By SIMON MUNTEMBA
MY Government will ensure that law and order prevails before, during, and after the elections this year, President Edgar Lungu has assured.
President Lungu has, therefore, called for patriotism and national unity from every Zambian to promote the good image and interests of the country.
The President said this yesterday in Lusaka when he addressed parliament on the application of national values and principles.
Mr Lungu said his Government was committed to ensuring that the August 12 general elections were peaceful.
“My Government is committed to ensuring our country remains peaceful before, during and after elections,” President Lungu said.
The President called on Zambians, political party players, the church and the civil society to join him in assuring the citizens of peace and unity.
Mr Lungu said there was need to maintain peace because “we are One Zambia, and indeed we are One Nation.”
“We have an opportunity to denounce violence and hatred. We have an opportunity to embrace unity, civility and peaceful co-existence,” he said.
He noted with sadness that notwithstanding the peace that Zambia had enjoyed, the nation had continued to witness politically motivated violence.
President Lungu said one of the root causes of such violent acts was the increasing polarisation of the society along regional and ethnic lines, especially by politicians.
He said to address political violence, his Government was working with various stakeholders such as the civil society, political parties and the church to promote inter-party and intra-party dialogue.
Mr Lungu implored Zambians to develop a culture of settling their differences in a peaceful manner and accept that there will always be others with divergent views and opinions.
Meanwhile, President Lungu said patriotism was a duty of every citizen who loves Zambia.
He said there was need for every citizen to spread positive messages about Zambia through social media.
