By MILDRED KATONGO –
THE Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has urged politicians not to politicise the referendum and the contents of the proposed Bill of Rights.
FODEP Copperbelt provincial chairperson Mike Mushanga said politicians are mandated to inform their supporters on what is contained in the Bill of Rights and not to politicise the issue.
Mr Mushanga said the public needed to be fully informed on the Referendum and the contents of the Bill of Rights for them to make informed decisions.
He said during a sensitisation training workshop on the Bill of Rights organised by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Ndola that the contents in the Bill of Rights needed to reach out to the masses in order for them to make informed decisions on August 11.
“Politicians should ensure that their supporters are well-informed on the referendum and what is contained in the Bill of Rights, and refrain from politicking. A lot of these cadres do not know what is contained in the Bill of Rights and the politicians are busy misleading their people,” he said.
Mr Mushanga also commended the police in Ndola for ably handling the rallies for all political parties.
He said FODEP had monitors across the country and that the police in Ndola were doing well in terms of giving political parties chance to campaign freely.
Mr Mushanga said issues relating to the Public Order Act were challenging and that law enforcement agencies should apply it well.
He said the Act was a good tool that needed to be implemented well by the police officers.
“I must commend police officers in Ndola for giving chance to all the political parties to campaign freely. This is good and I must say that FODEP is on the ground and monitoring the situation,” he said.