ZCID calls for peaceful, issue-based campaigns in Kawambwa by-elections

The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has urged institutions tasked with ensuring a peaceful environment, law and order, free and fair elections during the Kawambwa Constituency by-elections to step up and heighten their vigilance.

Doreen Kabwe, the ZCID Executive Director called on all political players to conduct calm and issue-based campaigns to give the electorate an opportunity to fully participate in the elections and vote for a candidate who meets their expectations.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday and made available to Zambia Monitor, Kabwe emphasized that violence undermines the electoral process and should be avoided at all costs.

“The voter apathy experienced in the recent past is partly due to a lack of issue-based campaigns and the prevalence of violence, which discourages voters from participating in the process,” she said.

Kabwe said as Zambia celebrates 60 years of independence, stakeholders need to ask themeselves why those who want to serve the country should resort to violence to win an election.

She wondered whether such leaders were doing so because they loved the country or because they wished to serve their selfish interests at the expense of development.

“We are calling upon the Zambia Police, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), political parties, and other stakeholders to conduct themselves in a manner that promotes peace and transparency,” Kabwe said.

She stated that Zambia was a united country and should never be divided on political party lines.

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