Kanduku warns politicians on violence
Senior Chief Kanduku of Mwanza District has warned of unspecified action on parties whose followers are perpetrating violence in the run-up to the May 20 Tripartite Elections.
Kanduku made the warning on Monday when he presided over the distribution of radios by the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust to various radio listening clubs in the district.
This follows reports that supporters of the ruling People’s Party (PP) and the opposition People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) clashed at Mwanza Community ground last Sunday soon after a rally by PPM president Mark Katsonga.
Said Kanduku: “I am told supporters of a certain party pelted stones at a vehicle belonging to their rivals. That’s very unfortunate and deplorable. I wish to take advantage of this radio distribution ceremony to condemn it in the strongest terms possible.”
He expressed fears that the fracas will scare registered voters from patronising political rallies.
“Community and traditional leaders would agonise over sending their subjects to patronise a political rally that would end in chaos. I, therefore, appeal to politicians to desist from acts of violence or face low patrnoge,” said Kanduku.
He commended Nice Trust for donating radios to various community-based organisations and associations.
Nice Trust district civic education officer for Mwanza, Paul Kanyenda, reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to conducting professional civic and voter education to stimulate public interest in the forthcoming elections.
But Kanyenda said Nice’s efforts would be futile if political leaders do not match them with an issue-based campaign.
“As a civic education provider, we always urge people to attend your rallies hoping that our political leaders will articulate their development agenda at such rallies. But what reason will we have for encouraging people to attend political rallies where one is risking his or her life?” he wondered.
Kanyenda said the Sunday violence involving the PP and PPM was a minus to the fight for an issue-based campaign. He asked the law enforcers to ensure perpetrators of the violence were brought to book.
However, spokesperson for Mwanza Police, Victoria Chirwa, said they had not yet launched investigations ‘because no one has lodged a complaint with us’.
