NOW that the political campaigns for the August 12 tripartite elections have started in earnest, Zambians must agree amongst themselves that the country must come first.
They should all agree that no one will raise a finger or any offensive weapon against another in the mistaken belief that they are promoting their political party.
They must all understand that democracy demands that one must be prepared to listen to opposing ideas that one does not support. Each person must be allowed space in which to freely express one’s views without fear of being physically attacked.
The nation must therefore heed the tone set by President Edgar Lungu that “we should never put the country on fire regardless of the outcome of the August 12 general election.
This is a clarion call that Zambians must embrace peace even as they go about campaigning for their political parties.
President Lungu has urged Zambians not to be driven into violence by people who do not mean well, especially now that campaigns had commenced.
The President took advantage to call for peaceful campaigns in Lusaka yesterday when he commissioned the newly constructed multimillion Kwacha Kanyama Police Station.
“There is no need to be violent when your leaders are not violent. We should never put this great country on fire regardless of the outcome of the results on 12th August,” Mr Lungu said.
The nation must be reminded that this is not the first time that President Lungu has stressed the need for Zambia to hold peaceful general elections.
He has pledged that his administration is committed to ensure that there is peace before, during and after the August 12 elections to ensure that the will of the people prevails.
This is the more reason why Government has made an open invitation to the European Union and other international observers to come and monitor the elections.
Foreign observers must come and see for themselves at first hand how the elections are being conducted and observe the election contenders canvass for votes.
It would enable the monitors observe for example whether there has been a breakdown of law and order for the nation to hold free and fair elections.
This is important for there has been a lot of misinformation from some local politicians to the outside world that Zambia was not capable of holding elections as people were not free.
We note that even the Zambia Police have promised to ensure that law and order prevails during the campaign period and even after the elections.
Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has said they are ready to deal with political parties and other people who will attempt to destabilise the country’s peace before, during and after the elections.
Mr Kanganja said in an interview that his officers were ready to counter anything that would come their way and ensure that peace, law and order prevailed during the election period.
Our appeal to all the political players is not to treat the men and women in uniform as their enemy.
They must emphasise to their officials that the success of the August 12 elections depends on team work among all the political players with the security enforcement agencies. They must not brand police with any party but as a neutral force in the political arena.
Police officers will always be there whatever the outcome of August 12 protecting all and sundry.
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