By SAM PHIRI –

ACTING President Inonge Wina expressed concern at the escalating levels of violence whenever there is a by-election in the country.
Ms Wina said violence in any form should not be entertained and appealed to all political parties to encourage their members to exercise peaceful campaigns.
This comes in the wake of recorded pockets of violence that characterised the just-ended Lubanseshi and Solwezi West by-elections.
The Acting President said political parties that had continued to encourage violent conducts among their cadres should be ready to face the wrath of the law-enforcing agencies.
“It is the duty of a political party to encourage its members to bepeaceful during elections. This is even more so because the country has enjoyed undisturbed peace since independence,” she said.
The Acting President said this through a statement released to the Sunday Times yesterday by senior private secretary in the vice-president’s office Sheila Siwela.
Ms Wina has also called on all eligible voters, especially the youth, to participate in the ongoing mobile voter registration exercise.
She said voting was the hallmark of citizen’s participation in a democratic dispensation and ensuring that their voices were heard.
Meanwhile, Ms Wina has congratulated theruling Patriotic Front (PF) and opposition UPND on winning Thursday’s Lubanseshi and Solwezi Westparliamentary by-elections, respectively.
Ms Wina said despite the economic challenges that the country was faced with, Zambians reposed trust and confidence in theleadership of the ruling PF and President Edgar Lungu.
The Acting President also congratulated the candidates who participated in the two by- elections for their high-mindedness inconceding defeat.