…context matters on Army Commander’s election advisory statement…
The Editor Zambia
Civil society groups are criticising Army Commander Geoffrey Zyeele for saying he will deploy security forces if some politicians cause trouble during the election period. 
The criticism of Army Commander Zyeele by a consortium of civil society organisations over his remarks that he will deploy security forces should some political elements ferment confusion before, during, and after elections is misplaced. It is unfair. Instead, the civil society should commend Lt-Gen. Zyeele for promoting peace and unity among Zambians.
The organisations argue that the Army Commander’s comments risk blurring the constitutional boundaries between the military and civilian law enforcement.
One would wonder why the civil society groups are unsettled and panicking with a mere advisory statement on the security situation of the country ahead of elections.
May be the civil society needs some lecture in this area. The Army has a duty to safeguard the nation by detecting, preventing, and responding to potential violations, threats, or acts of violence before they escalate into widespread harm or carnage.
In a well coordinated defence and security system world over, if it’s suspected that foreign elements are trying to collude with locals to instigate internal disorder, such developments automatically attract the defence from the defence and security forces where army belongs, and can be to deployed.
The Army Commander’s remarks are timely, and only lawbreakers and those planning to sponsor confusion during the elections should be worried about his remarks.
It is important for civil society groups to understand that modern defence and security systems operate under a system known as the Central Joint Operations Committee (CJOC).
The CJOC encompasses all the wings of the Armed Forces and Security Services.
The CJOC is responsible for planning both external and internal security operations. They work 24/7 guarding the nation whilst some of the civil society leaders are peacefully sleeping in their beds.
Analysts say it is beyond argument that one of the primary responsibilities of the Army is to protect and uphold constitutional rights.
The same way the security forces have been deployed to fight emergencies such as cholera and huliganism – it is the same way they will be deployed to deal with anarchist before, during, and after the 13th August elections.
The focus, therefore, should not be on whether the Army has the mandate to maintain internal order, Instead, citizens should be encouraged to maintain peace before, during, and after elections.
The president holds the authority to deploy military personnel should the situation become uncontrollable.
The Army can be deployed internally if the Head of State and the Army Commander sees fit.
History shows us that heightened tension can turn into violence during elections. Violence was a permanent feature under the Patriotic Front (PF) administration. When police get overwhelmed by the frequency and nature of violent disturbances, the Army can step in to bring order.
When the threat is imminent, several measures, including preventative, can be deployed to forestall such threat.
In the highly media sensitive environment where mass communication is instantaneous and potentially disruptive to national security, the military may deploy soft power which may include public communication, and thereto, reminding the citizens to refrain from such vices as abuse of social media.
This falls in line with the recent advisory statement issued by the Zambia Army Commander Zyeele whilst on tour in Eastern Province, where he said the military will not tolerate mischief makers before, during, and after elections. He is in order. Only sponsors of lawbreakers should panic.
