Fighting groups urged to put political issues aside

SOUTHERN Highlands police commander Chief Insp Martin Lakari confirmed that a fight broke out in Mendi town on Tuesday.
He said two factions were gathering in front of the police station for mediation when the fight broke started.
“The other faction started throwing stones and people started throwing stones at each other but police was able to intervene and stop the chaos immediately,” he said.
The two factions were trying to mediate on an election-related issue then but no casualties were reported.
“These are all politics-related issues and must be stopped at once.
“People must be mindful of their own progress and forget about politics because it’s a seasonal thing, Lakari said.
“Politics will come and go so people have to learn to stop taking it personally and move on with their daily lives.
“I see that Southern Highlanders are good people but their only weakness is when it comes to politics.”
Meanwhile, Lakari said a woman who was kidnapped on Sept 20 in relation to a recent council president election was released by the kidnappers.
“The woman was set free by the kidnappers just after she was captured,” Lakari said.
Lakari, responding to an incident at North Kagua where a young man was allegedly slashed, said: “These are just speculation because there was no official complaint laid at the Mendi Police Station.
“I urge the people of Mendi and Southern Highlands to put politics aside and move on with their lives.”