Maravi

(TIMES) Warning bells ring for perpetrators of violence

Warning bells ring for perpetrators of violence
By ANTHONY MULOWA

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has warned people perpetrating tension and violence in the country that the law will visit them. Mr Banda urged all parties aggrieved with the results of the just ended presidential election to seek legal redress other than fanning tension in the nation.

Addressing his first Press conference at State House yesterday, Mr Banda said the people who were perpetrating tension should immediately stop.

“Those perpetrating tension in the country should stop it. Government should not be forced to use extreme measures on its people,” he said.

The president said the Government would not allow individuals for whatever reasons to take the law into their own hands.

And responding to questions from journalists on whether the Government would accommodate would-be refugees from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr Banda said Zambians should guard the peace the country was enjoying.

Zambia has always accommodated refugees from war-torn countries in the region but he hoped the situation in DRC would not degenerate to a situation that would lead people from that country to flee to other countries for safety.

He urged the service chiefs to ensure that there was no lawlessness by people fueling tension in Zambia now that the elections were over.

He commended the service chiefs for working hard during the absence and subsequent death of president Mwanawasa.

He said the service chiefs managed to ensure that peace and order reigned during trying moments.

Zambia Army commander Isaac Chisuzi, Zambia National Service commandant Raphael Chisheta and Zambia Air force (ZAF) commander Samuel Mapala would continue in their respective positions.

Inspector General of Police Ephraim Mateyo has, however, been dropped and is yet to be assigned in the diplomatic service.

And Mr Banda said his administration was determined to ensure that the fight against corruption continued and moved further.

Mr Banda bemoaned the slow pace at which most cases by the Task Force on Corruption were being conducted.

He urged the Task Force on Corruption to speed up and conclude the cases as soon as possible.
Government would also look at means in which it could improve funding to the Task Force on Corruption.

When he was the vice president, he was meeting with the donors to find means and ways to raise funding to the institution.

On the electoral reforms, Mr Banda said the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) would ensure that electoral reforms became a reality so as to improve the electoral system in Zambia.

“I hope the NCC will work on these suggestions and improve the electoral process,” he said and dispelled claims that the MMD was the party promoting tribal voting during the last presidential election.

He said the MMD was the only party, which was truly supported by the Zambian people.

He said this was evident in the voting pattern that had been well illustrated by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), which was being circulated in the national newspapers.

Mr Banda said there was however need to find a solution that would end tribal voting, as it was detrimental to democracy and the country.

Labels: ELECTIONS, RIOTS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 9:16 PM