Maravi

Shamenda urges decisive action on political violence

Shamenda urges decisive action on political violence
By George Chellah
Mon 21 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT

FACKSON Shamenda says President Rupiah Banda must take a decisive action on the political violence being perpetrated by MMD cadres before the country drifts into a crisis.

Shamenda, who is former Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, said he survived an attack by MMD cadres whilst driving past Garden House on Saturday. He said the MMD cadres were mobilised a day before the PF provincial conference.

“When I was coming from a workshop in Kabwe on Friday afternoon there was a crowd of MMD cadres with MMD flags bearing RB's portrait just by the entrance of Garden House,” Shamenda said.

“They were singing and chanting that 'this is a no-fly zone for PF.'I stopped and people who were nearby started expressing disgust. They were complaining that the MMD had their provincial conference there and nobody disturbed them, life was just normal.”

Shamenda said he was shocked by what he witnessed on Saturday on his way to town from Lusaka West.

“I came face to face with guys with catapults and stones. In fact, one of them even aimed his catapult at me but just as he was about to release it, he was pushed away by a police officer,” Shamenda said. “My heart was in my mouth.

Unfortunately, the policeman just pushed him away and he didn't even grab the catapult from him.”

He said the MMD cadres were now behaving like the late Malawian dictator, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda's militia who were known as 'the pioneers'.

“I was wondering to myself what type of democracy this is. How can you go in a boxing ring without an opponent? Now I am convinced that if the political leadership of this country does not educate and restrain their members, we can easily drift into a crisis,” Shamenda said. “This is exactly what Panji Kaunda was talking about.

When Panji talked about bloodshed, he was condemned but just see what is happening. If this thing is not handled properly, we can have serious problems in this country.”

He condemned the use of youths in perpetrating political violence.

“Those leaders buying Chibuku for these boys to cause havoc have their children either sleeping at home or studying abroad,” Shamenda said. “It is criminal to use other people's children this way. They are inciting poor kids because of hunger.”

He appealed to the MMD leaders to provide leadership.

“Even the police were handicapped because the cadres who were causing violence had flags bearing the Commander-in-Chief's face. What does it tell us? The police even came late because it was a PF gathering. Had it been an MMD gathering, they would have been there early,” Shamenda said.

“I was a victim, I didn't hear it on radio or read it somewhere. I was right in the middle of it. I would like to condemn this in its strongest terms.”

Shamenda urged President Banda to do more than condemning the MMD cadres’ behaviour.

“The President as the custodian of our Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief who is supposed to protect lives of Zambians should come out strongly and condemn these activities,” Shamenda said. “The President is in charge, he should arrest the situation. It's not a matter of just condemning, it's taking decisive action on violence by his followers. Once that is done, then everything will fall in place. Condemning alone does not make sense.”

Labels: FACKSON SHAMENDA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:27 AM