Maravi

Fr Bwalya warns against ignoring Panji’s advice

Fr Bwalya warns against ignoring Panji’s advice
By Misheck Wangwe
Tue 11 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT

ZAMBIA will regret the 2011 elections if the government ignores the prophetic voice of Colonel Panji Kaunda on the possibility of massive violence, according to Fr Bwalya.

In an interview, Fr Bwalya, the executive director of Change Life Zambia, said it was ridiculous for the government to condemn Col Panji over his statement that the 2011 elections would be the bloodiest if the government did not come up with measures to stop violence. Fr Bwalya said the government must listen to Col Panji’s caution.

“This is very shocking. I’ve never seen a country that refuses to take timely warning about an impending disaster. The English adage says to be forewarned is to be forearmed,” Fr Bwalya said. “What Colonel Panji said was very clear and was done in good faith because he was calling upon government and other stakeholders to ensure measures are put in place to prevent violence.”

He said it was saddening to hear the government officials and some people condemning Col Panji and suggesting that he was instigating violence when he in actual sense called for preventive measures to curb the vice.

Fr Bwalya said Col Panji chose to warn the government and the general citizenry because he loved his country.

“The role that Col Panji has played was typical of Noah in the Old Testament of the Bible who warned the people about the flood that was going to come but the majority refused to listen to him, saying he was a mad man and disregarded his advice and they perished,” he said.

Fr Bwalya said it was unreasonable to accuse Col Panji of instigating violence because the MMD government and the police service could not guarantee free and fair elections after they failed to stop the violence in the Mufumbwe by-election.

Fr Bwalya said the statement by Col Panji was timely and deserved to be reflected upon and listened to.

Chief government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha on Tuesday asked Col Panji to withdraw his statement published by The Post that this year’s general elections would be the bloodiest if government does not put in place measures to prevent violence.

Labels: FRANK BWALYA, PANJI KAUNDA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE

posted by MrK @ 1:55 PM