UPND ENGAGING IN ‘BLOODY CAMPAIGNS’ – FODEP
FOUNDATION
for Democratic Process (FODEP) is disappointed with United Party for National Development (UPND) for engaging in bloody campaigns ahead of the Katuba Parliamentary by elections.
FODEP president Mwenda Mumbuna said it was disheartening that the opposition could engage in “evil acts”.
He said the action by the UPND should be condemned at all cost because lives of many people were being endangered.
There is need for the UPND to engage in issue-based campaigns so that people of Katuba can choose their preferred candidate in an appropriate manner, he said.
“Basically there have been these altercations where people want to intimidate others.
And we urge the police officers to ensure that this situation is arrested and they should act impartially.
“Because we cannot continue to see some political parties want to harass the opponents, no. we expect peaceful elections and not what is happening,” Mr
Mumbuna said.
It very important that political parties respect the Electoral Code of Conduct by ensuring that they conducted their campaigns in a peaceful manner, he said.
The FODEP chief appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia not to condone violence perpetrated by the opposition. Mr Mumbuna said his organisation wished that the Katuba-by elections was conducted in the peaceful manner and it was disappointed with the acts.
“We wanted the by-elections to be an example of how elections should be conducted, so we are disappointed with the manner the UPND is conducting its campaigns,” he said.
Mr Mumbuna said there was no need for the political parties to take the law into their hands and that if there was any provocation from opponents, it was advisable to engage police or the Conflict Management Committee so that necessary action could be taken.