– President commends candidates for peaceful, orderly campaigns
CHOMBA MUSIKA
Lusaka
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema wants the peaceful atmosphere and “democratic culture” which characterised the Chawama parliamentary by-election campaigns to be sustained ahead of the August 13 general elections.
Mr Hichilema has since commended all participating political parties and independent candidates for maintaining a peaceful and orderly campaign environment in Chawama.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by State House chief communications specialist Clayson Hamasaka.
“As campaigns for the Chawama Constituency and other ward byelections draw to a close today, ahead of voting tomorrow (today), President Hakainde Hichilema has commended all participating political parties and independent candidates for maintaining a peaceful and orderly campaign environment,” Mr Hamasaka said.
The President notes that this atmosphere stands in sharp contrast to past electoral periods during which violence, intimidation and fear often overshadowed democratic participation.
‘In those instances, political competition was frequently marked by coercion rather than persuasion, and citizens were denied the freedom to engage openly across party lines,” Mr Hamasaka said.
He said the President is on a working vacation and attending to his farming activities in Southern Province, but he has nevertheless been monitoring and receiving daily briefings on developments on the ground.
“He has expressed satisfaction at reports indicating that political players were able to interact freely and respectfully, even when encountering one another during the campaign period,” Mr Hamasaka said.
“The President has reiterated that this is the democratic culture he wishes to see sustained, not only in these by-elections, but as the nation prepares for the 2026 general election.
“He has emphasised that political competition must be anchored on ideas, policies, and service to the people, rather than violence, intimidation, or abusive language.”
Mr Hamasaka said President Hichilema has further called on all political actors to promote conduct and messaging that unite the nation and contribute to national development.
The President reaffirms that peace remains Zambia’s greatest democratic asset….https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
