Maravi

LAZ calls for proactive steps to curb political violence

LAZ calls for proactive steps to curb political violence
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Wed 19 May 2010, 04:01 CAT

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has said it will be folly to presume there is no risk of a repeat of violence in the 2011 elections looking at what happened in the Mufumbwe by-election.

Commenting on the violence that characterised the recent Mufumbwe by-elections and the language being used by politicians, LAZ president Stephen Lungu said violence of any nature militates against the conduct of a free and fair election.

He said it had the undesirable effect of disenfranchising the citizenry.
"If loss of life is an incident of an election, as we have witnesses from the Mufumbwe by elections, citizens will shun the electoral process. The 2011 general elections are within close proximity and it would be folly of us to presume there is no risk of a repeat of the violence that was reported on a larger scale," he said.

"We must as a people take proactive steps to curb against a repeat of what happened in the Mufumbwe by-election. We must as a people make a deliberate decision to say no to violence of any kind. We must take all steps necessary to ensure that the incidents that happened in Mufumbwe in the last by-elections do not repeat themselves. We must decide to act now to ensure that these vices do not recur in this our beloved country."

Lungu said as an association, LAZ recognised the fact that to maintain the peace that guarantees freedom, there was need to invest in peace-making strides today and now, not tomorrow.

"We must act from the top and start from our leaders. We must see a day when the election language our leaders employ is not personal but that of national development and the publics direct beneficial interest. We must strive to ensure as a people that the exchange of vulgar and abusive language during campaigns and generally acts to demean and belittle each other publicly come to an end," he said.
He said political leaders were the custodians of a better tomorrow.

Lungu said it was imperative that reciprocal respect was exchanged between all political leaders irrespective of party and hopefully, this would trickle down to the grassroots of their respective parties to avoid the negative slurs that had culminated in the violence that had rocked the electoral process as well as political gatherings in the recent past.

He said abusive language, derogatory remarks and publicly demonstrated violence sent a wrong signal to the younger generation who were the leaders of tomorrow.

"Our message and the tomorrow we would like to see for Zambia is a place where all our political leaders show us that no matter the situation, there is always a peaceful way out because we as a people at whatever level in society sow seeds of discord in the nation, it is only us the citizens that ultimately suffer," he said "We therefore join all right meaning members of the public in condemning in the strongest terms the recent violence that characterised the by election in Mufumbwe. We strongly support the calls that everyone who is found wanting in perpetuating violence is brought to book and dealt with in accordance with the law."

Lungu also supported the call that the Electoral Code of Conduct be immediately amended to give more authority to the Electoral Commission of Zambia to effectively deal with vices such as the ones seen in the last elections.

He said as an organisation, LAZ had decided that they would endeavour to seek audience with political leaders for further discussion on the quest for peace everyone wanted guaranteed by 2011.

Lungu said LAZ had watched with much concern, the recent trends in the country that were beginning to impinge on the guaranteed freedoms and liberties of the individual.

"We feel that posterity will judge us harshly if we remain silent in the face of the myriad of violent trends and acts currently assailing our people and associated to the lection campaign," he said.

Lungu said the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms and liberties by the citizens of any country was the very essence of democracy.

He said freedom of expression, the rights to associate and assemble were a prerequisite to a functional democracy.

Lungu said those rights and freedoms must be safeguarded jealously and citizens must not suffer adverse consequences for exercising and enjoying them.

He said the SADC protocol on the conduct of free and fair elections prescribes that elections must be held in conducive and enabling environment.

"We trust that all concerned shall learn from their mistakes and be more sensitive to the human rights of all Zambian citizens irrespective of their political affiliations," said Lungu.

Labels: LAZ, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, STEPHEN LUNGU

posted by MrK @ 4:59 AM