By ROGERS KALERO
FAILURE by the police to firmly deal with the violence being perpetrated by the opposition UPND leadership and its membership is disappointing, Professor Nkandu Luo has said.
Prof. Luo noted that wherever the opposition UPND and its leadership held meetings, there were incidents of violence, but the police were not doing enough to stop them, a situation which had made the PF to strongly question their conduct.
Prof. Luo, who is President Edgar Lungu’s running mate, was speaking in Kitwe at Shebourne Hotel during a press briefing which was attended by Presidential Campaign Manager Given Lubinda, his Vice, Jean Kapata and Sylvia Chalikosa
“Maintaining law and order is the duty of the police, it is not the duty of the PF as a ruling party. No. So we expect the police to act firmly on those perpetrating violence regardless of their political party. We are watching the police and their conduct.
“We have observed that the Police have not done much to stop the violence by the UPND. We are questioning the conduct of the Police and why it was not acting firmly on the violence being perpetrated by the opposition UPND leadership and its membership,’ Professor Luo said.
Prof. Luo said, while President Lungu had publicly denounced violence and had instructed the police to ensure that they arrest any PF member found to be perpetrating violence, opposition leaders like Hakainde Hichilema were silent about violence.
She said it was sad and disappointing that despite being part of the peace accord to stop violence ahead of the August 12 elections, some UPND leaders were always present at incidents where their cadres were perpetrating violence
She said if the UPND can fail to fulfil its promise of the peace accord, how are they going to fulfil the campaign promises which they were making now if they formed government.
“Of all the Presidential candidates in the August 12 elections, President Lungu is the only one who has publicly condemned violence, while others are silent about it. For UPND, the same people who sign the peace accord are the ones found at incidents where their cadres were perpetrating violence
“So if the UPND can fail to fulfil the agreement of the peace accord and chose to continue with violence, how are they going to fulfil their campaign promises? Zambians must be careful with some politicians aspiring to become republican President,’’ she said
She said the PF has tested leadership under President Lungu and has set the stage for economic recovery and national development through its investment in infrastructure development, health, energy, communication, human resource and empowerment initiatives
She said Zambians should not only listen to political rhetoric and lies from the opposition politicians, but must be analytical so that they can make a right decision of voting for the PF and President Lungu
“While those who are telling you lies and spreading propaganda about the PF and President Lungu left many Zambians jobless because of their reckless privatisation, President Lungu wants to empower Zambians through repossessing of mines and promoting entrepreneurship, ‘’ she said
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