were elections.
Political parties saw it normal to ferry cadres to polling areas to cause confusion in the end intimidating voters from executing their democratic right.
Even seasoned politicians have found it fashionable to entice youths to cause commotion through any available means of destabilising the peace in areas where elections are taking place.
But the President said that very politician in Zambia was indigenous to the country and politics should not be conducted differently from the way church denominations congregate in one place to worship.
The electorate has adopted the same spirit of co-existence exhibited during elections but what don’t the politicians want to promote peace in times of political joy and distress?
Now there is even ammunition at play was the case in Luwingu when gangs from rival political parties fired shots resulting in the injury of one person.
Nine people were apprehended in the run-up to the Lubansenshi polls as the Police made sure of zero abrogation to the electoral code of conduct’s provision on election violence.
Two of the nine were charged with illegal possession of a fire arm, six for assault and the other for unlawful possession of national registration and voter’s cards.
We have to move away from such practices and make the political playing field level in the area of promoting peace and tranquility.
The Police force needs to be strengthened further in the area of dealing with political violence by cordoning voting areas well ahead of time.
The ultimate person who should be protected first is the innocent voter who only wants to exercise their democratic right to better their livelihood.
This is where the Police also needs to apply a better approach in dealing with circumstances where violence erupts as opposed to the indiscriminate use of tear gas.
In some instances this has led to the injury of voters themselves and could be a reason why most people opt to exercise their reserved option of voter apathy.
Next year’s general election is drawing nigh and with the intolerance exhibited at ward and parliamentary by election level so far, much still needs to be done.
Stakeholders including political leaders must hold an indaba to unanimously abash political violence in 2016.
This treaty should be upheld by all political parties as the corner stone for a better Zambia for times ahead.