TIME and again we have spoken against political violence happening around the country, this matter is now made worse as tension builds up ahead of the this year’s general election to be held on August 11 this year. What happened on Saturday in Bweengwa Constituency of Central Province, where roads were blocked and cars stoned immediately after the presidential motorcade passed, raises a lot of fear about the coming few months. Between 18:00 and 19:00 hours, suspected UPND cadres attacked people who had attended a rally addressed by President Edgar Lungu and ended up injuring police officers. Three motor vehicles belonging to the Zambia Police, ministry of Social Welfare and the District Commissioner were damaged and two police reserve officers injured in the fracas. Memories are still fresh of how a life was lost in the run up to the 2015 presidential by-election in Western Province right in front of the television cameras. Who can forget the Mufumbwe violence as well as the Mapatizya acts? Violence just has no place in this day and age. The premeditations to the acts of violence are shocking, where the aggressors went and hid in the maize fields and ambushed unsuspecting citizens returning from a political function. Political players in the form of politicians are not even affected in these violent acts, but instead it is the ordinary citizens’ brothers and sisters who end up bearing the ugly brunt of political violence as seen in Bweengwa at the weekend. Two reserve police officers who should be everyone’s friend are the people who got injured and then three vehicles, all public equipment, also got damaged, meaning the same people who were stoning the cars, will pay for the repair if not purchase new vehicles to replace the damaged ones. This is just how destructive and retrogressive violence is and the only people who can stop this from going ahead are the political leaders. It does not matter now who instigated who and who reacted, but as long as this goes unchecked, property and eventually lives will be lost. We have to learn lessons from other countries that have seen political violence decimate communities and bring deep rooted divisions. Rwanda for one is a country that has experienced violence of the worst kind and it was humans who rose against fellow human beings. Ask anyone who survived the genocide in Rwanda, the trouble was more political than ethnic and it is the politicians who preached violence and mobilised youths to join in and carry out their selfish motives. And to avoid the tension and hate between political parties, the Zambian political leaders will have to play a key role in this by preaching peace and love at all times. Politicians can do that by making sure that, before the start of any political function, violence be condemned and people urged to vote in peace and still love their political opponents. Zambia should not be allowed to make steps backwards and dent the democracy which has been built over the years by letting senseless acts of violence creep in. Politicians should help stop this violence. To the Southerners, remember that Zambia belongs to all Zambians and, so every Zambian is free to move or go anywhere. Southern Province is not for the UPND alone, but for all Zambians, irrespective of language, colour or tribe. If this exhibition of violence continues in Southern Province, it will be UPND which will suffer in the elections and no one should be blamed. Right thinking Zambians will not vote for violence. It is better we condemn it now.