With 16 Presidential candidates, Zambians will need to usher in a credible leader to steer the country to prosperity in the next five years.
Peace and unity are important values which citizens have embraced from pre-colonial to colonial and post-independence era.
Zambia has transitioned through six Presidents in a peaceful and admirable fashion; a first-rate record on the African continent and beyond.
Additionally, Zambia was among the first countries in the world to positively respond to the wind of change in a peaceful and democratic manner, which brought to an end the one-party system.
While this wind of change brought catastrophe in Eastern Europe, Zambia responded favourably through democratic change.
In contrast, Romania deposed Nicolae Ceausescu, a communist politician who led the Eastern European country from 1965 to 1989. He was killed by a firing squad along with his wife Elena.
Elsewhere, Yugoslavia which was made up six federal states, crumbled in the upheaval in the early 90s giving birth to sovereign states namely Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Examples abound!
All the while, Zambia remained peaceful as First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda handed over power to Frederick Chiluba.
Thus, no-one should smudge such an admirable political record through alarming and unsubstantiated utterances, especially on social media.
The Church, civil society organisations, the media and other institutions must champion peace and unity while citizens in general must remain resolute and vote for their preferred candidates without fear.
In fact, the deployment of police and soldiers in the streets should give confidence and a sense of security to all citizens.
The deployment of soldiers is a proactive measure to guarantee peace and should not be seen as a ploy to intimidate voters.
Certainly, the police and soldiers will only pounce on enemies of peace and other rogue elements in society.
Therefore, peace must prevail in 10 provinces, 116 districts, 156 constituencies, 1, 858 wards and 12, 152 polling stations across the country.
Each and every citizen must play their part for democracy to prevail; they must turn out in large numbers and vote for their candidates of their choice.
Zambia has espoused a system of government by the whole population through elected representatives – which is democracy.
Therefore, Zambians are choosing people to represent them and such representatives should offer selfless service once elected.
There is absolutely no need to shed blood in this process!
After declaration of results, losers should graciously congratulate winners at the same time winners must not mock losers.
Losers must accept defeat!
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