Lumezi violence should be nipped in the bud

Lumezi violence should be nipped in the bud

IT IS regrettable that shortly after Tonse Alliance candidate Goodson Banda filed his nominations in Lumezi for the June 26 parliamentary by-election yesterday, violence broke out.  Two members of the Tonse Alliance were assaulted when violent United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres attacked them at a campaign centre as they were gathering their belongings, according to Oliver Mwale, the chairperson of the Lumezi Town Council.

It is a matter of serious concern that violence between rival political parties has broken out even before the actual campaigns start. The campaigns for Lumezi parliamentary by-election are expected to be heated given that the ruling UPND wants to increase its numbers in Parliament to enable it to secure the two-thirds majority needed to amend the Constitution, while the opposition will be trying to stop this from happening.

As long as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) keeps conducting its business the same way it has in previous by-elections, we fear that the Lumezi parliamentary by-election may rank among the bloodiest in our nation’s history. Zambians know very well what UPND cadres are capable of doing, especially when they sense defeat.

On the other hand, the police have in the past watched the UPND cadres perpetrate violence with impunity while they have arrested the victims leaving the thugs. The country witnessed how victims of violence, including former Patriotic Front (PF) deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri, were arrested in Kawambwa instead of the perpetrators of the violence. This should not be allowed to continue.

Election campaigns are essentially a contest of ideas when candidates for public office express their opinions on the best ways to lead the people .The candidates who persuade voters with their manifestos win the election.

In a democracy like Zambia, elections should not be used as a platform of attacking those with opposing views. To put it simply, there is no place for violence in a budding democracy like ours.

It also is important for the ECZ to cleanse itself of the perception that it is an appendage of the UPND because it is headed and managed by well known ruling party cadres. ECZ should enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct without fear or favour. Downplaying the violence perpetrated by either the UPND or the opposition is the same as killing the democracy of our country. It is time for ECZ to decisively deal with perpetrators of violence by penalising political parties whose cadres assault and maim others during campaigns without provocation.

The Lumezi parliamentary by-election serves as a crucial litmus test for ECZ’s impartiality as an arbiter of our nation’s electoral process.  It is crucial that ECZ halts Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in all areas where by-elections are taking place to avoid suspicions of election-rigging and collaboration with the UPND.

It is also important for political actors to refrain from transporting violent cadres to areas where by-elections are being held.  Since the people who live in these rural areas are peaceful, they should be allowed to freely and fearlessly choose their representatives.  There is no doubt that the ferrying of cadres into areas where there are by-elections is what leads to violence.  Those who have been transported into Lumezi to sponsor violence and engage in thuggery should be expelled from the district right away. Their names must be marked for future prosecution if they are let off the hook because of their affiliation to the UPND.

When members of political parties commit acts of violence, they should likewise be held accountable.  Unfortunately, rather than accepting responsibility, we have seen political leaders place the blame for the violence committed by their supporters on others, especially the victims.  Leaders who keep blaming their opponents for their failure should be rejected by Zambians because they are unfit for any leadership position.

Leadership is all about accountability, and those who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions should be sent packing.

The residents of Lumezi should be accorded an opportunity to elect their representative in a free, fair and peaceful election, and it is important for ECZ and the police to establish a favourable atmosphere for this.  ECZ and the police will have a tough time conducting the 2026 elections if violent offenders are not dealt with harshly now to discourage potential offenders. This is because the victims may be forced to defend themselves.