Maravi

You can’t have peace where there is no justice

You can’t have peace where there is no justice
By Editor
Fri 04 June 2010, 04:00 CAT

Faced with the deplorable reality of increasing violence in our politics, we wish to express our view clearly.

Condemnation is always the proper judgment on political violence. If this violence is being initiated and encouraged by the authorities entrusted with the task of safeguarding the common good, then it defiles those who practice it, notwithstanding any reasons offered.

We should all be decisive in rejecting political violence, which becomes cruel and uncontrollable when it is unleashed. Criminal acts can in no way be justified as the way of doing politics, as a method of increasing and defending one’s political support. There is no progress that can come from political violence. There is no democracy that can be built on violence. There is no political support one can legitimately claim from acts of political violence.

We say this because political violence inexorably engenders new forms of suppression and repression, which usually prove to be more serious than those behind it can see. But more importantly, violence is an attack on life, which depends on the Creator alone. And we must also stress that when a political line or campaign appeals to violence, it thereby admits its own weakness and inadequacy.

It is a duty of all Zambians of goodwill to use all possible means to promote non-violent politics in an effort to bring about justice in economic and socio-political relations.

We cannot fail to praise those who denounce the use of violence in politics, in the vindication of their rights and who resort to methods that are peaceful. We are obliged to state and reaffirm that political violence is neither Christian nor evangelical. And whatever political gains we achieve through violence will be false, ineffective in themselves, and certainly inconsistent with the dignity of the people. The fact is that even the best political ideas quickly become inhuman if human inclinations are not upheld in their implementation or realisation. We cannot accept violence as a path to the maintenance or change of political power because we know that violence always provokes violence and irresistibly engenders new forms of repression which are often harder to bear.

We exhort all our politicians and their cadres not to place their trust in violence because that is contrary to the Christian spirit, and it can also delay instead of advancing that social uplifting which we all lawfully aspire to. We must say and reaffirm that political violence is not in accord with the Gospel, that it is not Christian; and that whatever political gains come out of it would be deceitful, ineffective of themselves, and certainly not in conformity with the dignity of the people.

We consider it to be undoubtedly important to develop political practices which are more human, more just, more respectful of the rights of others. But we are also conscious of the fact that the best political ideas and practices soon become inhuman if the inhuman inclinations of the human heart are not made wholesome, if those behind these political ideas and practices do not undergo a conversion of heart and outlook.

Political violence today constitutes one of the gravest problems in our politics. A decision on which the future of our country will depend should not be left to the impulses of emotion and passion. We would be failing in our duty if we were not to remind the conscience, caught in this dramatic dilemma, of the criteria derived from the Christian doctrine of evangelical love. No one should be surprised if we forcefully reaffirm our faith in the productiveness of peace. This is our ideal. This is not to say we are pacifists, for we can fight, but we prefer peace to violence because we know that whatever comes out of violence is fallacious, ineffective and does not last. We need politics that are anchored on the awakening of conscience, adequate preparation and effective participation of all. We believe in the productiveness of peace in order to achieve justice, and we also believe that justice is a prerequisite for peace.

In the face of the political tensions that conspire against peace, our political leaders cannot avoid assuming very concrete responsibilities; because to create a just social order without peace is illusory. We should denounce everything which, opposing justice, destroys peace.

In the light of the increasing political violence in our country, we make a special appeal to the government and the ruling MMD to realise that they have a serious responsibility. As facilitators of the political process, they should ensure that the concerns of all key players are adequately addressed. We also make an appeal to the opposition parties about the need for them to be open and constructive in participating in the political process and in addressing whatever problems arise. It is necessary to remind all our politicians and their supporters that politics is for the good of the people and the country and not for a political survival of any individual or party. If the spirit of the primacy of the common good were to animate all the parties, we would not be witnessing this increasing political violence which leaves the public dismayed and disheartened. Let our politicians remind themselves of the noble goals of political activity. From a Christian point of view, politics aims at the promotion of the common good. And this being the case, why should our politics be violent instead of concentrating on programmes that will help to improve the lives of our people? There is an urgent need for understanding, dialogue and tolerance. The interest of political parties should be kept subordinate to the public good. Good governance requires intelligent and responsible participation of all citizens. Our multiparty political dispensation should be a powerful weapon for unity in diversity, an instrument of justice and peace. And on the quality of it, the discernment behind it, depends the progress and peace of our country.

To have peaceful politics, that are devoid of violence, certain conditions have to prevail in our country and in our hearts. There ought to be a conducive atmosphere. The major players have to agree on the conditions under which their political activities take place. They all have to conduct themselves in a manner that does not put others at an unfair disadvantage. They should all publicly denounce violence of any sort. Constructive dialogue should be encouraged at all times on key political issues. The police and other law enforcement agencies should be kept away from politics. There should be no partisan policing of any sort.

As things stand today, the police is increasingly being seen as an extension of the ruling party. The police appear to be very reluctant to move on ruling party leaders and cadres who commit acts of violence and other crimes. But they are very swift to move on any alleged wrongdoing by opposition members. What we saw in the Mufumbwe by-election leaves the police in a very bad situation. The police, through the conduct of Inspector General Francis Kabonde, lost public respect in Mufumbwe. Kabonde’s behaviour was not different from that of William Banda, an MMD cadre. Kabonde is no longer fit to be at the helm of the Zambia Police Service because no one sees him as an impartial law enforcement officer.

People were killed and maimed in Mufumbwe but to date, no meaningful investigations and arrests have been made. All this is simply because those behind these crimes are connected to the MMD and as such Kabonde cannot move on them. It will be interesting to see how the case of health deputy minister Solomon Musonda will be handled. The story that the police are giving seems to be contrary to that of eyewitnesses. Conditions are being created for Musonda to escape justice. This is the type of law enforcement Kabonde is giving us.

This may seem to be good for the MMD and bad for those in the opposition. But the truth is that in the final analysis, it will be bad for all because this country will not be a good place for anyone if it’s not good for all of us.
Let us deal with this increasing violence in an honest and fair manner because without that, it will be impossible to stop it. You can’t have peace where there is no justice and equality before the law.

Labels: POLITICAL VIOLENCE

posted by MrK @ 6:05 AM