Protect MMD cadres from PF violence

Protect MMD cadres from PF violence
By The Post
Wed 28 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT

WE all know that the MMD ran a campaign of terror which was condoned and encouraged by Rupiah Banda himself.

We know how painful it is for those who were victims of that violence to see MMD cadres who harassed or brutalised them walk around freely. When Rupiah was in power, there was impunity on the part of MMD cadres; they were untouchable and did what they wanted. The police could not touch them and whoever tried to touch them risked losing his job. This was wrong. This was not the way to run a nation. This was a recipe for trouble.

These thugs and their leaders are no longer in power, are no longer in command of the police. Today, they are vulnerable. The "Boma" they used to boast about is no longer theirs, they are no longer the "Boma". But no one should take advantage of their vulnerability to perpetrate violence against them. Yes, there may be a great desire or drive for revenge, retribution. But as we have stated before, there is no sense in revenge.

We can't build a united nation on the basis of revenge. If Patriotic Front cadres and supporters who were harassed or brutalised by MMD cadres want this nation to move forward, they can't do it with feelings of revenge. There is no need for them to take the law into their own hands. Those who committed crimes against them should be reported to the police.

There were leaders and cadres in the MMD who misbehaved. There has been enough poison spread in this country during the past three years of Rupiah's rule, and this poison of violence and lawlessness has had effects on many of our people's minds. We must face this poison, we must root out this poison, we must face all the perils that encompass us and face them not madly or badly but in a calm and peaceful manner. Vengeance can do only one thing, and that is to breed an endless cycle of revenge and violence.

Stop the violence. Use violence only in self-defence. Violence against anyone is something that puts us next to animals. No one of us should resort to violence in vengeance or because we are angry. We shouldn't indulge in any small behaviour or any violence. No political differences can justify violence. No crime can be committed in the name of vengeance.

Those who are going round beating MMD cadres and supporters are simply criminals who shouldn't be tolerated; these rogues should have no place in the PF and the change that it has brought. Electoral victory without civility, without the ability to live in peace, means nothing, is useless.

We must hold together, and all our petty troubles and difficulties and conflicts must be ended in the face of last week's great electoral victory over the forces of violence, corruption and tyranny. A great victory is a symbol to us to remember all the big things of life and forget the small things, of which we have thought too much.

All Zambians must now join hands and work together to lift this nation to a higher destiny, to a plateau of compassion. We are one country, one nation, one people and we should be marching together into the future. You voted for change not to move this country backwards to barbarism but in order to march again towards enduring ideals.

We are citizens of a great and peaceful country, on the verge of a bold advance, and we have to live up to that high standard. All of us, whatever political party we may belong to, are equally citizens of Zambia with equal rights, privileges and obligations. We cannot encourage narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in thought or in action.

For the PF leadership and their cadres, it is important for them to always remember that electoral victory brings responsibilities and burdens, and they have to face them in the spirit of a disciplined and law-abiding people. They shouldn't forget that every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword. A group of people who have no respect for the law, who can go round beating, harassing, humiliating political opponents is like a pile of kindling; they will meet a fiery end.

Political competitors in an election don't necessarily have to like each other, but they must tolerate one another and acknowledge that each has a legitimate and important role to play. We must encourage tolerance and civility. The losers of last week's elections should not be driven into the bush for fear of losing their lives.

They should be allowed to continue to participate in public life, with the knowledge that their role is essential in any democracy worth of the name. But those who committed crimes whether by stealing public resources or by committing acts of violence must be arrested and prosecuted for their crimes. And no one should take the law into their own hands because that leads to anarchy.

We should never allow our torch of peace to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest.

We won the respect of the world over the way we peacefully changed government, removed a regime we did not want. Let us not allow vengeance to dirt the so far clean face of our gentle change of government. Let us not allow the sympathies of the world which we have won so fast to be equally rapidly lost through our becoming entangled in the jungle of skirmishes of revenge.

To the PF leadership and cadres, our advice is: please, please, please always remember that the exercise of the power that you today hold, that you genuinely won in last week's elections, must be the constant practice of self-limitation and modesty. Power without control, without effective breaks is dangerous.

Power should never be used for revenge or to brutalise others. We should never allow our politics to be relegated to violence. Peace and prosperity, tranquility and security are only possible if these are enjoyed by all without discrimination on the basis of political affiliation or otherwise. We therefore go down on our knees and beg those who want to take our nation on the path of revenge and drag our country into bloodshed to stop it.

Let us not forget that life is like a big wheel: the one who is at the top today, tomorrow is at the bottom.