By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has welcomed the statement from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and Opposition Political Party (UPND) commitments to Non-Violence and Peace.
SACCORD also commends the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and opposition political parties’ commitment to peace.
The centres executive director Boniface Cheembe said commitment is evidenced in the peace accord brokered by the ruling PF UPND in Ndola district of the Copperbelt Province.
“In addition, the commitment to non-violence and peace by the aspiring Parliamentary candidates for Livingstone Central in Southern Province from the ruling PF and opposition UPND, Democratic Party (DP) and Socialist Party during the SACCORD/FES political debates,” he said.
Mr Cheembe has appealed to all political parties in other districts to emulate the pro-activeness and drive for peace by political parties in Ndola and Livingstone districts.
‘As peace is in the interest of all political parties as it does not scare away potential voters from participating in elections, electoral violence on the other hand handicaps potential voters from exercising their right to vote and the ultimate victims of this are aspiring candidates who may only have fewer voters’ turnout and thereby injure the quality of their legitimacy,” he said.
Mr Cheembe said in the past peace accords and commitments have failed due to the failure by those involved to implement fully what they have agreed.
“We therefore hope that the political parties and aspiring candidates in both Ndola and Livingstone will implement their agreed peace accord and commitments to guarantee the prevalence of peace before, during, and after the August, 12, 2021 general elections,” he said.
Mr Cheembe said by doing this, Zambians would be contributing to honoring the late founding father of the nation, Dr Kenneth David Kaunda.
