The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has recommended that government adopts, ratifies and domesticates the international convention governing democratic elections in Africa.
FODEP made the submission to the parliamentary committee on legal affairs, governance human rights and gender matters in Lusaka yesterday.
FODEP Executive Director Dr. Charity Musamba said her organization is concerned with the alleged high prevalence of electoral malpractices and abuse of public resources during election time. She said non enforcement of the electoral code of conduct and biased media coverage has been a source of worry for the organisation because this retards development.
Dr. Musamba said that there should be a new electoral law that encompasses all electoral issues that were left out at the time of the enactment of the 2006 electoral act. She said it was important that this is in place before the 2011 elections.
She further said FODEP fully endorses the Electoral Reform Technical Committees (ERTC) and the Mung’omba draft constitution on the electoral process saying there is need for government to work on the recommendations.
Dr. Musamba said FODEP hopes that with genuine political will, the process will bring about necessary positive enhancement that the country’s electoral prospects have always longed for.
She said her institution will persistently continue to press for electoral reforms that guarantee genuine, democratic, free and fair elections.
ZANIS
