Zambian police warn on violence

LUSAKA – Zambia police inspector general Ephraim Mateyo has threatened to revoke police approvals for political campaign rallies after violent clashes between rival parties.

General elections are set to take place in the country on Thursday. Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate Michael Sata has accused the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) of sponsoring the recent spate of violence and confusion in order to create anxiety in the country.Speaking to journalists at police headquarters in Lusaka on Saturday, Mateyo said that violent clashes between cadres from various political parties indicated that the southern African country was on the edge of total anarchy.Police, he warned, would no longer hesitate to “deal hard” with anyone sponsoring electoral violence or breaking the law.”I wish to reiterate my earlier warning that those with insatiable appetite for violence will equally meet vigourous and uncompromising force from the Zambian police service,” he said.Mateyo also directed police countrywide to release all detainees held for petty offences in police custody.This, he said, was to make room for “violent political cadres breaking the country’s electoral code of conduct”.Scores of plain-clothed security agents have been deployed on the streets to police the run-up to elections this week.Police quelled clashes between supporters of the MMD and PF in the capital Lusaka and northern Copperbelt provinces this week.In one reported incident, PF supporters in the capital blocked President Levy Mwanawasa’s motorcade as he was returning from campaigning.Supporters of the United Democratic Alliance clashed with MMD supporters and pelted Mwanawasa’s motorcade after an election appearance in the country’s southern province. SapaOpposition Patriotic Front (PF) presidential candidate Michael Sata has accused the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) of sponsoring the recent spate of violence and confusion in order to create anxiety in the country.Speaking to journalists at police headquarters in Lusaka on Saturday, Mateyo said that violent clashes between cadres from various political parties indicated that the southern African country was on the edge of total anarchy.Police, he warned, would no longer hesitate to “deal hard” with anyone sponsoring electoral violence or breaking the law.”I wish to reiterate my earlier warning that those with insatiable appetite for violence will equally meet vigourous and uncompromising force from the Zambian police service,” he said.Mateyo also directed police countrywide to release all detainees held for petty offences in police custody.This, he said, was to make room for “violent political cadres breaking the country’s electoral code of conduct”.Scores of plain-clothed security agents have been deployed on the streets to police the run-up to elections this week.Police quelled clashes between supporters of the MMD and PF in the capital Lusaka and northern Copperbelt provinces this week.In one reported incident, PF supporters in the capital blocked President Levy Mwanawasa’s motorcade as he was returning from campaigning.Supporters of the United Democratic Alliance clashed with MMD supporters and pelted Mwanawasa’s motorcade after an election appearance in the country’s southern province. Sapa