17 June 2011
International Fellowship of Christian Churches president Simon Chihana has called on law-enforcement agencies to investigate Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata’s motive to engage former servicemen to conduct parallel vote tabulation during this year’s elections.
And former Foundation for Democratic Process president Stenly Mhango has condemned Mr Sata for announcing an open invitation to retired soldiers and civil servants to help his party monitor the 2011 presidential and general elections.
Bishop Chihana said in a statement yesterday that it was not prudent for any sane Zambian and particularly any political leader in a democratic dispensation where political offices such as member of Parliament and president was only accorded by one winning through votes cast, to start agitating for ways that would bring confusion and destruction in the nation.
He said the information that the PF leader planned to engage ex-servicemen in the PVT was shocking and must not be tolerated by investigative wings of Government.
Bishop Chihana said ex-servicemen were men and women of honour and under oath during and after their time of duty whose priority was not to serve a particular political party but the people of Zambia through the Government.
“We ask him, does Mr Sata plan to form a rebel group? Is he already afraid of losing to a particular individual and is not ready to face such another time?”Because a man who puts his house in order for such a purpose must be a champion of the voice of agitates of anarchy in a democratic and peaceful nation like Zambia,” Bishop Chihana said.
And Mhango condemned Mr Sata for announcing an open invitation to retired soldiers and civil servants to help his party monitor the 2011 presidential and general elections.
Mr Mhango also said the coalition of non-governmental organisations planning to monitor elections lacked credibility and trust of stakeholders because they were composed of organisations that were biased towards some political parties.
He said the call should be addressed and taken seriously because there was no guarantee that the retired soldiers who would come forward had been de-militarised and would intimidate the election managers and monitors.
During a public rally in Kabwe last month, Mr Sata openly invited former soldiers, retired police officers and other former security personnel to go to his party’s aid and help monitor elections.
Mr Mhango said stakeholders should take Mr Sata’s call seriously since it did not guarantee specific measures that such would turn into a militia group.
When contacted, PF vice-president Guy Scott said Mr Sata was merely inviting educated retired civil servants who included former nurses, soldiers, police officers and doctors to help monitor the elections.
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Zambia: Sata Under Fire