ZAMBIA: Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection Warn Politicians to “Stop” Perpetrating Violence
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Zambia-based Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has warned politicians to stop violence that has arisen in the country as citizens look forward to the forthcoming General Elections.
“JCTR is saddened by the rising incidents of political violence. Violence in any shape or form has no place in our Christian nation,” JCTR that conducts evidence-based advocacy has cautioned in their Monday, June 14, statement.
They added, “It is worrying and disheartening that Zambia is slowly slipping into a situation of civil strife with rising spate of violent attacks between the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) cadres in the run up to the 12th August General Elections.”
The JCTR statement signed by the Executive Director Fr. Alex Muyebe highlights the possibility to stop political violence “if political leaders do not only stop at casually condemning violence but also engage at a deeper level with their followers and honestly bring home and inculcate the message of non-violence, tolerance, mutual respect and upholding for human dignity and sanctity of life.”
“With good leadership in the UPND and PF political camps, it is possible to completely stem out political violence,” reads an excerpt of the Monday statement and adds, “The Zambian people will hold both UPND and PF leaders responsible for any unnecessary loss of property and life due to political violence.”
Conscious of the worrying situation of Covid-19 pandemic whose current infection rate has already surpassed the second wave as noted by Zambia’s Ministry of Health, JCTR calls on leaders in all sectors “to demonstrate their love for the people of Zambia by immediately halting all activities that inevitably occasion a public gathering including political activities, inspection of development projects, social and religious events and other events that have a tendency of drawing crowds of people in one place.”
“We reiterate the Ministry’s position that this current Covid-19 situation calls for all of us to show solidarity and commitment to save our country from the imminent health and socio-economic catastrophe by doing what is,” states the 33-year old organization which carries out programs on economic equity and development, social conditions, faith and justice, and outreach.
The organization further calls on journalists to create a situation in which every political party has a fair and equal chance of succeeding in order to guarantee a free, fair and credible General Elections saying, “JCTR would also like to call for an even play field in the coverage of political party messages in the public media. During this campaign period, every Zambian has the right to be well informed of various political party messages through the public broadcaster.”
