Tonse’s resolution to respond to violence with violence

By Daily Revelation Editor

On Saturday, the Tonse Alliance Council of leaders (Col) held a meeting at Crest Lodge in Lusaka’s Ibex area where they came up with a number of resolutions.

The alliance spokesperson Sean Tembo, who is also Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) leader informed the nation that among resolutions made was that going forward, TONSE ALLIANCE members and supporters were advised to defend themselves using any means necessary, against the ruling UPND party political violence, and that future aggression by UPND cadres during campaigns, shall and must be met with an equal and proportionate reaction, especially in the face of failure by the Zambia Police to fairly and equitably enforce the law.

Members have been advised to defend themselves using any means necessary, against the UPND party violence.

We disagree with Sean and his team on this. Although we may not have details of what they intend to do to defend themselves, it is wrong in every sense for a political party that feels aggrieved to retaliate with violence.

There is a phrase ” violence begets violence,” meaning violate behavior promotes other forms of violent behavior, in return.

It is for this reason that we do not encourage anyone to take the route they wish to take of taking the law in their own hands. This of course is not to excuse any assertions of violence by the UPND cadres. Those assertions must be taken seriously by the same police which is warning Tonse, and culprits must be promptly brought to book.

The police has invited Tonse to report alleged UPND violence. We urge them to do so with concrete evidence categorising the same violence they are asserting as having been committed by the UPND. In the same vein, we urge them to appeal to the police to remain impartial in the manner they manage violence regardless of who is involved.

We all know that our police have been impartial in the manner they manage political violence.

We see that when it involves the opposition members of the party, they move in at lightening speed before even establishing the truth, without even investigating. But when it involves those from the ruling party, they take their time and even ask members of the public to be patient because they are investigating. This is a serious matter that needs to be addressed by our men and women in uniform, because they are actually contributing to the aggrieved believing that they should probably take the law into their own hands. The police must do a self interospectioon.

We therefore, urge police to do their job professionally and ensure justice is done.

Justice must not only he done but must also be seen to be done by all those involved in the justice system, including themselves.

In the recently held Kawambwa by election, we saw acts of violence allegedly perpetuated by UPND cadres and Sean was stabbed inside his pam.

We do not know if anyone has been brought to book the perpetrators for that crime. If nothing has been done about it, these are the things that are causing the opposition to feel like the police are doing nothing about their grievances.

We also saw call outs flying around for some opposition members of the party among them Mumbi Phiri and Jean Chisenga of the PF that they were being investigated for some alleged aggravated robbery offences, mong other offences.

Why haven’t we seen those from the ruling party being served with call outs because Sean knows the people who attacked him?

We urged the police to do what is right so that some stakeholders do not feel feel unfairly treated when it comes to enforcing the law.