By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE Patriotic Front has challenged the Commonwealth and church to state their positions on the continued abrogation of the peace pledge by the UPND.
This follows the hacking of PF members in Chisamba by UPND cadres following a road show by their leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema in the district
PF media director, Antonio Mwanza said it was disappointing that Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and Council of Churches of Zambia General Secretary Father Emmanuel Chikoya have remained mute amidst chaotic violence scenes by the UPND.
He challenged Ms Scotland to denounce the UPND violence if the peace pledge the Commonwealth facilitated was not just a facade to hoodwink Zambians.
“Madam Scotland and the Commonwealth are the ones who facilitated the peace accord that was signed at Mulungushi International Conference Centre. What is the position of the Commonwealth in view of the continued abrogation of the peace pledge by the UPND? Madam Scotland, tell the Zambian people, are you endorsing violence that is coming from UPND?
“Was the peace pledge that you facilitated a façade to hoodwink the Zambian people so that when President Edgar Lungu doesn’t show up, you use it as a campaign against him? We need answers, was the peace pledge a genuine one or an academic exercise? We want the Commonwealth to respond to the continued abrogation of the peace pledge by UPND,” Mr Mwanza said.
He also challenged Fr Chikoya to state the church position on the continued violence by UPND.
Meanwhile, Mr Mwanza said UPND had realised that they did not have the numbers to win the elections because they have lost grip in their perceived strongholds and embarked on violence to prepare a ground for a government of national unity after losing elections.
But UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said suggestions that his party was scheming for a Government of national unity were laughable.
Mr Mweetwa said UPND does not subscribe to violence and whoever was perpetrating it should be arrested.
