. Chipenzi

By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
FOUNDATION for Democratic Process (FODEP) has urged political parties in the country to sensitise their cadres against engaging in violence during campaigns.
FODEP executive director, MacDonald Chipenzi said political cadres were supposed to know that their role was not to fun violence but to help their parties’ campaign to win elections.
Mr Chipenzi said in an interview yesterday that ferrying cadres by political parties to constituencies where there were by-elections perpetrated violence.
“We hope the spirit of peaceful campaigns, co-existence among political parties and tolerance will continue until September 11 and afterwards,” Mr Chipenzi said.
“Political parties need to sensitise their cadres to desist from engaging in violence.”
On September 11, 2014, five constituencies, namely, Mkushi Central, Vubwi, Kasenengwa, Solwezi Central and Zambezi West will be holding by-elections.
The Supreme Court nullified the seats that were held by MMD and United Party for National Development (UPND) for engaging in illegal and corrupt practices.
Several political parties, including the ruling PF, MMD and UPND have fielded candidates and campaigns have already started.
Mr Chipenzi said political parties had a role to educate their cadres to enable them understand the peaceful role they were supposed to play during campaigns.
He said parties should realise that engaging in peaceful campaigns was a recipe for winning elections because voters were interested in peaceful elections.
Mr Chipenzi said FODEP was already on the ground monitoring the situation in all the five constituencies and was happy with the peaceful atmosphere that had characterised the campaigns so far.
Meanwhile, ballot papers for five by-elections were last night expected in the country.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) public relations manager, Cris Akufuna said the papers, printed in South Africa, were expected to arrive in Zambia around 20:20 hours aboard South African Airways.
The ballot papers, that include one for a local Government ward in Central Province, will be verified today by all stakeholders before being dispatched to respective constituencies.