By Times Special Writer –
ALTHOUGH some political analysts call it retrogressive, the proliferation of many parties is a hallmark of democracy which we should cherish in a young democracy like Zambia.
The fact that 11 political parties will sponsor a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election slated for January 20, 2015 is laudable.
The 11 parties whose candidates successfully filed in their nominations were all known on Tuesday, the day nominations came to a close. These were leaders of the Patriotic Front, Forum for Democratic Alternatives, Green Party, Forum for Democracy and Development, National Restoration Party and the  4th Revolution Party.
Others were those sponsored by the United Party for National Development, United National Independence Party, Movement for Multiparty Democracy, Heritage Party and the Christian Democratic Party.
Looking at the number of parties, we are praying that the forthcoming election will be violence-free if our country has to maintain its image of a peaceful nation.
Since our country’s political independence in October 1964, politically-motivated violence has apparently become a major feature in both inter-party and intra-party politics.
This is usually orchestrated by some unscrupulous politicians who consider other citizens with dissenting political views, and those who belong to other political parties, as ‘enemies’ who have to be silenced, beaten or even killed.
Research has revealed that incidences of intra-party and inter-party violence in countries like Zambia have been aggravated by intolerance, lack of respect for the rule of law, and inability on the part of perpetrators to reach compromise with people with dissenting views.
Other common reasons for the scourge are tendencies by some politicians to stigmatise political opponents, a stance which tacitly encourages their followers to harass the perceived enemies.
With concerted efforts from all stakeholders, who should include the media, the Church, NGOs, traditional leaders and foreign monitors, violence can be kept at bay.
This is in view of the fact that political hooliganism has become ingrained in our country’s nascent democracy, and seems to have become part of the political fanfare.
On a preventive level, we need an NGO to partner with the Church, media, Government and all interested parties to start a crusade to lobby both violence-free campaigning and elections.
Musicians too should put their talent to good use by composing anti-violence songs that should be played on media to sensitise people on the scourge.
This will not only keep democracy afloat but promote different political parties that showcase the 73 different ethnic groups, a fact that has also been reflected in the number of political parties.
For many years politicians have wrongly channeled their anger towards their perceived enemies when they should direct their wrath at our real enemies, which are poverty, hunger, ignorance, illiteracy, disease, widespread unemployment, crime, tribalism, corruption and moral decay.
As Zambians, we should join hands with the political leaders since we have an enormous role to play in this mammoth endeavour to ensure political differences do not degenerate into violence as has been the case in the past.
Let’s promote and celebrate diversity in all fields, be it tribal, racial, regional and even the number of political parties.