• PRESIDENT Lungu and First Lady Esther address a rally in Samfya, Luapula Province, yesterday. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE

By REBECCA MUSHOTA  in Chifunabuli –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has condemned the United Party for National Development (UPND) for propagating violence and has asked traditional rulers to intervene.
Mr Lungu said it was a shame that the UPND had continued engaging in violence going by the latest report from Mazabuka.
He has since called on chiefs to educate the UPND or anyone engaging in violence on the importance of peace.
The Head of State said chiefs were custodians of peace and the land.
Mr Lungu was speaking yesterday when he met with chiefs from Chifunabuli District in Luapula Province.
The chiefs were Senior Chief Mwewa, chiefs Chitambo, Mwansakombe, Mulongwe, Mbulu and Kalasamukoso.
“When the opposition come, especially the UPND, welcome them but insist on peace. Preach peace to them,” President Lungu said.
Mr Lungu said engaging in violence was undemocratic.
He said the Patriotic Front (PF) was a democratic and peaceful party that believed in democracy.
President Lungu said that chiefs should take advantage of the UPND leaders’ visit to share with them the message of peace.
Earlier on Nsamba Island in Lunga District, President Lungu urged Zambians to vote for the PF to give the party an opportunity to complete its development programmes.
He said UNIP did its work in 27 years while MMD had 20 years.
The PF could not possibly complete its work in five years despite doing enough.
Mr Lungu also said people in Nsamba should vote for PF aspiring candidate for Lunga Constituency Emerine Kabanshi and all the PF aspiring councillors.
Meanwhile, Christian Democratic Party (CDP) president Danny Pule said President Lungu was the father of development.
Reverend Pule said Mr Lungu had steered the country to development.
At a rally in Chipili, President Lungu warned that he would not tolerate indiscipline in the PF by entertaining independent candidates using his name to gain votes.
Mr Lungu said the people who did not accept the adoption process and decided to stand as independent candidates should not use his name to campaign for themselves.
He said this during a rally in Chipili.
President Lungu said party members should accept the party procedures and wait for their turn to stand.
The President said he did not know the independent candidate for Chipili Constituency who was claiming to have the President’s blessings.
The PF candidate for Chipili is Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila.
An independent candidate, Jewis Chabi has printed T-shirts claiming that he is a PF candidate.
“I don’t know that man, my candidate is Davies Mwila. How can I work with someone who doesn’t want to work with the party?” President Lungu asked.
He reiterated that it was easier to work with PF candidates because they shared the same vision.
In Chifunabuli, Mr Lungu said he only recognised Mecha Ponde who the PF adopted and not the independent who was claiming to have been adopted.
The Head of State said people should learn to wait for their turn and not rush to defy the party.