POLITICAL violence is not a new phenomenon of Zambian politics. During the fight for independence, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) launched a brief violent struggle known as the Chachacha.
There were unfortunate victims of that violent struggle who included Ms Lillian Margaret Burton, a white settler killed in Ndola.
Equally considered as victims were four youths accused of killing Ms Burton. The four known as the Livingstone Four were hanged by the colonial government and some UNIP leaders believed that the wrong people were killed for an offence they never committed.
The chief planner of the Chachacha uprising Lewis Mutale Changufu refused to receive any honours from UNIP as well as the MMD governments as a protest over the wrongful hanging of John Chanda, 26, Robin Kamima, 18, Edward Ngebe, 27, and James Paikani Phiri, 20.
Mr Changufu believed that the four should have been honoured as freedom fighters. He strongly believed that the colonial government hanged them to scare other youths from involvement in the freedom struggle rather than the quest of justice for Ms Burton.
There were also incidents of inter party violence between the followers of UNIP led by Kenneth David Kaunda from the north and those of the African National Congress (ANC) led by the “Old Lion” Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula from the south.
This inter party violence continued after independence. First Republican President Dr Kenneth David Kaunda gave the eradication of inter party political violence as one of the reasons why he declared Zambia a One Party State.
Under the One Party State regime, violence continued on a limited scale. It was mostly UNIP youths terrorising those who dared to speak out against its policies. The unfortunate victims were lifted “by air.”
The reintroduction of multiparty politics saw the rise of political violence with mostly UNIP youths led by one William “Tekere” Banda attacking known MMD followers. But at the end of the day, the people’s will prevailed through the ballot box.
Post-independence political violence in Africa has mostly been motivated by selfish interests. Jonas Savimbi in Angola fought the MPLA Government because of Angola’s diamond riches.
Charles McArthur Ghankay Taylor in Liberia fought a bloody civil war over diamonds, Pierre Biemba and General Laurent Nkundabatware Mihigo in DR Congo and Rwanda fought violent political wars over Congolese cottan and gold.
The motivation for political power through violence differs from situation to situation, but the bottom line is always money, big money. A nation is bound to see more violence when business people seek political power.
In many cases, business people turn to politics when their businesses are distressed. They bid for power in the hope that they will have access to state power and block any potential claims on their businesses. They also hope to raid state coffers to settle their private liabilities.
The business people may also have entered into agreements with powerful multinational companies to sell off national assets and resources for their own personal gain.
Under such circumstances, the business people will sponsor violence and cause despondence in a nation. If the other political players fall prey to such tactics, then the entire nation could blow up into violence; then the people will not enjoy their civil rights.
This is what the ruling Patriotic Front should avoid at all cost. The party should engage with the public with total civility. It should not be too difficult for the PF to get rid of any violent cadres. Violence can work in favour of a very unpopular candidate.
The ruling party must raise its standards to higher levels so that violence is not used to distort the many achievements it may have made in government.
Zambians should not see videos of violence or audios of insults each time they open their WhatsApp messages. Let them see inspirational pictures and listen to motivational speeches.
Violence never wins an election. Ask Donald Trump.
Yours truly,
Troubleshooter
pentvision@gmail.com, ecchipalo@icloud.com, ecchipalo@yahoo.co.uk
