Scott:Political Violence Will Not Be Tolerated In Zambia

Vice president Guy Scott said in an interview at his office in Lusaka yesterday that the PF was a disciplined party that would not tolerate indisciplined members, some of whom were merely masquerading as members.
“We have dismissed several cadres from the PF on account of being indisciplined. We have expelled them. So far, there are two leaders (Julius Komaki and Siwila, Lusaka PF Town Centre branch officials) and another group that have been expelled. We are just waiting for the dismissals to be printed and delivered and then we shall let you know who they are,” Vice-President Scott said in response to remarks by David Young, who during the US national day celebrations held on Wednesday evening expressed concern at the pattern of violence among political cadres and harassment of those who disagreed with government policies.
“This is exactly aimed at our own cadres or people that are claiming to be our cadres, who are actually destabilising the party. But broadly, we agree with the Americans, we don’t like violence; what do we need violence for?”
And Vice-President Scott said much as the government agreed with Young on the issue of political violence, the envoy did not understand the history of the problem in Zambia.
“We agree, yes with Mr Young, that violence is not consistent with democracy and we agree with him that it needs to be regulated, but he should also understand that the political history of this country features violent cadres in all parties first of all,” Vice-President Scott said.
“I mean, it’s part of the political culture, if you like, which has evolved. If you go to Mufumbwe, for example, in that by-election, in about 2009, you may remember there was no PF contesting there; there was only UPND and MMD, and they beat the hell out of each other, with pangas machetes and so forth. Even senior members of the UPND were injured. So it’s not PF that has brought this culture, and of course there is a tendency for the opportunistic cadres to hide under the wing of the ‘mother party’, the PF.”
On Wednesday, Young said various stakeholders were concerned about the violence among political cadres and harassment of those who disagree with government policies.
Young, who is US charge d’affaires in Zambia, said in a democracy, disagreements were settled with words, not pangas.
“It is regrettable that police and cadres harass opposition political parties, civil society groups, and journalists who are merely exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly,” Young said.
“Freedoms of speech, assembly and the press are foundational rights, and democracy can only flourish when these rights are guaranteed for all citizens, no matter which party or group they support.”
In addition, Young said a vibrant and independent non-governmental organisations community was crucial to democracy and development.
“We strongly encourage the Zambian government to work with the NGOs community to find a mutually acceptable solution regarding their (NGOs) registration and autonomy,” Young said.
“Democracies also respect the rights of minority groups. This is something that the United States has struggled with throughout our history. As Dr Martin Luther King’s late wife, Coretta Scott King, once said, freedom and justice cannot be parcelled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others.”
Officiating at the occasion, health deputy minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya hailed the continued financial support the US was rendering to Zambia in the various sectors of the economy.
Dr Chilufya noted that the US-Africa trade had increased five-fold while Zambia’s exports to that country rose to US$4 million in 2013 from US$200,000 in 2011-12.