By SYLVESTER MWALE –

WITH exactly 10 days before Zambians can choose a new president, there is concern that sporadic cases of political violence perpetrated by some politicians have emerged ahead of the elections.
It must be stated from the onset that Zambia has largely enjoyed peaceful elections that have been accompanied by smooth transitions under hard times and any attempt to veer away from that would be an indictment on the citizens.
UPND officials led by former First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa, party national chairperson Mutale Nalumango, Lubasenshi Member of Parliament, Patrick Mucheleka and his Lunte counterpart Felix Mutati were harassed by suspected PF cadres in Shiwang’andu recently.
Four people were arrested in connection with the violence but it was barely days later when police arrested three United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres for allegedly carrying offensive weapons.
This was after they were found with machetes, a military knife and iron bars when they were driving Kasama MP Geoffrey Mwamba’s motor vehicle.
Apart from the two incidences, there have been reports from other parts of the country about clashes between rival political parties groups as the fight for supremacy ahead of the elections intensifies.
It is indubitable that while these are isolated cases, the political violence could pose a significant threat to the great image and history that the country has managed to build over the past five decades.
More crucially is that the violence may stall or reverse the country’s young democracy as people would find it difficult to take part in any political activity or electoral process.
It must be stated that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has so far exhibited high levels of transparency in organising the polls although it has at times been subjected to unfair attacks.
But what is causing this violence?
The Sunday Times talked to various individuals and institutions to find out how best the country can prevent the escalation of political violence.
“Some statements from political leaders are inciting, and could make their followers refuse to accept the election results,” says Abraham Zulu, a resident of Lusaka’s Kanyama township.
Mr Zulu, who sells at City Market, also believes that most violence has been caused because of desperation among political leaders and their supporters.
“The key to stop this lies with the police, if the police cannot bring to book the perpetrators on time, then the situation becomes difficult and the few cases that we have reported may become too big to handle by January 20, this year”.
Jane Shawa, however, noted that some leaders were using the young people to perpetrate violence against perceived political opponents and competitors.
“We have reached at levels where a pack of beer is big enough as payment to harm a political enemy,” she said. “Politicians are paying and buying beer for their cadres so that they can harm their opponents.”
This trend of political violence has resulted in deaths and injuries during election, as hordes of young, unemployed men appear to be paid by political heavy weights to intimidate potential voters.
“The situation could be worse by the time we reach January 20, unless all stakeholders come out strongly to condemn and stop violence,” said Anita Moonga, a trader at Chipata’s Saturday Market.
“The first step should be to condemn violence, but that is not good enough to stop this. Leaders of political parties should expel those found guilty of promoting violence.”
There is hardly doubt that political leaders have on many occasions condemned violence but as to whether that is good enough to stop hostility remains open for debate.
PF president Edgar Lungu, who joined in condemning the recent violence, said people should follow the footsteps of late president Michael Sata by exercising restraint even under provocation.
“It’s a multiparty democracy; we have various candidates with various views,” Mr Lungu said. “The choice our people make should always be respected, and that choice or support from our people should not be coerced or forced”.
Mr Lungu’s argument is anchored on the fact that democracy requires that citizens are allowed to elect the leader of their choice without being coerced or forced.
The UPND leader equally joined in condemning the violent act against his officials and called for violent free campaigns ahead of the polls.
“I am saddened by this attack and act of violence against our team,” Hakainde Hichilema said: “This kind of behaviour is exactly what we are campaigning against. I call upon all parties, including my own, to remain violent free in this election period.”
As stated earlier, there is a feeling among some observers that condemning alone is not good enough. Additionally, failure to punish perpetrators of violence poses a threat to democratic dispensation.
“Leaders need to take firm action against perpetrators of violence because this can have a serious impact on the election of the country’s president,” said Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director McDonald Chipenzi.
“With violence, few people will be able to vote because others will fill intimidated and the end result is that a leader will be elected by just a few people.
Mr Chipenzi also expressed concern with what he termed lack of action against perpetrators of violence by both the police and individual political parties.
“Police have been a letdown in many cases because they have failed to deal with it (violence) firmly apart from telling us that they are investigating
without concluding,” he added.
Political analyst Alex Ng’oma said the recent political violence being reported had the potential to scare away women and first time voters.
“There is need to attack political violence every time that it shows its ugly head because it is a danger to democracy,” said Dr Ng’oma who is also a political science lecturer at the University of Zambia (UNZA).
“Condemning violence alone cannot stop this violence, we need action.
The politicians should act against their cadres who promote violence and the police should be supported in dealing with political violence,” Dr Ng’oma said.
It can never be disputed that violent incidents in some parts of the country would not have occurred were it not for the widespread institutional practice of utilising violent youth cadres who are imported from one place to the other.
For instance, the suspected UPND cadres that were found with offensive weapons in Kasama are surprisingly all Lusaka residents. Only their leaders know why they had to travel more than 800 kilometres to campaign in Kasama.
The negative impacts of political violence is too numerous to list but it suffice to say that it is one of the major threat to democracy as well as social economic development.
It is perceptibly clear that condemning of violence by political leaders without any punitive action against perpetrators is not good enough.
While there have been numerous threats by leaders to deal firmly with perpetrators of violence, they have failed to act. In fact, some have shockingly justified the violent behaviour by claiming that their cadres acted in self defence.
Bold decisions are needed to stop political violence. Punishments such as expulsion, suspension, fines and jail sentences appear to be too harsh to be considered, but could act as a good deterrent.