GOVT WARNS AGAINST “ENGINEERED CLASHES” AS ILLEGAL CAMPAIGNS PLANNED IN LUSAKA, COPPERBELT
The government has issued a stern warning ahead of this Thursday’s. General Election, accusing unnamed political elements of plotting to stage illegal campaigns in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces in a bid to “provoke the Police” and manufacture a crisis.
Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana said authorities are aware of plans to conduct campaign activities tomorrow outside the legally and mutually agreed ECZ campaign timetable
Kawana said it was”deeply concerning and unacceptable” for anyone to voice readiness to kill or die over a ballot.
“We firmly condemn all rogue sentiments from individuals expressing a desire to shed blood. These are just elections; a peaceful, civil competition of ideas and visions for our people,” he stated.
Kawana described any attempt to spill blood over votes as a direct attack on Zambia’s democracy.
The outspoken PS alleged that the planned illegal rallies were not about campaigning, but about creating alleged chaos.
“It will be deeply unfortunate and retrogressive for any political camp to intentionally stray into unauthorised zones like Lusaka and the Copperbelt hoping to provoke the Police,” Kawana said.
“We know that the ploy is to engineer artificial clashes, arrests and portray a false picture of harassment just to gain cheap sympathy votes and claim that our democratic space has shrunk.”
Government has appealed to all political players to adhere strictly to the harmonised campaign schedule set by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
“Rules are meant to be respected by every single participant, without exception,” Kawana said.
He urged citizens to “remain vigilant, calm, and focused on building our nation”, adding that “Democracy thrives on order, maturity, and mutual respect for the law.”
With just 3 days to the August 13 polls, tensions are rising. This is not Zambia’s first election, Kawana noted, and “certainly, they will not be the last.”
SM