Mundia Paul Hakoola condemns Kanyama inter-party violence as a retrogressive vice

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…as CLRI opposes deployment of soldiers

By Derrick Sinjela

CONTINENTAL Leadership Research Institute (CLRI) Executive Director Mundia Paul Hakoola has described recent violence witnessed in Lusaka’s densely populated Kanyama Township as a retrogressive occurrence.

With barely a few nine (9) days towards the Thursday 12th August 2021 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Election, a worried Hakoola expressed regret over the noted politically instigated fight involving the Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND).

In Tuesday 3rd August 2021 Media Statement, Hakoola says aside from deterring active citizen participation in politics, electoral and political violence ultimately results in increased apathy on account of the electorate fearing to venture out to vote for preferred candidates.

The Continental Leadership Research Institute Executive Director is equally opposed President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s deployment of the Zambia Army arguing that the Zambia Police had adequate capacity to guarantee peaceful campaigns.

Hakoola insisted that if indeed the law enforcement agency has failed to protect life and property, the prudent action is for Dr. Lungu to make necessary changes in the Zambia Police management.

Hakoola says opting to bring in the army ostensibly to augment Zambia Police is endangering the electoral environment, as voters will be scared to walk, cycle or drive to a polling station.

The Continental Leadership Research Institute Executive Director is worried that bringing in the Zambia Army is heightening electoral and political tension and increasing fear among eligible voters and aspirants.

“It is very much important that we use the Zambia Police for Homeland Security, as in the country’s defence mechanism, soldiers in the Zambian Army have a different role. As Continental Leadership Research Institute, we believe in strong and sound leadership within the Zambia Police Force but if this aspiration is not present, then violence will not be effectively handled or curbed. Bringing in the soldiers at this time is something that is not feasible as it is instilling fear in the electorate,” observed Hakoola.

While the Zambia Police Force has a clear mandate to arrest and prosecute law breakers, Hakoola wondered what standard operating policing procedures, soldiers will use once a citizen or a group is found wanting.

Hakoola reiterated a need for sound leadership in the Zambia Police Force, noting that co-opting soldiers is premature at this stage of the electoral process.

“We need to ensure that the army remains in a barrack while Zambia Police is prodded to effectively restore public order. What should have happened is a scenario were the police are granted time to investigate, and give a comprehensive report to the Republican President. These facts can then be used by an appointing authority, and I believe that bringing in the army is not good as this move is being done amid the Coronavirus (covid19) pandemic, factors which make the 2021 elections peculiar, as people are likely to be intimidated by presence of soldiers in the community. This presence of the Zambia Army will heighten fear and voters are not going to participate effectively.

The Continental Leadership Research Institute is prodding political party leaders to share details of the Electoral Commission of Zambia Peace Accord with respective countrywide grassroots membership.

Hakoola is disappointed that a check in campaign messages on Facebook and other platforms none of the presidential candidates is stressing peace before, during and after the Thursday 12th August, 2021 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Election.

“We need to see increased peace messages on the table so that the Peace Accord is actualised. Otherwise, if they keep details of the Peace Accord resolutions to themselves, then members will not know and participate effectively in adherence of the said undertakings,” advised Hakoola.

Many citizens led by the Zambian Developmental Media Alliance (ZADEMA) lament the militarisation of the Zambia Police Force, during Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kakoma Kanganja.

Sadly, instead of being an impartial police chief, Mr. Kanganja has continouosly acted in favour of the PF leadership, led by Dr Lungu who continue to campaign while the UPND Alliance led by Mr. Hakainde Hichilema is physically inhibited both on air by Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander David Muma and Kanganja on the ground.

The last straw in Hichilema’s UPND Alliance campaign trail is Zambia Army Commander, William Sikazwe, openly backing the incumbent Dr. Lungu as his personal appointing authority.

Sadly, instead of being an impartial police chief, Mr. Kanganja has continouosly acted in favour of the PF leadership, led by Dr Lungu who continue to campaign while the UPND Alliance led by Mr. Hakainde Hichilema is physically inhibited both on air by Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander Lieutenant General Michael David Muma and Kanganja on the ground.

The last straw in Hichilema’s UPND Alliance campaign trail is Zambia Army Commander, Lieutenant General William Sikazwe, openly backing the incumbent Dr. Lungu as his personal appointing authority.

On Tuesday 29th December, 2020, Dr. Lungu gave Kanganga a six month contract, which lapsed on Tuesday 29th June, 2021, but by Press Time on Wednesday 4th August 2021, no Presidential appraisal had been communicated to citizens on the performance of the substantive Inspector General of Police.