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Zambians to march against violence ahead of polls

Xinhua, July 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Concerned groupings in Zambia are organizing a march in which people from various walks of life will march for peace ahead of next month's general elections, organizers said on Tuesday.

The Council of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), an association representing lawyers, is organizing the march in collaboration with the church and other interest groups in view of the rise in political violence which has resulted in deaths.

"Zambia has enjoyed relative peace for over 50 years. However Zambians should not be lulled into false sense of security that this will continue," the organization said in a statement.

The statement added that the association was "greatly perturbed" with the breakdown of law and order in the country in the run up to the August 11 polls and the failure by political leaders to heed to calls to ensure that their supporters campaign peacefully.

The ruling party, it said, has an additional responsibility to ensure that law and order was maintained by law enforcement agencies.

Violence has marred campaigns in the run-up to the elections, especially between supporters of incumbent President Edgar Lungu and main challenger Hakainde Hichilema of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).

Last Friday, police opened fire on supporters of the main opposition candidate, killing one person and leaving another one with serious injuries after the party refused to cancel a campaign meeting in Lusaka, the country's capital. Endit