By KASONDE KASONDE, JAMES KUNDA and REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Patriotic Front (PF) has pledged to conduct peaceful and issue-based campaigns ahead of the August 11, general election.

. Bwalya

PF deputy spokesperson Frank Bwalya said politicians should not allow competition for political positions break the peace that the country has enjoyed for the past years.
Mr Bwalya urged party members to do everything possible to promote peace during the election campaign period and beyond.
“On our part, we wish to reiterate our unquestionable commitment to upholding what we agreed on at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross Peace Indaba as contained in the communiqué. We are fully committed and determined to run an issue based election campaign devoid of violence,” Mr Bwalya said.
Mr Bwalya said the United Party for National Development (UPND) had been accusing the PF of flouting what was agreed upon at the inter-party peace indaba and yet the opposition party had continued in its violent ways.
He said UPND members had continued attacking PF members and causing terror to society.
Mr Bwalya also said the party would on May 14, this year, hold a rally in Kitwe at Freedom Park to endorse President Edgar Lungu as the PF presidential candidate.
On May 15, this year, the party would hold another rally in Lusaka at Kalundu Basic School in Chilanga Constituency, while the official launch of the campaign would be held on May 21.
And Police in Lusaka have instituted investigations into attacks on the PF Matero Constituency office by suspected UPND cadres on Sunday.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said in an interview yesterday that the law enforcement agency had since taken verbal accounts of the activities that transpired at the location in Matero Township.
“We have instituted investigations into the matter and whosoever is found wanting, will be brought to book,” she said.
PF Matero Constituency chairperson Chrispin Kabole described the incident as unfortunate and urged Police to ensure that people behind the attack were brought to book.
The PF Matero secretariat was besieged on Sunday afternoon, while the owners of the premises were attending a youth rally in Bauleni Township.
Meanwhile, UPND youths yesterday chanted that they were ready to attack PF youths.
They said this at a Press briefing held at Chainama Hotel in Lusaka.
This was after word went round that PF youths were mobilising themselves prompting the UPND cadres to gather weapons like sticks and stones in preparation for the attack.
They shouted that they were ready for violence if attacked. However, no such attack happened.
Addressing the Press, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema’s advisor Douglas Syakalima said the UPND youths were being forced to retaliate violently because they felt attacked by Police.
Former vice-president Guy Scott said when he received defectors from PF and FDD that the PF was going to disintegrate further after the dissolution of Parliament.