By Daily Revelation Reporter
Former Foreign Affairs permanent secretary George Zulu says results from yesterday’s by-elections held across the country is testament that people are accepting the ruling UPND’s message in the manner they are governing the country, and that people should not listen to those crying about violence.
Speaking with Daily Revelation on the by-election results where the UPND swept almost everything across the board, Ambassador Zulu said people were sending a message that they were receptive to the UPND message, while sending the message to the PF to put their disorganization in order and to the Socialist Party that they were a new kid in the game with a long way to go.
He described the elections as good since they were being held across the country, except in North-Western Province, saying they were a show of unity that Zambians have rejected tribal politics as even a candidate with a name from Eastern Province was able to be voted for in another rural area of Mkushi.
He said people must not listen to claims of violence, arguing that “those who were crying that there was violence should not be listened to”, saying “people who must complain are the voters and not politicians.”
“Let the complaints of any form of violence come from voters not politicians because politicians have the propensity of exaggerating and crying foul,” Amb Zulu said.
But asked on assertions that UPND cadres stormed PASME Radio station in Petauke and assaulted a presenter at the station, Amb Zulu said the UPND administration has given clear instructions on violence and caderism, saying the cadres must be brought to justice if they broke the law.
He said the elections have shown that Zambians were now rejecting politics of handouts, but they want to work, and the ruling party must therefore provide opportunities for people to do their best.
“Fertilizer must go to the people and the government should start working on modalities of how to market the produce,” said Amb Zulu. “To the UPND it shows that people are accepting their programmes of unity and hard work. To the PF, people are telling them to organize themselves as a group. We don’t even know who is leading PF. To the SP, people are saying they are a new kid on the blog that they have a long way to learn. So don’t give up. Learn.”
