Maravi

Habasonda condemns intimidation of Lukuku

Habasonda condemns intimidation of Lukuku
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Saturday October 04, 2008 [04:01]

SOUTHERN Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda has expressed concern at the levels of desperation by the government to endanger the lives of people willing to speak the truth.

And UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said it was not surprising that Vice-President Rupiah Banda's camp had resorted to draconian methods to intimidate other political players.

Commenting on the revelations by National Revolution Party (NRP) former secretary general James Lukuku that he had been receiving threats on his life following his recent revelations that the Vice-President paid NRP to endorse his candidature ahead of the October 30 presidential elections, Habasonda said while the matter was subject to investigations, nobody should condone the threats on Lukuku.

He said the security system in Zambia was supposed to protect citizens and not threaten them.
Habasonda said the role of the security was not to protect one individual or group but investigate matters further.

"Their role is to protect the welfare of society, in fact to protect the weak. The state security have a duty to ensure they understand and prepare for whatever government that will come into power," he said.

He said it was criminal for all those involved to threaten to silence other people for their wrongdoings.

Habasonda said it was time Zambia moved to a culture where people admit when they make mistakes.

"Instead of having private meetings, the security wings must investigate and tell Zambians what is going on instead of intimidating people," Habasonda said.
And Kakoma said political parties should avoid using violence and threats as a way of winning the election.

He said Zambia was a democratic country and political parties must use peaceful means to convince the electorate to vote for them.

"But it is not surprising that the RB Rupiah Banda camp is resorting to such archiac and draconian methods of intimidating other political players because they are actually using all the tactics that RB knows from his old UNIP days and it is also an indication that if RB becomes president, he is going to use dictatorship and violence against his opponents. So what is happening to Lukuku should not just be seen as action against him but political," he said.

Kakoma said Vice-President Banda's camp had already threatened to beat anybody who mentioned PF president Michael Sata and UPND's president Hakainde Hichilema's name.
Kakoma said these were intimidation tactics and Vice-President Banda's camp would stop at nothing and were even prepared to kill to win.

On Thursday, Lukuku revealed that he had been receiving threats following his revelations last week.

Lukuku said New Generation Party (NGP) president Humphrey Siulapwa - who has endorsed Vice-President Banda's candidature - had informed him that his life was under threat hence he Siulapwa was ready to organise a press conference at which Lukuku would denounce The Post and apologise to Vice-President Banda.

Labels: JAMES LUKUKU, LEE HABASONDE, SACCORD

posted by MrK @ 11:22 AM