Zambian gov't condemns violence ahead of election

The Zambian government on Friday condemned pockets of violence that have flared up during campaigns in the run-up to the Jan. 20 presidential election.

Chief government spokesperson Joseph Katema said the government was committed to ensuring a peaceful environment devoid of any acts of violence during the forthcoming presidential election.

"The government condemns in the strongest terms incidents of violence reported in some parts of the country in the ongoing campaigns for the presidential election," he said.

The spokesperson, who is also Minister of Broadcasting and Information, said that the ongoing campaigns should be about ideas on how each political party wishes to improve people's lives.

The Law Association of Zambia, also expressed concern about the level of lawlessness being exhibited by some political parties during campaigns.

The violence happening in the country, if left unchecked, would generate into chaos and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the voters, said the association.

On Wednesday, a member of the opposition United Party for National Development, was left with serious head injuries during a fracas with members of the governing Patriotic Front in western Zambia's Mongu district.

Last Friday, former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa and a former deputy speaker of the Zambian parliament Mutale Nalumango survived an attack by youths from the governing party when they went to campaign north of the country. Endi