UPND YOUTHS ON THE COPPERBELT DISTANCES ITSELF FROM POLITICAL VIOLENCE.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) on the Copperbelt, has distanced itself from recent incidents of political violence in the province, insisting the ruling party has no involvement in attacks reported during opposition campaign activities.
Speaking during a media briefing in Kitwe, UPND Copperbelt Youth Chairman Wallen Hinyama, said it was regrettable that opposition political parties were allegedly fighting among themselves before shifting the blame to the UPND.
Mr. Hinyama, said it is disappointing to note that the opposition are fighting among themselves and blaming it on the ruling party, attributing the clashes to double adoptions involving the Resolute Party (RP) and the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP).
And Mr Hinyama, said the UPND had deliberately avoided interfering with campaign programmes organized by rival political parties and had instead urged its members to remain peaceful.
He alleged that the party had itself been a victim of provocation, citing incidents in which vehicles were damaged during a UPND rally, the party secretariat was vandalised in Ndola, and an attempt was allegedly made to burn down the provincial offices.
Meanwhile, UPND Copperbelt Deputy Youth Chairman, Kangwa Kamando, called on opposition leaders to focus on issue-based campaigns instead of making inflammatory statements that could incite violence.
Mr. Kamando, also criticized opposition figure Binwell Mpundu, accusing him of issuing reckless statements that could undermine peace and encourage political violence.
He urged political leaders, the church and other stakeholders to condemn any form of incitement and to promote peaceful participation during the election period.
By Ennie Kishiki Mutepuka.