AVAP doubts signed PF-UPND pact will end political violence

Richwell Mulwani

The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has warned that the peace pact signed between the ruling Patriotic Front and the opposition UPND does not guarantee the end of political violence.

AVAP Executive Director, Richwell Mulwani says his organization does not believe that the PF and UPND are interested in holding peaceful elections.

Mr. Mulwani says this is evidenced by the recorded pockets of violence in Lusaka even after two parties have signed a peace to conduct peaceful campaigns.

In an interview with QTV News, Mr. Mulwani says this is a sign that political parties in Zambia are not ready to hold peaceful elections.

Mr. Mulwani states that what is therefore needed is to empower institutions of democracy for them to effectively monitor activities of all political parties contesting the July by-elections.

He has named the institutions as the Zambia Police, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Anti-Corruption of Commission (ACC) among others.