The opposition MMD has written to Electoral Commission of Zambia Director Priscilla Isaacs accusing the ruling PF of electoral malpractices in the forthcoming Katuba by election.
MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu complained that the PF has not ceased to engage in unfair practices in the electoral process such as the use of premature campaigns and use of government vehicles.
Mr Chembe said the political parties have signed several memoranda to the effect that the ruling PF must lead by example by avoiding premature campaigns and use of GPZ vehicles.
“The MMD leadership in the constituency reported to us that Vice President Guy Scott flew to the constituency to meet the area Chieftainess for political reasons. Surely, he could have driven to go there,” Mr Chembe said.
Mr Chembe also revealed that Defence Minister Edgar Lungu, Commerce Minister Emmanuel Chenda and Central province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta also went to Katuba to conduct political campaigns ahead of the nomination on January 28, 2014.
“On the nomination day, January 28,2014, a ZAF helicopter flew to Mwanjuni School where it was packed for political and cosmetic reasons. The Vice president did not even us it. The Air Commander must explain to us through you why he authorised the chopper to go to Mwanjuni School on that day.”
Mr Chembe said, “Many government motor vehicles were seen and identified at Mwanjuni School. We request you to find out what the vehicles identified as GRZ 1OI CE and GRZ 551 CE were doing at the Nomination Centre on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. GRZ and ECZ do not work together in this manner.”
He charged that the foregoing are malpractices in the electoral process which the MMD cannot stomach and tolerate.
“They violate the electoral rules and laws which we have worked so hard to put in place. All stakeholders and political players are expected to follow the rules in the electoral process. This duty of obedience is more so on the leadership of the ruling party,” he said.
He added, “I want to point out that leaders in the ruling party cannot hide. The PF leadership must learn and live with this reality. The old adage, “you can run, but you cannot hide,” aptly sums up the MMD’s observations.”
The PF government shall never ever honour democratic principles going by their actions and utterances. They all have a wrong perception that since they are in power, they are smarter than everyone else if not angels of Zambia. Every minute, every hour and every day they are in the forefront in violating democratic rules and principles in the name of ”President Michael Chilufya Sata is still popular”. Had it been people from the opposition camp doing that, right now they would have been at the magistrate court filing complaints against the perpetrators. The PF government is a disaster to the Zambian democracy.
But this mal-practise is exactly what the MMD used to do with impunity when they were in power.
Now they get a taste of their own medicine ! !mbeciles.
THE COMPLAINT IS INVALID THE CHOPPER WAS PARKED ANE VEEP DID NOT USE IT.GRZ VEHICLES WERE SPOTED MOVING AROUND THE NOT PROHIBITED AREA AT A GRZ SCHOOL BUT VEEP DID NOT USE IT,WHY COMPLAINING
dont worry mr.chembe.zedians are now upto date.they have already made their mind on who to vote for even if the whole pf cabnet set camp with their limozins in katuba.remember mr nyangu that in 2011 you used every govt material at your disposal but still you blood lost.another example is mkaika where the entire cabnet camped and blood lost.i wish i was in katuba to hear the campaign mesage from cosmo mumba on how he wil be denouncing pf?
This is a sober way of filing a complaint from a highly democratic and civilised party. Court cases being heard in the High Court surrounding alleged electoral law violations by MMD candidates are based on the very issues raised by Mr Chembe Nyangu.MMD did it and it has cost them dearly.Regardless PF has learnt nothing from it, PF lawlessness starts with Sata via his MPs to the street.Chembe has compiled good evidence to use in court should PF win, although chances are that it gets thrown out given PF partisan loyalty of some judges. May be the way forward is to introduce ECZ instant suspension of candidate in the presence of overwhelming evidence of use of public resources such as this without having to go to court. Controversial as it may sounds, it might be the long term answer.
Iwe judge who was using both the Helicopter n the vehicles if not the veep. Are u Lesbian Scott’s spokesperson
I have a brother who lives in the area. During the festive season I decided to visit his farm at 6 miles area and I found graders busy grading the roads, something that has never happened since my brother shifted there over ten years ago. While this is a great relief from the pot holes all over the area, I think the govt should learn to carry out such activities as a matter of duty and not in view of an approaching by-election.
There are graders and machines all over the country doing road works. Katuba is no exception!
Do unto others as U would want them do to U. MMD this is what U use to do when U were in power. Why complain, this is your making PF and other parties complained but ur RB never acted accordingly.Shame on you. Ka muba a nsoni basa.
That’s the result of electing bad leader who actually encourages lawlessness in zambia, very divisive element (the former colonialist Informer). KATUBA however, UPND poised to win. Viva HH,viva UPND!
All these guys are just making noise. Mushalika of NAREP is carrying the day.
DONT’ JUST COMPLAIN ACT AND REMOVE THEM FROM POWER , THEN WE SHALL SEE IF YOUR MPS WILL BE ABONDONING THE GOVERNMENT VEHICLES AND PREFERE TO USE THIER VEHICLES