Political parties should work with the police-ZUPED

ZUPED President Ronnie Jere said parties and police should work together to ensure peace during and after elections.

Mr Jere said aggravated political parties should report to the Public Complaints Commission in order to resolve their issues amicably than rushing to the media.

He said there is need for parties to be responsible and factual as they campaign.

” We want to implore parties to work with police and always inform them when they have a gathering, “he said.

And Mr Jere said reports by the United Party for  National Development (UPND) alliance that live ammunition was used by police officers on the Copperbelt on Sunday to disperse their candidate and cadres makes very sad reading.

The Police have dispelled the allegations and it is clear that the opposition alliance is alarming the nation unnecessarily, this kind of unnecessary alarms that the police wants to assassinate opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema are a source of anarchy. We are aware that these schemes of assassination claims did not start with this Government, we know that in 2006 he accused the late President Levy Mwanawasa of wanting to assassinate him, in 2008 it was the same with Rupiah Banda and even in 2011 he accused Michael Sata of plotting the same,” he said.

Mr Jere said these are political gimmicks of attracting a sympathy vote but this will not work.

 He said political party leaders should not use such archaic gimmicks to  woe votes from unsuspecting voters.

Mr Jere said political parties should give the Police chance to do their work professionally and not provoke them.

“Sometimes it is the politicians that provoke the police, let’s desist from provoking Police. politicians have been given guidelines that they should follow for them to conduct campaigns, “he said.

He said the trend of running to the media with baseless reports has the potential to create anarchy and alarm the nation.