Conduct peaceful elections, parties urged

POLITICAL parties taking part in the forthcoming Kanzenzi ward by- election should maintain the peace and unity prevailing in the area.

Mwinilunga District Electoral Officer, Kennedy Kazanda, said it was important to maintain peace so that the elections could be free and fair.

Mr Kazanda said people in the district are peaceful and cordial hence should ensure that the by-election does not bring disunity among them.

He was speaking during a stakeholders’ by-election nomination briefing in Mwinilunga on Wednesday.

During the same meeting, Patriotic Front (PF) District Chairperson, Henry

Kakisa, said people were not interested to involve in violence but were committed to a peaceful and conflict free by-election.

“We will remain united because we are one people, this time around we shall have a peaceful election if it has been violent in the past, this time around it will be peaceful," he said.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) Constituency Youth Chairperson, Arnold Kateng’a, pledged peaceful electoral conduct by his party members during the by- election.

Mr Kateng’a called on both electoral officials and police to remain objective in attending to any conflicts that may arise during the elections.

“Civil servants should stay away from campaigning and the police should act objectively with anyone who might come into conflict with the electoral laws whether they belong to the opposition or ruling party,” he said.

Meanwhile, District Health Director, Brian Mwachisowa, urged stakeholders to observe all health guidelines regarding the Covid-19 and conduct their political activities under the new normal. The seat fell vacant following the death of the area councillor Junewell Musanvu of UPND on July 10, 2020. -