The Restoration for Community Justice (RCJ) says it is impressed with the peaceful manner in which campaigns for the Lubaleshi Ward by-election in Kanchibiya District in Muchinga Province have been conducted so far. ‎RCJ Executive Director, Mathews Mulenga said the peaceful…

The Restoration for Community Justice (RCJ) says it is impressed with the peaceful manner in which campaigns for the Lubaleshi Ward by-election in Kanchibiya District in Muchinga Province have been conducted so far.

‎RCJ Executive Director, Mathews Mulenga said the peaceful atmosphere demonstrated by political actors and their supporters was encouraging and urged participants to maintain the same throughout the remaining campaign period and on polling day.

‎Speaking in a phone interview, Mr Mulenga said maintaining peace was essential in safeguarding community unity and ensuring that residents freely exercised their democratic rights.

‎He commended candidates, political party supporters and youths for promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence as they engaged voters.

‎Mr Mulenga said the by-election should provide an opportunity for candidates to present their development agendas without resorting to insults, intimidation or provocative language.

‎He encouraged youths in particular to continue upholding the district’s cultural values of respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

‎”As we go into this by-election in Lubaleshi Ward, our youths must remember who we are as a people. We must preserve our culture, respect our elders and disagree without disrespecting one another,” Mr Mulenga said.

‎He said political differences should not be allowed to divide families, villages or traditional structures that have historically united communities in Kanchibiya district.

‎Mr Mulenga further encouraged candidates and their supporters to sustain the peaceful atmosphere by focusing their campaigns on development issues affecting the ward.

‎He said the relationships among neighbours and community members should remain strong regardless of the outcome of the by-election.

‎”A by-election comes and goes, but the relationships between neighbours in Lubaleshi must outlast it. We are encouraging all candidates, their supporters and especially our youths to campaign on issues and maintain the peace,” he said.

‎ Mr Mulenga also commended traditional leaders and community structures for their role in promoting harmony, urging them to continue encouraging residents to uphold peace throughout the electoral process.

He said RCJ, as a Civil Society Organisation, remained committed to working with election stakeholders, security agencies and the Electoral Commission of Zambia to promote peaceful participation.

‎Mr Mulenga said peaceful elections were important in strengthening democratic participation and community development.

‎Meanwhile, Lubaleshi Ward resident Thomas Katwishi welcomed the peaceful atmosphere, saying the community had lived in harmony for years and should continue protecting that unity during the electoral period.

‎Mr Katwishi said candidates should maintain issue-based campaigns by presenting practical solutions to the development needs of the ward.

‎”We want our candidates to tell us what they will do for Lubaleshi, not to insult each other. We are one community here, and after the elections we will still be neighbours,” Mr Katwishi said.

‎He appealed to fellow youths to continue supporting peaceful campaigns and avoid actions that could disrupt community harmony.

‎Mr Katwishi said genuine development could only be sustained when community members worked together in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation.