THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has called on both the ruling and opposition political party leaders to immediately put an end to political violence in the country.

And JCTR says politicians should take a lead in practicing and promoting politics of mutual tolerance and mutual respect, saying mere public denunciation or condemnation of political violence alone will not stop violence.

In a statement issued yesterday, JCTR executive director Father Alex Muyebe stated that it was disheartening to see people from the same community engaging in physical violence and fights emanating from the political differences.

He added that clashes between party cadres should never be allowed in the country.

“JCTR is calling on both the ruling and opposition political party leaders to immediately put an end to political violence in Zambia. Mother Zambia has a hard earned reputation as a peaceful and friendly country. This reputation now hangs in the balance as we increasingly continue to experience unwarranted cases of political violence which are doing irreparable damage to our long standing motto of ‘One Zambia, One Nation.’ It is disheartening to see people from the same community engaging in physical violence and fights emanating from the political differences. Clashes between party cadres must never be allowed to take place in this country because we are one people who must always respect and accommodate each other’s political opinions. Political leaders must promote politics of mutual tolerance and mutual respect and must lead by example,” Fr Muyebe stated.

“Political leaders must work together to stamp out this cancer of political violence that is slowly but surely spreading in the political fabric of this nation. The current politically-charged environment in Zambia is being fueled by polarized media, institutionalization of cadreism, proliferation of hate speeches, cheap culture of handouts, promotion of geo-centric and ethnocentric-politics, and erosion of confidence in the electoral process.”

And Fr Muyebe stated that it was worrisome that political party leaders in this country were not ashamed of exploiting or taking advantage of unemployed youths who were being used as tools of violence.

He added that it was sad that some youths were allowing themselves to be brainwashed and to sacrifice their human dignity at the altar of political hooliganism.

“Politics must be a tool of service for social, cultural, and economic progress of all the people. The objective of all forms of governance and power relations must be to foster the common good of the citizens. Political violence, on the contrary, is characterised by both physical and psychological acts aimed at injuring or intimidating the other, and in some instances occasioning deaths. In a country where we pride ourselves of being a Christian nation, we should be ashamed that incidents of political violence are now becoming a common occurrence,” Fr Muyebe stated.

“It is worrisome that political party leaders in this country are not ashamed of exploiting or taking advantage of poor, unemployed and vulnerable youths to their advantage. Unemployed youths are being used as tools of violence that can easily be sacrificed like pawn pieces in a game of chess. It is also sad to note that some youths are allowing themselves to be brainwashed and to sacrifice their human dignity at the altar of political hooliganism. It is high time young people woke up and be in charge of their destiny.”

He stated further that politicians should take a lead in practicing and promoting politics of mutual tolerance and mutual respect, adding that mere public denunciation or condemnation of political violence alone would not stop violence.

Fr Muyebe stated that Zambia needed leaders who were capable of engaging in constructive dialogue and honest reconciliation.