… Let’s not go back to the vomit
By Jane Chanda
Eastern Province Police commanding officer Robertson Mweemba says one person has been arrested in connection with the violence that erupted during the Lumezi by-election nomination process, resulting in damage to a council secretary’s vehicle.
On Tuesday, violence broke out in Lumezi Constituency between supporters of the ruling UPND and the Tonse Alliance as six candidates filed their parliamentary nominations.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Revelation yesterday, Mweemba condemned the violence, saying it did not build anything, adding that by-election did not warrant people fighting over and engaging in violence over the undertaking.
He said one person had been arrested, but that his political affiliation was not known.
“Really violence does not build. I can repeat my sentiments that we have got only one Lumezi and this by-election does not change anything in the country, why should people fight for what?” he asked. “That one I condemn and I am still condemning. But as of now it’s calm, it’s quiet, very, very quiet. I don’t see people fighting for what because anyone who convinces the electorates through talking carries eligibility, and if a matured voter sees someone who is violent, they cannot vote for such a person. Let us not go back to the vomit, we are not getting independence, it’s just a by-election for the constituency.”
He clarified that the violence occurred about 2 kilometers from the nomination center, in the town, and did not result in any deaths, contrary to some reports. He said some people were spreading propaganda about the incident, claiming that someone died, but that was not true.
Mweemba revealed that on Wednesday, the police had a fruitful discussion with party representatives, where each party brought in two people, and that the meeting was spearheaded by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) commissioner, retired Major General Vincent Mukanda, and that the meeting ended with everyone laughing and happy.
He said the police were also working to maintain calm in the constituency and zoned the area with camps to prevent any further incidents.
Mweemba said that the police were taking measures to ensure peace, including mounting roadblocks to search for potential weapons being brought into the area.
“If today someone brings skirmishes, he’s going to face the wrath of the law. My officers here are not armed; the only thing they have as arms are cell phones,” he said.
Mweemba said that the police were conducting investigations into the cause of the clash, and he would not know what made the two clash, but it was in town and not at the nomination centre.
“We don’t need people to come here armed, no, no, cartels put no pangas, they will be disappointed. We need peace in this country,” said Mweemba, violence was not needed.
And Aspiring independent Lumezi constituency member of parliament Pilila Jere said the recent violence that marred the by-election nomination process was unacceptable and condemned it.
Jere said the violent incident was instigated by outsiders brought in by certain parties, which was not a culture that existed in the community.
“The people that instigated the violence are from outside, they are from certain people that parties bring in,” she said.
Jere said that the community was known for its unity and peaceful nature, where people knew each other, living in harmony and noted that the incident was a regrettable aberration that everyone was condemning.
She called for a peaceful environment in Lumezi, where everyone could conduct their campaigns freely without conflicts or violence, and expressed her desire to see an end to such incidents and for the community to come together to promote peace and unity during the by-election.
