Electoral commission of Zambia (ECZ) Director of Elections Priscilla Isaacs has threatened to quit her job if the current political atmosphere in the country does not change in the run up to the 2016 general elections.
Speaking at the summit on political violence in Lusaka yesterday Ms. Isaacs said she is contemplating quitting her position due to the non adherence to the electoral code of conduct by political parties.
Ms. Isaacs said she has been accused of belonging to certain parties for trying to do the right thing and that there is too much political violence making it difficult for her institution to do their job effectively.
“I think if we continue in the same way we are going I will quit my position before the 2016 elections. This job is difficult as it is and its just that I’m a strong woman that is how I have been able to survive in this job.
“I have been battered and accused of belonging to PF, MMD, UPND for being on the side of the law and it is too much,” she said.
And Ms. Isaacs says the ruling party has greater responsibility in curtailing political violence.
She said the party in government should endeavour to abide by the electoral code of conduct and ensure that they do not use government resources as well as call on civil servants to stay away from political campaigns.
She said as long as senior government officials and civil servants continue to participate in campaigns issues of political violence will always be there.
She noted that if the party in government avoided engaging in electoral malpractice then cases of electoral violence will drastically reduce because the opposition political parties will take a leaf from the ruling party.
Meanwhile Ms. Isaacs said there is need for the ECZ to be given more powers to punish political parties which does not abide by the electoral code of conduct.
She explained that as long as the ECZ continues to operate in its current form which limits its powers then nothing much will change and that the commission needs to be given appropriate powers to punish political parties violating the electoral code of conduct.
She said it is imperative that the ECZ be given the powers that it needs to deal political parties that abrogate electoral laws which would allow for the commission to disallow offenders from taking part in the election.
I am always impressed by this Woman. I think she would make a great Chief Justice. Another impressive woman is that Frugrence Chisanga (sp?)… We still have good women in Zed. Sata has Ebola stay away from him…
A strong woman how is thinking tuma MP by-erections are too much!? What about the coming Presidential erections, lets wait if she will stand it!!
Strong women just step-down. Or strong men steps down when they are weakened by illness.
As diplomatic as anyone can present a message to the PF. Grow up or go down she means, resigning she can’t.
Herself and Justice Mambilima successfully delivered the 2011 amid all the opposite forces including abducting one’s son and will do in 2016 as well. You need you for tthe continued betterment of our wellbeing as Zambians.
Can’t agree more..
This woman has balls. She did not mince words but said it as it should be using the most diplomatic language available. Were are the so called Zambian men? These are the people Zambia needs and we should all support courageous people like Priscilla Isaacs, Florence Mumba & Miss Chisanga.
It is now clear without reasonable doubt that PF is the genesis of all the political violence taking place during bye elections and yet they want to play wolf in a sheep’s skin.
Iwe kagelo, Isaacs, do the onerous thing and call a spade a spade. It s PF violating the electoral codes so just nullify the elections and the judges will support your once you present convincing evidence.
Why should you just stand by and look when voters are being scared by gun toting Masumba, voters are being intimidated to sell their cards to PF government officials, Masebo forms women’s clubs and dishes out huge sums of money during the election periods, government vehicles and money being abused during by elections?
To me ECZ has just proved that its useless if it can not nullify elections based on the evidence presented to it by the opposition.The statement issued by Isaacs confirms what Shaka said the other day that he was arrested on the 19 August to allow PF to rig un…
Madam Isaacs, the PF, (just as MMD were doing when in govt), is bribing voters right in your face by using govt resources (DC’s are civil servants while their vehicles are govt vehicles).
PF have been using the Disaster Management Mitigation Unit under the Office of the Vice-President to give people free food during bi-elections and Road Development Agency (RDA) to move road equipment to areas where by-elections are taking place. Hon Kakoma donated one phone and he is punished harshly.
What more do you want to see before you resign, Ms ECZ? Come on, lady, this is least impressing. ECZ is inept, compromised. Just continue enjoying your huge salary and allowances at the poor’s expense.
Now the biggest question is why run away from your responsibility? Is PF planning to kill you? If so say it so protection for you can be arranged swiftly by well meaning Zambians.
Instead of resigning, write a report to court suggesting that the Magongo, and Livingstone by elections be nullified based on the evidence presented to you and let the court decide.
If you can for once nullify one of the by elections based on the evidence before you , you will be greatly honoured madam and position your self for an international job in the UN.
Come ka gelo iwe go on and nullify the seats you believe the state abused state resources to rig the votes. Magongo and Livinstone are clear examples.
If you can’t do this then just go we don’t need you.
Viva Shaka, Viva UPND and HH.
@Nostradamus
Taumfwa iwe mambala, I get your joke! LOL
Thats evidence for Shaka and UPND to present a case before the courts.
Wapya munzi!
Uko, more rigging in Zambezi. ZWD has just reported that the same thugs who caused violence in magongo, have been air lifted to Zambezi to enforce the same rigging formula they used in magongo.
They can rig as much they want , but come the big elections their lies will be laid bare. UNIP and MMD resorted to massive rigging in their last days. But did they remain in power for ever? NO. this masive tactics are a clear sign that PF is on its way out.
So it seems $1.3 billion is being spent on rigging these by election.
You have spoken well over ECZ Director.Conclusion has distorted your writting.God Bless you.
Diplomatically presented. Removing the diplomatic veil, she is simply saying that the party in power continues to breach the rules of election conduct and are unfairly (illegally/rigging?) winning elections; including the last bye election which has triggered this lamentation.
Well perhaps the loosing candidates may wish to pick it up from here.
Have a discussion with all political parties and address how the ECZ should be reformed definitely violent political parties need to be banned from participating in the election they are causing violence. Voter apathy is not required that comes from violence because it infringes on people’s right to exercise their votes.
Very mature, intelligent and non-sebana wikute kind of statement from a highly disciplined woman of the soil. The complete opposite of Chibesakunda…that evil witch!
Just quit if you want to. The political atmosphere will not change. Caders will always behave the same when under the influece of shakers. Just be strong and access those hefty allowances. See how that kama Lozi man by the name of Akufuna is eating well and quiting is not in his vacabulary. Even if he was made a ka small Litunga today!
She is surely a strong woman as well as a courageous one. She has spoken very well hope the government and listen to what she has said. Its for the best interest of our country.
This electoral violence is growing .If left an checked it can cause a lot of problems in Zambia.This if it includes a tribal dimension it can lead to genocide .Leaders In pf should be mindfull that one day they will be out of power.they may be treated the same way like William Banda ,Others will an fortunate they maybe sent to the international court of justice.Signs a clear the next presidential elections will be a blood bath.
its hard to put it plain madam isaac that pf is culprit. but any ways i feel for you. in 2016 we will give you powers as ecz.
ba madam isaac we are following your wording closely.
Mrs Isaacs, rather than threaten to quit, make a difference. For instance, its is almost 2 weeks since the Mangano election but thee is no official report from ECZ. There have been several allegations of malpractices, violence etc. Why not write an impartial transparent report on exactly what happened in Mangango,
The only person we have heard give something close to a report is Nevers Mumba, but that is from his MMD stand point. The other one was Shakafuswa. ECZ is supposed to be the neutral referee. Please be quick and present a factual, ‘no fear or favour’ report/ If ECZ does not rise to the occasion and do what you are supposed to do when there are elections, then we fear for 2016.
@katongo nsambe
Exactly my thoughts on this issue. Writing a report to the court in support of Shakas’ allegations is the way to shame these PF thugs.
She is in the right track to solving the electoral malpractice in Zambia.
Now I can see sanity beginning to return to ECZ and the justice system.
Don’t even waste your time madam you are part of these current problems if one is to resign they just do it why announce
Message loud and clear; hope it wont invite the wrath of Wynter and others like him. Ruling Party has caused all these incidents in the recent past – using government human and material resources should stop; otherwise the oppoisition, especially the UPND will want to police them since there is no impartial Police Force (PF) – the PF party did the same as the main opposition.
you are even wasting your time. Why can’t you resign quickly??? For your information, you are NOT the only qualified person in Zambia. Already they more than 100 of us outside your gate waiting anxiously for you to resign. Just resign quitely, please!!!
UPND and PF are most violent parties in the country and the two brake electoral laws with impunity actual UPND are showing worse political criminality they can do anything to get to power or win any by-election. For example in Mangango UPND did a lot of harm to MMD using MMD CLLR for Chikombwe Ward Davy Nchengu whom they bought using money from AUSTIN LIATO to de-campaign his own party, this Cllr Nchengu went ROUND all the Wards in company of UPND officials telling people not vote for his won party MMD but UPND, so this is how violence start if MMD hard the capacity to fight back physically violence was going to be caused by UPND. So UPND should stop undermining other political parties because they hv stolen money from corrupt people who defected from MMD and joined thm.
That is equally the problem I have with some of these uselss blogers here! Some of us on the ground know who the real hooligans were! Shakafuswa the sex maniac was one of them! Uja munthu ni galu yosililatu nchito! Tushi twanu taa!
Iwe ngwele, there is a difference between political lobbying and abusing government resources. Nchengu did not break any electoral laws but PF and MMD when they were in power broke the laws as stipulated in the ECZ charter.
she’s right..the ruling party has a huge role to play..
Zambia is finished – Kaponyas have taken over power and are now calling the shots. We will bring to book all those responsible for this mess in 2016.
It is Hingombe Jerabo Hilede that is causing violence.
Nzelu ulibe with all that big head,am sure you are aware of the two PF cadres who died in Livingstone and Rufunsa and you know what happened and who killed them.If you have nothing to say and you want to protect your PF given job it better you shut you big mouth up.This is about Zambia so stop thinking just about your bedroom and living room.
@Summer, not all of us are id.i.ots and poverty stricken like you who is blindly supporting hingombe jerabo hilede hoping that he would give you some cows!! I support PF because it is the government of the day and I voted for it. If you are one of the jerabos, that is not my problem. You are a do.g with no tail. Go to hell ******we.
More Power to Ms Issacs and ECZ, they need it! We support Ms Issacs. @ The Bricklayer 100%! More women in Leadership; President and VP please!
Zambian politicians are like the characters portrayed in the fight for USA’s Wild West! Particularly in the Rush for Gold…….,you know …the Pan Handlers. Always shooting each other if they find a big nugget of Gold. Chewing tobacco and spiting, and dragging women into their tents; inevitably someone shoots and they all fall into a big ball of fists, guns and rope ‘lassoing.’
God Give you strength Ms Issacs. You have said what we already know about these political thugs. They’d boil their own mothers if they could………(and often do)!
You are right mama ,The ruling PF is making your work very difficult.Your are ture zambian that want to see a peaceful zambia.
What are we experiencing now in terms of violence which we didnt see in MMD? UPND fought MMD in mufumbwe why didnt isaacs resign? Didnt DCs and ministers campaign in MMD? where has UPND participated in elections and there is no violence?
@PatriotAbroad.Your opinion is fueled by a toxic combination of fear, hope and reality check.Fear because you think if the presidency and vice falls into the hands of hostile forces apart your already envisioned possible candidates for presidency and vice,you will be in trouble.So your hope is please give it to these women you are thinking about.Reality check is for the first time you have seen how politicians behave in the scramble for power.heartless and cold.
all the zambian political paties a violent and corrupt , we see them cos we live wth them nibananani mulebepa even mmd used to be the most corrupt party i neva seen during campaigns even panties manufactured wth mmd tag and given free and o the trees were clothed in chitenge materials using tax payers money.we neva used to see other op parties on tv except stand up for zambia
PF are double-tongued in all what they do and you can not trust them at all.
@Sekwila
My opinion is in deed fuelled by a toxic combination of fear, hope and reality check. AND I SHOULD SAY; so should everyone who understands properly what is happening in our country politically! WHAT is YOUR opinion and suggestions to what LT articles are reporting. Don’t you understand what social media is?
I am exercising my Freedom of Speech, why don’t you do the same instead of being an obnoxious Troll. I hope you are not that Sekwila that used to prance about in female dehumanising Miss Zambia shows, because women SHOULD be stepping forward at this time in Zambia and offering solutions, not taking a back seat.