By JAMES KUNDA –
VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has advised Zambians to fight the temptation of resorting to violence whenever aggrieved by human misunderstanding.
Ms Wina said it was the role of every Zambian to uphold co-existence as the country was known globally as an oasis of peace.
She said this in a speech read for her by Office of the Vice-President Deputy Minister Lawrence Sichalwe during a Patriotic Front (PF) advocacy against political violence dinner dance at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka on Saturday evening.
The event, which was held under the theme ‘Violence free 2016 elections’ was held to mobilise resources to fund the ruling party’s contribution towards eliminating violence in the electoral dispensation.
“As a nation, it is incumbent upon each one of us to preach and continue promoting unity among citizens. On behalf of the President (Edgar Lungu) of this great Republic, I would like to implore everyone to guard the peace which the country has enjoyed since its independence in 1964,” Ms Wina said.
She said the country’s democracy was in the hands of every individual, hence the need for every Zambian to rise to the cause of maintaining national unity.
Ms Wina said election time was an opportunity for Zambia to show the world that her democracy was growing and maturing.
“PF as the party in Government has a huge task of leading the country to sustainable economic development, but the events of the last few weeks (riots over suspected ritual killings) have tried to blind us from this agenda.
“President Edgar Lungu has, however, shown great resilience in preserving peace and, as a nation, we should support him for this,” Ms Wina said.
Chairperson for the dinner dance’s organising committee Daniel Chisenga said the ruling party targeted to raise K5 million to support PF structures at constituency level across Lusaka Province repel electoral violence.
“This is just one of the many initiatives that show that PF walks the talk on fighting political violence. So be assured that the funds generated will be put to good use,” said Mr Chisenga, who is former mayor of Lusaka.