Defend peace, chiefs told
TRADITIONAL leaders should spearhead the campaign for peaceful and harmonious co-existence among political parties in Zambia, Chief Chipepo of the Tonga people of Southern Province has said.
In an interview yesterday, Chief Chipepo called on his fellow chiefs to bring political parties together and counsel them on the importance of co-existence in maintaining the peace that Zambia had enjoyed over the years.
“Zambia is known to be a very peaceful country but with what is happening now, where political parties are attacking each other by issuing alarming statements of hatred and disunity, the peace of the country is at stake.
“As traditional leaders, I feel we have a huge role to play in ensuring that peace is maintained in the country. We need to sit these political parties down and counsel them. They must understand that Zambia’s peace is more important than politics,” Chief Chipepo said.
He said this was significant because some political parties had been preaching hatred, disunity and divisive tendencies among Zambians for their selfish motives. He feared that the situation was likely to put the country’s peace at risk if not addressed urgently.
He said traditional leaders played a huge role in maintaining peace in the country, as they were custodians of peace and would help in giving guidance to politicians on issues of peace.
“We need to tell our children in politics that they should in whatever they do always safeguard the peace of the country,” Chief Chipepo said.