STOP PLAYING WITH POSSIBLE GENOCIDE, WARNS CENTRE FOR PEACE

By Scoop Reporter

POLITICIANS must stop fuelling the current conflict nexus and set the country on fire using tribal rhetoric as a proximate cause of violence because history has provided us with a grave lesson on the dangers of such rhetoric, Centre for Peace Research and Advocacy (CPRA) has warned.

Speaking to The Scoop yesterday, CPRA Executive Director Clifton Chifuwe said the recent events which started with the alleged abduction of Petauke Member of Parliament (MP), Emmanuel Jay Banda and the subsequent issuance of tribal remarks by his Lumezi and Mfuwe counterparts Munir Zulu and Maureen Mabonga respectively, highlighted a worrying trend of politicians making tribal and ethnically charged remarks with impunity.

Mr. Chifuwe said these statements had the potential to sow division and incite violence, threatening national peace and security and tear down the social fabric holding Zambia especially now that the country was in a dire situation economically, with people’s emotions already inflamed due to the impact of the drought and the food security threat.

He recalled that the 1994 Rwandan genocide, one of the most horrific episodes in recent history, was precipitated by politicians and media figures who used tribal divisions to fuel hatred and violence where over 800,000 people lost their lives in a mere space of 100 days, a tragedy that started with words of division and escalated into unimaginable brutality.

He said Zambia stood at a critical political juncture and that citizens, politicians alike, must learn from Rwanda’s past and understand that their words and actions today, could either build a stronger, united nation or plunge Zambia into chaos and bloodiest violent conflict.

“The diversity of our nation is a strength, not a weakness. It is incumbent upon all political leaders to foster an environment of respect, peace, inclusivity, and tolerance. While we understand how emotive and traumatizing the abduction may have been, it is not in any citizen’s space to pit Zambians against each other as witnessed in the videos circulating in social media where two lawmakers are inciting Zambians to violence,” Mr. Chifuwe said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chifuwe has also expressed concern that alleged UPND cadres had the audacity to hurl insults at the former Head of State Edgar Lungu in the presence of the police when he accompanied his wife, children and other members of his family for interrogation at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

He said the conduct displayed by alleged UPND cadres not only displayed decayed national values and principles, but was a recipe for conflict and an affront to national unity and peace.

He said the current political climate not only threatened domestic peace, but also poses significant security risks in that internally, tribal tensions could lead to civil unrest that would undermine national unity, peace and disrupt social and economic development, while at the same time, externally, such instability could create an opportunity for violent extremism and terrorism that had the potential to deepen instability, strain Zambia’s relations with neighbouring countries and compromise regional peace and security.

“It is for this reason that CPRA has been in the forefront advocating for the establishment of a National Peace Architecture that will enable the nation to nibble out ahead of time, such insidious rhetoric among Zambians.

“We, therefore, call upon the security wings of our nation, particularly the Zambia Police, to act decisively against those who thrive on tribal hate irrespective of their political affiliation. Parliamentarians and other national figures who incite division must be held accountable for their actions.

“It is imperative that the law is applied expeditiously, yet fairly and that justice is seen to be done to maintain public trust in our institutions and preserve the peace we have all enjoyed and cherish since we became independent. Further, we call upon the Zambia Police to discharge their duties within the parameters of the law bearing in mind that respect for people’s rights is a fundamental ingredient for the sustenance of peace, yet the opposite, becomes an instigator of conflict,” he said.

He also called for the media to be apolitical and cautious in the manner they reported conflict-sensitive issues as they played a key role in maintaining peace in the country.

“Let the media not forget that the Rwandan genocide was highly influenced by insensitive reporting by some media houses or outlets.

“We call on all Zambians to reject divisive rhetoric and to hold accountable those who seek to exploit ethnic tensions for political gain. The future of our country depends on our collective commitment to peace and mutual respect for our diversity. Let us work together to preserve the peace and build a prosperous Zambia for all,” he said.