By KASONDE KASONDE –
YOUTH in Action for Sustainable Development (YASD) has urged opposition political parties in Zambia to emulate the stance by President Edgar Lungu to denounce political violence ahead of the August 11 elections.
YASD programme manager Zebedy Lukwesa said President Lungu should be commended for his zeal to fight political violence.
Mr Lukwesa said the move by the Head of State was welcome and worth emulating by other political party leaders who needed to educate their cadres against engaging in violent activities.
He said it was encouraging to see President Lungu assume responsibility of stopping political violence.
“The problem we have in the country is that some politicians are selfish and normally use young people to cause violence on their behalf.
“It is not so long ago that all political parties attended the indaba to end violence and we hope and trust that it would yield better results,” Mr Lukwesa said.
He called on political leaders to stick to what was resolved during the indaba and denounce violence and the use of vulgar language towards one another.
He said politicians should respect each other and accept that each one of them had their own way of doing things instead of fighting each other whenever their views clashed.
Mr Lukwesa said the public was tired of hearing about political violence and was looking forward to a time when political leaders would dialogue.
President Lungu has continued to call for peace and unity in the country ahead of the general elections, with the latest on Sunday when he assured the Church that he would uphold the country’s peace.