.CHISANGA

By CHARITY MOONGA, CATHERINE NYIRENDA, CHATULA KANGALI AND RACKSON SHAMUTUKU  –

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has commended President Edgar Lungu for his stance against the escalating levels of violence in Zambia.
LAZ president George Chisanga said in an interview that the President had shown leadership by condemning political violence in the country.
“Mr Lungu has shown that he is a President for all Zambians,” he said.
He said no one in the ruling PF was entitled to cause violence, to show that they were the victors in the just ended presidential election.
Mr Chisanga urged all those responsible for maintaining law and order to take a leaf from what the President had said and refrain from violent activities.
On Wednesday, Mr Lungu condemned the escalating harassment, mockery and violence being perpetrated by the ruling PF cadres against their UPND counterparts.
On the removal of the Attorney General Musa Mwenye from office, Mr Chisanga said the powers to appoint or remove from office lay in the hands of the President.
LAZ had however enjoyed a good relationship with the former attorney general.
On Tuesday President Lungu dropped Mr Mwenye from his position as attorney general.
Meanwhile, PF secretary general Davis Chama will organise meetings with party members at bus stations, and market places to help end the political violence that characterised the places after the recent elections.
Mr Chama confirmed in an interview yesterday that he would be meeting members in all markets and bus stations to help identify those that are engaging in political violence against their opposition counterparts.
He warned that the party would not defend anyone who would be arrested for political violence if they are found wanting.
“We don’t want violence, any Zambian whether they voted for us or not must be respected as this is a democratic country, we chose multiparty democracy in 1991 for people to express their views freely and make choices of leaders they wanted to rule them,” he said.
He said the party had put in place a number of programmes to re-orient cadres on how to cooperate with other members from other parties.
He however, noted that there were some unscrupulous people that were trying to tarnish the name of the party by causing violence and criminal activities.
“We are aware that they are some people who use our party regalia and go in markets and bus stops to cause violence, as you are aware we have no party cards, so people masquerade as our members,” he said.
Mr Chama also said that he would handle the disciplinary cases against the three party officials who openly campaigned for other candidates in the just ended presidential elections.
The PF on the Copperbelt says it is not moved by the defection of some of its former party members to the opposition Rainbow Party.
Former Chingola Mayor Mcdonald Mulongoti, PF Mpongwe District chairperson Roderick Chitalu and others recently defected to the Rainbow Party which is headed by former party General Secretary Wynter Kabimba.
Copperbelt PF chairperson Sturdy Mwale said in an interview that the party in the province was still intact and that those that defected were suspended members and were not a threat.
Similarly, the PF in Chingola has dismissed rumours that members have defected to Rainbow Party.
Chingola PF acting chairperson Simon Chanda said in an interview yesterday that party structures in the district were working hard to strengthen and mobilise membership.