By Sam Phiri –
VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina has warned United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in Namwala against intimidating others, saying the law will catch up with them.
Ms Wina said yesterday at a rally held at Namwala Central Market grounds that all political parties should uphold peace.
“We don’t want Southern Province to be like a war zone during elections. I am directing police not to wait but arrest anyone found engaging in violent activities and they should not even be bailed,” the Vice-President Wina said.
Ms Wina, who was in the area to drum up support for President Edgar Lungu and Namwala Patriotic Front (PF) parliamentary candidate Kelvin Chikwata, said Zambia was respected for upholding peace and that the forthcoming elections should not be marred with violence.
She said no political leader would attain power by using intimidation and violence as a way of campaigning.
Ms Wina said President Lungu and the PF did not condone violence and had taken a strong stance of expelling those found wanting.
“You do not need to kill or beat up someone in order to win an election as MP or president,” she said.
The Vice-President said all political leaders should restrain their members, especially youths, from engaging in violent activities but should instead encourage co-existence among different political players.
Ms Wina directed security wings, especially the police, to be vigilant and arrest all perpetrators of violence regardless of their political affiliations.
She said the PF was a non-discriminatory party which had taken development to all parts of Zambia, including in areas like Namwala which were represented by the opposition.
Ms Wina said voting for President Lungu and the PF MP would accelerate development in the district.
She said in the next five years, Namwala was earmarked for massive infrastructure development that would include replacement of old pontoons and construction of bridges.
She said Mr Lungu had assigned the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to work on all rural roads countrywide.
The Vice-President said the Government had put agriculture at the top of its agenda and was committed to supporting other methods of agriculture like animal husbandry.
Ms Wina later paid a courtesy call on Chief Muchila of the Ila-speaking people before holding another rally at Moobola Basic School ground where she urged voters not to be left out in the development being implemented by the PF Government.
She urged Namwala residents not to vote on tribal lines but for a party and leadership that was working and delivering development.
Southern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu said at both rallies that President Lungu and the PF were a winning team and was confident that the party would win the August elections.
Mr Mubukwanu urged the people of Namwala not to squander the opportunity of being governed by an experienced leader in Mr Lungu.