GEARS decries electoral violence

….Musonda says if left unchecked acts of violence will takes away all the gains of being a beacon of peace and aan example of a thriving democracy on the continent of Africa the country had made in the recent past.

By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka (10-04-3023-Zambia24) –
Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services(GEARS Initiative Zambia) has expressed concerned with the reported electoral violence in Serenje involving Socialist Party(SP) and United Party For National Development(UPND) a head of the April 20th local government by election.
GEARS Initiative Zambia Programs Coordinator Gideon Musonda told journalists in a statement that allowing acts of violence to take precedence will takes away all the gains of being a beacon of peace and aan example of a thriving democracy on the continent of Africa the country had made in the recent past.
Musonda noted with great concern that election areas are now taken to be battle grounds for physical confrontation by politicians resulting into injuries, sometimes death.
He said the use of various offensive weapons including guns by politicians and cadres is scaring and a big threat to our national security.
“It must be noted that in a democratic society elections free from violence presents an opportunity for all participants to compete on ideas of how to serve the people better,” Musonda regretted.
He said Elections should be taken as a way of life we have deliberately chosen for ourselves as enshrined in our Republican constitution to choose leaders.
Musonda strongly condemn the violence and urge all Zambians to detest from acts violence because it is an alien culture which must be curbed.
He urge Zambia Police to ensure that all perpetrators of violence are brought to book and face the law. If violence is not stopped it will deter citizens from freely participating in an election.
He also advised all political party leadership and all stakeholders to take charge and show seriousness away from lipservice by way of punishing all members involved in violence, it is high time leaders should start expelling violent members as a deterrent measure and ensure that they adhere to the electoral code of conduct for purposes of having free and fair elections.
He hope that with intensified security in collaboration with all stakeholders, electorates in all by-elections areas will be accorded an environment where they will able to choose their leaders freely on 20th April, 2023.

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