Kambwili orders PF youth to refrain from violent activities

Kambwili orders PF youth to refrain from violent activities
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 12 Oct. 2010, 14:00 CAT

PF National youth chairman Chishimba Kambwili has instructed youths in his party to refrain from violent activities ahead of the Mpulungu by-election whose date remains uncertain.

And Southern Center for Constructive Resolution for Disputes SACCORD has demanded that the report on Chilanga violence requested by government from the Inspector General Police, Francis Kabonde, be made public.

In an interview with Post Online Kambwili said his party had resolved not to retaliate against MMD's violent advances on its youth or senior party officials.

“You've heard me on several fora. I have said that PF is not going to allow its youth to engage in violent activities. I will not allow any of my youths to engage in these violent activities I have issued instructions,” Kambwili said.

“ I have told my youth that if you are provoked the best you can do is run away. Please don't fight back because we have two laws in Zambia; one law meant to deal with MMD and the other for the opposition. So if MMD start a fight and PF retaliate the end result will be that PF will be arrested.”

Kambwili said President Rupiah Banda had permitted the violence being perpetuated by MMD cadres.

“It’s amazing how people from the top reacted when Chiko Chibale threatened Bishop Duffy. There was no action that was taken against him by senior MMD. Another MMD, Mubanga popularly known as 'Shipundu pankoloko,' has also clearly threatened Duffy but, the MMD leadership is not taking disciplinary actions...the interpretation is that they are the ones who send them to do that, “ he said.

“...the problem in Chilanga was not with HH, the problem is with William Banda. They (MMD) have allowed William Banda to carry out gangster activities and if he is not checked this violence will continue.”

And SACCORD executive director Lee Habasonda has disagreed with Kabonde’s position that the report on the violence in Chilanga was administrative and would not be made public.

“The violence that characterised the Chilanga nominations was public and therefore we don't see anything administrative. Whether it is a public matter or not, the public has a right to know what happened,” Habasonda said.

“This not the first time we are witnessing violence so there is nothing secret about it, let Kabonde make the report public so that the public should know what transpired.”

Habasonda said that Kabonde's statement was giving an indication that government had something to hide from Zambians.

“Why the secrecy? Are (police) they telling us that they have something to hide. We are tired of cadres behaving like they rule us. Let them release the report so that we know who is responsible for the violence. We also call upon the police to firmly and ruthlessly deal with those that are fueling violence during elections,” Habasonda charged.

Meanwhile Habasonada has urged political party leaders to restrain themselves from engaging in acts of violence in the Chilanga and Mpulungu by-elections.

Yesterday Kabonde told journalists that he would not release the report to the media as it was an administrative matter.