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Zambia's electoral body warns of voter apathy due to violence

Xinhua, August 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambia's electoral body warned on Tuesday that voters will fear to turn up in large numbers to vote if violence continues.

Violence has continued unabated in the run up to the Aug. 11 general elections, with the latest being on Monday when supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) attacked supporters of the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) in Lusaka, the country's capital.

Pictures of the attacks, which occurred in Mtendere compound, east of the city, have gone viral. The ruling party supporters could be seen throwing stones on a campaign bus belonging to the opposition party.

Eight members of the opposition were injured during the fracas, according to the Inspector-General of the Zambia Police Kakoma Kanganja.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Justice Esau Chulu said it was disappointed with the recurrence of violence a few days before the elections.

He said if violence continues in the remaining days, many voters will be discouraged from going out to vote.

"I wish to stress that on no account should both PF and UPND supporters and cadres be engaged in further violence, otherwise you shall traumatize and discourage the voters who are the most important stakeholders in this election," he told reporters during a press briefing.

He added that the electoral body does not want a situation where voters will fear to leave their homes to vote because of violence by the two political parties.

Meanwhile President Edgar Lungu has condemned the violence, stressing that he would not allow any person to break the peace the country has continued to enjoy.

"What happened in Mtendere yesterday is unacceptable. I have called on the police to continue the investigation and enforce laws on any person who will be found guilty irrespective of their political affiliation," he said on his Facebook page.

On July 9, the electoral body suspended campaigning for 10 days in Lusaka and Namwala, south of the country, due to escalating political violence. Endit