By CHILA NAMAIKO –
POLITICAL parties have urged their members to ensure peaceful and issue-based campaigns devoid of character assassination in the ongoing campaigns for next month’s by-elections.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) set September 14, this year as elections for council chairperson for Itezhi-tezhi, Kanchibiya, Luvushimanda and Lunte districts.
It would also conduct eight Local Government by-elections in Chililalila, Chitwi, Luansobe, Luntomfwe, Libonda, Mpidi, Kakonga, Chimanja and Mabinga wards in various provinces.

BWALYA

Patriotic Front (PF) deputy spokesperson Frank Bwalya said political parties should behave responsibly and ensure members were initiated into issued-based-campaigns.
Mr Bwalya said in an interview yesterday dwelling on personalities during elections could cause grievances while inciting violence.
“As PF, we shall always be committed to peaceful and non-violent means of canvassing for support and will ensure we don’t provoke other people that are participating in the election because at the end of the day we have delivered development and undertaken a lot of development projects in the country,” he said.
He said, since SADC endorsed Zambia’s elections as credible and fair, and President Edgar Lungu as duly elected, politicians should ensure future elections were held in a manner not to take away the confidence of the world at large.
Mr Bwalya said Zambians was happy with leadership of President Edgar Lungu and appreciated his efforts to carry out a national development agenda.
This, he said even included places where PF did not win, but President Lungu was focused to deliver equal development.
He urged political players taking part in the elections to desist from propagating lies citing a named party already claiming difficulties to campaign in view of Article 31 of the Threatened State of public Emergency.
He said there was need to recognise the dialogue started between President Lungu and UPND’s leader Hakainde Hichilema facilitated by the church and Commonwealth which people should respect.
UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka said campaigns should not be a battleground and urged cadres to conduct themselves in a sober manner.
Mr Katuka hailed ECZ for adhering to UPND’s concern over police presence due to Article 31 in areas where elections would be held and was assured of free campaigns.
He urged PF and UPND to embrace each other and that whoever would emerge victorious should be supported.