ZAMBIA: Political violence a danger to Zambia’s security - Masebo

SYLVIA Masebo says the violence which has characterised the political atmosphere is now posing a danger to the country’s security.

In an interview, Masebo, who challenged President Edgar Lungu to be courageous and stop his casual way of reacting to political violence, said Zambia was now at the eleventh hour of the scourge. 

“I am not surprised that this violence has worsened. I saw it coming and I warned about it as a member of parliament. I warned about it even on the floor of the House. I talked about the need for the government to withdraw the guns that they were indiscriminately distributed among many cadres,” Masebo said. “I am aware a lot of cadres have got guns and I am also aware that a lot of cadres have got pangas [machetes]; it’s not a secret, it is known and this is no longer a political issue; this is a security issue for this country and for some of us who have been in leadership for a long time, who have widely travelled, who understand what has caused even civil wars in many countries.”  

She said President Lungu must be serious in addressing the alarming cases of violence and refrain from his casual manner of approaching the problem. 

“Him as [President] Lungu he has condoned it. That is why we are in this situation. So the person to blame is Lungu himself. So let him get serious for a change because if he doesn’t remain serious in the next two months, five months when we are going to the election, it will be bad for all of us, including himself,” Masebo said.  

She said she was disappointed that the PF leadership, which had been warned against the violence PF cadres were perpetuating, was now unable to deal with the situation. 

“We have reached a stage where even when the President says, ‘no don’t do it’, the cadres continue doing it, why? Because from the beginning, they were giving lip service to the problem of violence and if the ministers are not careful, they themselves will soon reach a stage where they cannot move as minister, they cannot even put a flag on their vehicles,” warned Masebo.

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