Don’t incite people, AVAP warns

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 10:44:46 +0000

By ROGERS KALERO

OPPOSITION leaders should desist from issuing misleading statements aimed at inciting people to rise against the government, the Ant-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has warned.

In an interview, AVAP Copperbelt coordinator Poster Jumbe said such politicians must be patient and wait for 2021 to prove their popularity.

Mr Jumbe said it was surprising and disappointing that some opposition politicians had opted to start issuing inflammatory and misleading statements instead of strategizing for 2021.

“Democracy is not about insulting those in authority or issuing statements that are aimed at inciting people to rise against the government. Democracy is about exchanging ideas of how you can develop the country…let us jealously guard our peace. Not everyone is destined to become a republican President,” Mr Jumbe said.

He challenged those with evidence of corruption by the Patriotic Front (PF) government to present it before law enforcement agencies, instead of engaging in malicious campaigns of demonising the government.

Mr. Jumbe cautioned Zambians against falling prey to misleading statements from some politicians who wanted to gain political mileage through hate speech and insults.

He advised Zambians against taking for granted the peace the country had enjoyed for a long time, adding that every peace loving Zambian must embrace dialogue instead of political violence.

“As a nation we should thank God that our country has always been at peace from the time we got independence, but, however we should be wary of this culture where some power hungry politicians want to gain political mileage through hate speech.

“It is through hate speech and bitterness that some countries have been plunged into civil wars. The desperation we are seeing from some politicians is dangerous and can set the country ablaze. Let us guard our peace jealously,” he said.