Minister of Water and Environment Maj Gen (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire has warned against the use of violence as a means of resolving disagreements, saying there is a problem when a general considers force the best solution.
“When you see a general who prefers violence as the best means of solving problems, then there is a problem,” Otafiire said while speaking in Parliament.
Otafiire said disagreements are inevitable in any society and should not themselves be considered a problem. Instead, he said, the important issue is how people handle and resolve their differences.
He argued that the true mark of civilization is the ability to resolve contradictions without resorting to violence. According to Otafiire, leaders should look for peaceful ways of addressing disagreements before matters develop into confrontation.
The retired general said intelligence and information are important in preventing conflicts, explaining that understanding what an adversary intends to do can help leaders take measures before a confrontation occurs.
He said diplomacy should also be given priority, adding that military action should only come after diplomatic efforts have been exhausted and failed.
Otafiire further argued that even when war becomes necessary, it should not be treated as an end in itself. He said military action should instead be aimed at achieving a particular resolution.
His remarks came as he also called for political tolerance, urging those who win to be magnanimous in victory and those who lose to respect the winners while retaining their right to be heard. Although he spoke about generals who prefer violence, Otafiire did not name any particular individual.
