DON’T FERRY CADRES, ADVISES CHIEF CHIPEPO
CHIEFChipepo of the Tonga people in Southern Province has warned that people in villages will not vote for politicians who will ferry cadres to intimidate them.
In an interview, Chief Chipepo said all political parties must practice civilized politics like in the West where people do not fight during elections.
The traditional leader whose jurisdiction spans of Chirundu, Gwembe, and Siavonga districts, advised politicians contesting the August 12 elections to just focus on peaceful campaigns and allow people to choose candidates of their choice.
He advised them not to recruit youths as party cadres who must be used as tools of political violence against their rivals
“My advice to all political parties is that go round Zambia and find out what people want. Just sell your manifesto to the people and tell them what you will do for them because the people in the villages are angry this time and will not vote for presidential candidates who will take cadres to their villages.
“Just follow what people want and people and they will vote for politicians who will approach them in a polite manner,” Chief Chipepo said.
He said all politicians must work on peace building initiatives and show the world that Zambia was a civilized nation whose people do not fight during elections.
Chief Chipepo, who is also House of Chiefs chaplain, said Zambia’s forefathers did not fight each other but fought colonial masters for the benefit of their people and future generations.
“We want brotherhood and sisterhood among our politicians because Zambia is a Christian nation whose values politicians need to promote by embracing each other and we are praying for them so that we have peaceful elections,” he said.