Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Council of Churches in Zambia (ccz) has called on all political players participating in the chilanga parliamentary by-election slated for June 5, 2018 to conduct peaceful campaigns.
CCZ General Secretary, Emmanuel Chikoya has reminded political players that winning an election is not a desperate task or winning by any means necessary.
Fr. Chikoya states that winning an election is not about slander campaigning, character assassination or inciting one group against another to score cheap political points.
The ccz general secretary observes that a free, fair and peaceful election is not hinged on just one political party alone working to ensure peace but on all political parties participating in an election.
He says all stakeholders in the chilanga parliamentary by-election should have one goal of working hard to ensure a peaceful process during campaigns, on the day of voting and after the election.
Fr. Chikoya has reminded all participants in the by-election that the environment will be competitive but should remain peaceful and non-violent adding that the nation should remain united.
He adds that all political players should have zero tolerance for violence within and outside their ranks stating that they should not only talk about peace but live in peace with themselves, their members and other political stakeholders.
Fr. Chikoya has since challenged all participating political parties to be consistent in their condemnation of violence by upholding zero tolerance against violence both in private and public.
He notes that elections should be about credibility, integrity and trust in the candidates, their political ideology and the team with the required capabilities of managing the resources and assets competently for the benefit of majority of the electorate.
And fr. Chikoya has urged the electoral commission of Zambia (ecz) to superintend over the election in a very professional and transparent manner and decisively deal with violent political parties.